Ion generators, Bottom Drains, Fish Friendly Pond skimmers - Ask T.P.D. Show #2

In episode 2 of Ask The Pond Digger Show you will find out my take on Ion generators, pond plumbing suggestions for bottom drain installations and pond skimmers that are fish friendly. The Show will address questions small or tall and easy or tough.
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Produced & Directed by: Dietmar Quistorf
Grafic Design by: Patrick Hardy
Music by: Chris Doughty
www.theponddigg...

[@sissymurphy9620]

Sure do .I retired and this hobby lowers your blood pressure .How could you not relax by a pond .The sound of water and the beauty of fish swimming WOW

[@ThePondDigger]

sissy murphy PondAholic!!!

[@sissymurphy9620]

ThePondDigger nope just nuts :)

[@hrbille]

I love my pond, there is always something to do & changes to be made.

[@sarirbolah]

Hi, I remember that I had aquarium at home since I was little it was maintain by my dad and at some time I started helping him. Then at a time it was I who take that responsibility and enjoy doing it. As at now I have 5 aqua ( 3 are small size) and 1 or 2 broken awaiting to be repaired. At the time when both my dad and I was taking care of them, we had mostly goldfish and koi but when I took over, I have been keeping tetras, angle, harlequin that is overall small fish for community planted tank. So I can say that I am an aquariophilie - aquatic plant and fish keeper. Since last year, I got 2 butterfly koi and now I am building a pond for them, which should be ready by the end of this month. If I had to count my fish the total should be much more than the number of good friends. Thanks for all those great videos and valuable info.

[@tratos1]

Working on creating my second pond just finished updating my Father's (still needs more work but that is another enjoyment to having a pond) so YES!

[@ThePondDigger]

tratos1 PondAholic!!!

[@rondbl2002]

thanks for coming out to the house Wed. Yes more fish and turtles and pugs then friends. Looking forward to later this month when you and your team come work your majic.

[@ThePondDigger]

+ron little I can't wait to tackle your pond!

[@CazeePonds]

Yes Pondaholic indeed. Its so bad That we have out grown not one but two ponds because we have so many big fish. We are now beginning work on third pond set up. We love it, wouldn't have it any other way.

[@ThePondDigger]

Cazee Ponds PondAholic!!!

[@marksuson5347]

haha.. more fish than friends. i'm so picky about friends that's not hard. Definitely a pondaholic!! I live in an apt. and actually use a 40g high aquarium on my patio for my pond with shubunkins and a bog filter built out of a plant window box that sits at the top of my patio fence so people walking by can see it. So in the summer I open the french doors to my patio and have my "pond" in full view. It's awesome!

[@ThePondDigger]

mark suson Fantastic PondaHolic!!!

[@meyerjordan5114]

Kudos for your position on Ion Generators.

[@ThePondDigger]

Meyer Jordan That's how we roll Meyer. Thanks for the comment.

[@Stewbarry]

I'm definitely a pondaholic. i have more fish than friends. Ive had a 150 gal pond (pre-made form) for 3 years and its time to make it big.

[@ThePondDigger]

+Barry Ms Stewart I told you!!!!! :) I knew it!

[@ronniecoleman2837]

Have had fish tanks since forever. Built my first pond 2 years ago then up graded that pond last year. Thinking about adding a filter like the bog pond you built with the return leading to my pond. As of now my pool is holding my koi because the pool filter has been broke(no chlorine of course). And while in pool my shubunkins have had babies so a pond up grade might be on the way!

[@ThePondDigger]

Ronnie Coleman PondAholic!!!

[@Socalponds]

Another great Video!!!

[@ThePondDigger]

So-Cal Ponds Thanks Dominic!! Stay tuned for more!

[@paulcroteau6720]

Yes... ;-) One pond - presently 1/2 frozen over, 2 * 50 gal tanks in the house with the expensive Koi

[@dalevnuk7154]

yea buddy LOVE the show my friend

[@AGUILAR3]

9 fish tanks and 1 container pond....Definitely YES!!!

[@ThePondDigger]

PondAholic!!!

[@TheMFLAV]

So an off the wall question but I have been thinking about a outdoor African Cichlid pond for a few years now. However I live in the Pacific NW and winter temps are just too cold. Do you have any recommendations for a heated pond set up? Not huge but maybe 500-100 gallon. I have heard of people using hot tub heaters but am critical of how well they will work. Thanks again for the videos I love them. Stumbled across the Turtle backyard a few years ago and been watching ever since. Thanks again marty

[@ThePondDigger]

TheMFLAV Great question on African Cichlids. You'll need a greenhouse over the pond to pull that off. Thanks for watching.

