Adding Koi To Your Pond

Koi are a wonderful addition to your backyard pond. It is relaxing to watch these graceful fish gliding slowly through the water. To live a a long and healthy life, koi need just as much care as any other pet. Koi live an average of 25-35 years, although some have lived much longer. If you want to provide the proper care and environment for your fish, you need to do some research.

Make sure you do your research before you go to buy your koi. Read through books on koi care, browse the internet, and consult with koi experts.

Before you buy your fish, your pond needs to be properly prepared. It has to be big enough for the koi to swim around. A minimum of 1000 gallons, and 18 inches deep is recommended. The koi also need a quiet corner that they can retreat to. It is also advisable to have a number of hiding places for the fish so that they can avoid predators, such as racoons, or your neighbor's cat. The pH of the water should be between 7.5 and 8.5. Make sure that the filter has been running for a while, and that the beneficial bacteria in the pond have had a chance to establish themselves. These bacteria are important for maintaining the chemical balance of your pond once you add the fish.

It is always best to shop for your koi at a specialty store. Be sure too look for healthy fish with clear eyes, no missing scales and erect fins. Many variables affect the price of the fish, including size, pattern, shape, and availability.T Younger fish are usually a lot less expensive than the older and larger fish. Younger fish, about 3-4 inches long will probably cost less than 10 dollars. Older fish, 22-24 inches long can range from $1,200 and up, occasionally ranging up to $10,000. Butterfly koi are more expensive than regular koi due to their long flowing fins.

Be sure to add fish to your pond gradually. If you put in too many, the bacteria won't be able to handle all of the fish waste, and the chemical balance of the pond will be thrown off. Start with just one or two fish, and then after a week or two, go ahead and start adding a few more. Because of their metabolism is slower in the winter, it is best to buy the fish in cooler weather if possible. Koi do just fine in cold water, but you should avoid rapidly fluctuating temperatures. Even though koi are a warm water fish who prefer water temperatures of around 78 - 80 degrees F., they are capable of surviving in freezing cold temperatures and water over 86 degrees F. Deeper ponds are also preferable, so the water underneath the ice would not freeze. If you live in an area where the pond will freeze over, be sure to use a floating heater to keep a hole in the ice.

When the weather changes for the warmer, their metabolisms will speed up. Feeding of koi is quite easy by just feeding them koi pellets which are found online or at a pet store. Make sure to feed them twice a day. With some training, it is even possible to teach koi to eat out of your hand. When the weather and the water temperature start to cool off, you want to gradually reduce the amount of food that you feed the koi. When the water temperature drops to 50 degrees, then you should stop feeding them altogether until spring, when the water warms up again.

Koi will add a brilliant splash of color to your pond. And properly cared for, they will be in your pond for a long time, and provide years of enjoyment.

Isn't it time to get your water garden started? Visit Water Gardens & Fountains to find a wide selection of fountains, garden waterfalls, and much more.

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Experience the Real Da Vinci Code!

Youve read the book, youve seen the film, youve even followed the court case but its not enough? Well you need to take the tour.

The Da vinci code tours are a must for all Dan Brown fans. The excursions takes visitors on a tour of all the sights featured in the Browns best selling novel. And even if youre not a fan of the book, since it was set in some of the most beautiful cities in the world its well worth taking the tour just for the scenery.

The Da vinci code Louvre Tour is set in the City of Lights, Paris. Symbologists will lead the tour around the world famous Louvre museum explaining Da Vincis, including the Mona Lisa, St John The Baptist and The Virgin Of The Rocks. The tour continues across the river Seine to the church of saint Sulpice, the church in the book where Silas went in search of the Holy Grail.

And youre not just confined to all things Da vinci. After the tour youre free to explore Paris at your own pace. Visit Notre-Dame, Champs-Elysees, Arch of Triumph and the Eiffel Tower.

The Da vinci code Sforza Castle tour is a guided tour of the stunning castle in Milan. Many of the castles treasures are linked with the Da vinci code including The Tarot, and recently uncovered works of Leonardo da vinci.

For fans who want the full story start to finish, then the Angels and Demons Tour, focusing on Browns earlier book, is the best place to start. The tour is set in Rome, the Eternal City.

For Dan Brown fans who want the story behind the story the Da vinci code tour is a must.

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The Gift of Becoming a Ninja

Giving yourself or your friend the gift of becoming a ninja can be a great, life changing present that will add entire new dimensions to one's life. Starting out the new year with ninja philosophy, ninja attitude, and ninja power can lead to a new and improved individual. Give the gift of ninja. And benefit the following ways:

1. Increase in discipline. The ninja and discipline go hand and hand. Learning the ninja way of life means learning how to discipline yourself and get things done in the most efficient way possible. Discipline can transform one's life, and there's no better teacher, than that of the ninja.

2. Strength and power increase. Learning the physical aspects of the ninja will lead to an increase in strength and explosive power. The ninja needs to train physically so that he can move both agile and explosive. He must train to increase his strength as well.

3. A New Image. The ninja has a very unique image. All black, usually hooded, very versatile and flexible clothing. By learning the ninja ways you can also adapt a new ninja like image. Incorporating black flexible clothes with pockets to accompany possible ninja tools and weapons, one can have design a whole new image and thus essentially become a modern day ninja.

4. Develop Agility and speed. There are safe ways to practice the various ninja weapons which are tools to develop agility and speed. There are rubber nunchucks available which one can safely practice with and also plastic throwing stars as well as staffs and sticks one can train for hand and eye coordination.

Learning ninja skills and adapting a powerful ninja way of life is a incredible gift one can give either him or herself, or a friend or loved one, with the goal to become a better, more disciplined individual.

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