Customer Story: Steven H – “From Backyard Beginnings to a Cross-Country Koi Quest”

Customer Story By: Steven H.

“My Koi journey started in California. I was gifted some koi from a friend for the small shallow pond I had in my back yard. The pond design was not really suitable for supporting mature koi and I struggled to maintain a healthy environment for my favorite pets. Then COVID struck and my wife and I decided to rebuild the pond and add a pool. We ended up building a recreational swim pond that could accommodate both the koi and us humans! We all got along well and then 3 years go by and we decide to move to South Carolina. My wife asked if I wanted to build a pond at our new home and take the Koi with us. I was surprised that she would suggest that, given the investment we had made 3 years prior, but I didn’t have to be asked twice!

We found a reputable pond builder out of Charleston and ground was broken on the new pond an hour after we closed escrow. Now the challenging task began of transporting 12 mature koi across the country. I bought a 250 gallon tank and a 5 X 8 trailer and fitted it with a DC powered aerator that would run continually while we were driving. At night, I used several rechargeable aerators, and when I had access to AC power, I would hook up a bio filter to clean the water. As we passed thru Arizona and New Mexico, the temps dropped into the high 20’s and the water in the transport tank reached 34 degrees! The Koi probably thought winter was back and went into hibernation mode.

8 days later we pull into our driveway, all Koi were alive and well as I relocated them to my 500 gallon holding tank in the garage. 3 weeks later my new pond is completed and the water is conditioned and ready to receive it’s new residents.

Thank you for reading my story. It’s been quite the journey from my intial pond and then swim pond in California to the new one in South Carolina……………….by far the best built and best looking of the 3 ponds, and hopefully the last!”

CUSTOMER’S GALLERY : STEVEN H.