[@TheMFLAV]

And still a heat source? Right? Thanks for responding.....

[@TheMisterDillon]

I'm definitely a pondoholic!! I'm 17 years old and put in a 2,000 gallon pond in my parents back yard this past summer. I love koi. But I have 2 questions. 1 is my koi are very afraid of me. I cannot even feed them bc whenever I get close to the pond they go to the bottom and hide. The only way I can get them to eat is if I have a sinking food. My second question is this past fall I forgot to put a net over the pond and a ton of leaved fell in. I got most of them out and did a 50% water change. The water is basically black though form all the tannins. Do you have any advice on either of these subjects? Thanks. I want to be able to see my fish again!!!!! I have a bout 5 4-6 in koi

[@ThePondDigger]

Dillon Stevenson PondAholic!!!

[@ThePondDigger]

Dillon Stevenson Got ya!

[@soniaknippshild1617]

I am someone considering a pond and want to get all the info first. One question I have is that on a Garden tour here on Vancouver Island I noticed a lot of homes with water ponds that did not have fish or plants in them. How is this possible and is it recommended? And when you do the electrical for the pond where are the cords for the skimmers etc? In your video they didnt look that long. So curious as to how that is handled.

[@dskoi7358]

Pond-aholic! 2 ponds in the backyard.... I have a portable pond set up to winter my koi while I redo one of the ponds (phase 2) ..... Making plans to create a HUGE pond in my phase 3.........

[@ThePondDigger]

D S Koi PondAholic!!!

[@carolpeters7155]

I'm a pondaholic but in denial! Love our pond & koi and your shows ;-)

[@ThePondDigger]

Carol Peters PondAholic!!!

[@nesekaba]

Someday when I'm not living in apartments I'll be a pondaholic (I'm hoping to maybe even do tilapia... not as pretty--but functional.) For now my 20gal and 5gal tank with 12 fish will suffice. Thanks for the information!

[@ThePondDigger]

nesekaba PondAholic to be!!!

[@davidkougl]

This may have been asked before. short of searching or if you could point me there? What is your take on eliminating string algae? I've heard string algae is a good thing to have. Well, not for me. It clogs my bottom drain and makes it useless. thanks for any feedback.

[@TheAquaticGeek]

Love the show, another on the subject of skimmers, is it possible to have an amphipian friendly skimmer? I have 2 ponds close to each other, a 3000 gallon Koi pond and a 500 gallon wildlife pond. The wildlife pond hosts European endangered / protected Great Crested Newts and they often use both ponds. I have read some horror stories of amphibians becoming trapped in skimmers. Thanks, Ian, Wales, UK

[@ThePondDigger]

Ian Carmichael Very good question. The Helix Pond Skimmer can be toned down to absolutely minimal flow to skim and I would suggest during mating season additional provisions be made to protect frogs and toads in amplex are not pulled into the skimmer.

[@kymbo72]

one day I will have too many fish :) I wish you were here in Australia to build me one of your sensational looking ponds!

[@ThePondDigger]

[@JaniceDay10]

Good advice.

[@mach1freaks]

Chiz Wiz, rigid under liner makes it so much Finer !!!!

[@ThePondDigger]

Michael Northway Northway knows!!

[@freddyramirez7933]

I’m a retired marine and currently live in Puerto Rico. I rent a house and want about a 6000gal pool to turn into a pond can you give me any ideas or suggestions. It can’t be permanent that’s why I’m opting for an above ground pool. At the moment have a 950gal but will keep that for breeding. Would greatly appreciate all intel. And great vids keep it up

[@andrewchandra3688]

Quick question, is it really necessary to have an SC in a dedicated koi pond?

[@dodell8]

Yes

[@ThePondDigger]

PondAholic!!!

[@RiverBirzer]

yes im a pondaholic. Btw i agree about the ion thing i would really appreciate your opinion on my new pond. my pond has a footprint of 10*14ft and i want maximum water volume for huge, happy koi. and no i cant make the footprint any bigger im planning to go 9ft at the deepest with an average depth of 7ft. that will give me a volume of 7000 gallons! Are there any disadvantages to going this deep other than liner cost? im happy to dig it! i would love to be on the next episode!

[@ThePondDigger]

River Birzer Good Question! If you're digging now be sure your side walls are stable.

[@RiverBirzer]

ThePondDigger i have clay soil, and im reinforcing the deep end with concrete. i need your opinion on the effect of deep water on koi.

[@BigBoll]

Thanks alot for the answer!!! Good solution, appreciate it man!!! :)

[@ThePondDigger]

Sorry I messed you're name up!!

