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From: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria,rec.pets
Subject: Re: Any suggestions on keeping Koi indoors?
Message-ID: <2368@gryphon.CTS.COM>
Date: Sun, 22-Nov-87 04:11:24 EST
Article-I.D.: gryphon.2368
Posted: Sun Nov 22 04:11:24 1987
Date-Received: Tue, 24-Nov-87 06:24:31 EST
References: <1414@rtech.UUCP>
Reply-To: richard@gryphon.CTS.COM (Richard Sexton)
Distribution: na
Organization: Trailing Edge Technology, Redondo Beach, CA
Lines: 72
Keywords: koi aquarium carp
Summary: It's not a great idea.
Xref: mnetor alt.aquaria:5 rec.pets:1983

In article <1414@rtech.UUCP> brent@rtech.UUCP (Brent Williams) writes:
>
>I live in an apartment until I save the half-billion dollars required to buy
>a house in these parts.  While I can't build the 5,000 gallon Koi pond that 
>homeowners have in their backyards, I'd like to keep a few 6-8" koi in an 
>aquarium inside.  

Not one of your all time great ideas. While it can be done, remember
that koi get BIG (18"+) and require LOTS of oxygen. Also, they prefer
cold water, which has more dissolved oxygen, so make that LOTS and LOTS
of oxygen.

They are also pretty dirty fish; this is mostly due to their size.
Big fish = big waste.

Having said that :

>I've read about the herculean efforts many people endure to filter the pond
>for their outdoor pools.  If any of you out there have koi in an aquarium,
>please either post to the net or mail me any tips on what you do that works
>or doesn't work.  Specifics include:
>
>	-	filter type and brand name of filter

The most powerful you can afford.

>	-	size of aquarium -- I'm looking at something along the 
>		lines of 55-70 gallons.  Is this big enough for about 10
>		6" fish?

As big as you can afford. That size tank is ok for that many fish that
size, but after they have all doubled in size, that tank is now too
small.

>	-	maintenance procedures

Nothing special.

>	-	Do they need direct sun occasionally?  This would influence

ll fish do better with some sunlight, but they strictly dont need it. 
Colors improve when fish get some (no, filtered by glass doesn't
count. The UV is filtered out) sunlight.

>		location, which would influence size of tank...

Not important.

>	-	Is this a dumb idea or does it have a chance.

Well, both.

It has a chance, because I've seen it done. :-) 

They need SO much space though, you'd need a really big tank for the
fish to attain any reasonable size.

Remember that when fish are crowded, they don't grow as much. So, if
you are content with potentially stunted fish, have a large tank, and
a powerfull filter, then, yeah, it'll work.

They would be *MUCH* happier in a pond though.

>-brent williams 		


-- 
Richard J. Sexton
INTERNET:     richard@gryphon.CTS.COM
UUCP:         {hplabs!hp-sdd, sdcsvax, ihnp4, nosc}!crash!gryphon!richard

"It's too dark to put the keys in my ignition..."