A few surprises

The larger, lower pond is up and running today. It's funny: even after having owned this pond for a few years now, each spring I forget exactly where in the garden the bio-filter sits. It sits in the garage during the winter; that's easy enough. Then I haul it out to the garden....and put it.....um....at the back...on one of the many patio slabs back there.

This year I picked the wrong slab. I will move it tomorrow.

Meanwhile, I was able to connect everything without a lot of fuss. I changed the UV bulb and had handy husband install it inline as per directions (remember: it goes between the pump and the filter). The UV light didn't do much for the algae last year. I think this was due to an old bulb. This new bulb I bought on sale...so we'll have to wait and see. $45 for a bulb. Seems high. But factor in the costs of removing algae using other means and it's a steal.

Now for the surprise.

We thought we had one Koi: Captain Jack Sparrow. Well. It seems that before Goldie (RIP) left us, they honeymooned amongst the lilies (ahh. such romance) and we have some small KOI. Not goldfish; Koi!

For you learners out there with an abundance of 'are they or aren't they'--here's how to tell the difference.

Koi have visible whiskers; goldfish do not.

(Photo from wikipedia.org)