[@BigBoll]

ThePondDigger It's ok :)))

[@ThePondDigger]

Vlad Balan PondAholic!!!

[@xmode2]

1 pond in Greece with about 70 koi so yes!

[@ThePondDigger]

antonis trogadas PondAholic!!!

[@Crazycajun985]

Not yet. But I hope to soon.

[@ThePondDigger]

***** Funny! Thanks for watching!!!!

[@FaenumVena]

I don't have koi as I don't have the space for them. In the UK we are lucky if we have even a tiny garden. I do have 8 common goldfish in a small pond outside, 3 fantails inside in an aquaponics set up that's soon to be an inside pond, 5 danios and 9 platys, so yeah, I got more fish than friends.

[@ThePondDigger]

econerd Awesome! PondAholic!!!

[@josiahutah3712]

Podaholic? Yes! I built my current 1000 gallon pond over two years ago to complement my Japanese garden. I am dying to build a new one 10 times that size, and the only thing holding me back is money.

[@ThePondDigger]

Thank you for sharing!

[@brendabartz2026]

I'd like to hear more about natural ways to filter water and create good water quality.

[@ThePondDigger]

brendabartz2026 Good stuff!

[@jasonhng]

Can i do bottom drain hose to the skimmer and skimmer to the waterfall?

[@williamweaver8198]

yes

[@ThePondDigger]

william weaver PondAholic!!!

[@TheLickylomeli562]

2 tanks, 1 pond soon to be 2, and over 100 fish and 5 turtles. I still want more!

[@ThePondDigger]

Ricardo Lomeli PondAholic!!!

[@stephanierogers2009]

YES

[@toreandersson3852]

I have 16 adult Koi in my Pond and 21 fry from last summer in my garage so I guess I have more Koi the friends. At least "real friend" !

[@ThePondDigger]

TORE ANDERSSON PondAholic!!!!

[@susantrott3338]

Yup definitely a pondaholic. We have two ponds, a 15,000 gallon outdoor pond, and a 2,000 gallon indoor winter tank ... I think our Koi live better than we do!

[@ThePondDigger]

Susan Trott Addict!!! We have an Addict in the house!!!!

[@GUYANAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA]

Deff have more fish than friends lol no pond yet but I have at least 30 fish tanks and close to 100 or so fish

[@ThePondDigger]

Rico Suave PondAholic!!!

[@skyedragon9458]

I wish to be considered a pondaholic, but am sadly only a tankaholic at the moment. I have 113 fish residing in 7 different tanks of various sizes throughout my house, and am trying to build a pond that would be a more suitable home for them. In comparison, I only have five true friends and my boyfriend, making a grand total of six.

[@ThePondDigger]

+Leslie Kite YOu're an addict Leslie. And we love that about you!

[@brendacazee4667]

Hi, my name is Brenda and I'm a pondaholic!

[@ThePondDigger]

Brenda Cazee PondAholic!!!

[@TheAquaticGeek]

(Pond-o-holic) 😎😎

[@ThePondDigger]

Ian Carmichael PondAholic!!!

[@audiofanaticz]

Sadly yes more fish than friends. As I grew older though I realized a lot off friends are fake and it became smart to me that its all about the quality of friends, not the quantity.

[@ThePondDigger]

audiofanaticz Do be sad PondAholic!

[@GasMusK]

2 garden ponds, 2 Indoor winter ponds, 4 fish tanks.

[@ThePondDigger]

Hans Hartman PondAholic!!!

[@NanoAL22]

I have more followers in my pond than I do on FB!

[@ThePondDigger]

enanoaL PondAholic!!!

[@carolyn611]

Friends? What are those? I definitely have more koi than friends - LOL

[@ThePondDigger]

Carolyn Gray PondAholic!!!

[@carolyn611]

Definitely!!!

[@RoyThe4th]

I have many more koi than friends 😆 🤣 😂

[@50f150]

I have way more koi than friends don't know if that's a good or bad thing Lol! My koi r my friends

[@ThePondDigger]

50f150 Good Thing!

[@mric333]

yes / but

[@englishheart8320]

Far more koi than friends, wouldnt have it any other way

[@ThePondDigger]

english heart PondAholic!!!

[@mach1freaks]

AGREED!!! No ION GENS !!! They Kill Fish!!!

[@delaneykluender5697]

My husbands just informed me I have mroe fish than friends :(

[@ThePondDigger]

Delaney Kluender PondAholic!!!

[@williamweaver8198]

yes i am a PondAholic because fish cant talk back to you.

[@ThePondDigger]

william weaver PondAholic!!!

[@Bbear44914]

Yes

[@knothole5]

yes

[@ThePondDigger]

knothole5 Bahahahah