Keep things Nice and simple

[sissy]

I find alot of info on you tube ,how to fix things and repair appliances and reason I don't buy pond books as there are always debates about what is right and what is wrong with every thing .There seems to be so much debate on ponds you don't know what to believe and since what I am doing has worked i will stay with it .Some books I see seem to have so much out dated info it makes your head spin .Look at some of the you tube video's by the so called pro . pond builders and all they talk about is cleaning the pond rocks yearly and emptying the pond and power washing everything .Then they try to sell you on hiring them to take care of your pond and then buy all the expensive stuff they are selling .I had a pond builder who used to be in business and lived near me and when he saw my pond he said my fish would be dead in a month with the redneck set up I had .That was 5 years ago and since he went out of business because he got sued by several pond owners ,not sure all the reasons for the suits anymore but remember one was the damage he did to there existing pond that killed all there fish .I remember the story in the paper and felt bad for the people showing all there pretty koi dead .Pond was fine for over 15 years and he came along and convinced them he could make it even better .Glad I did not fall for his garbage .Books maybe OK but i go with my gut too .I look on you tube and some of those pond builders make me sick with there clean outs and power washers .

 

[Dave 54]

Please feel free to use the information from our koi/fish health Library to purchse any of these books, I have given Titles Authors Names and ISBN numbers where possible :-
Over the years Val and I have amassed quite a library of Koi related books / Fish Health books and have written a list to help both the Newcomer to the hobby along with the more experienced when choosing Koi/fish-koi/fish health books.
They have been reviewed at the suggestion of a very good American koi keeping friend of ours and former Head of the AKCA health forum Spike Cover.
Mini Encyclopaedia (Keeping Koi) ISBN 1842861069 .Keith Holmes, Tony Pitham, Nick Fletcher.
"This is a great little book , Keith , Tony and Nick have produced a little gem with this book , it’s a great introduction for anyone coming into our hobby and a refreshing read for the more experienced amongst us", ( A good Buy) and reasonable priced).Dave B
Goldfish & Koi in your home ISBN 0866220410.Dr H R Axelrod, William Vorderwinkler
. "Dr Axelrod and William in this book have created a comprehensive and complete book on the care feeding and treatment of Koi and goldfish, it's just stuffed full of great pictures and illustrations a must for the newcomer". (Though its getting a little dated nowadays it's still worth a read if you can get it). Dave B
The art of Koi Keeping ISBN 0713721413. Peter Cole.
"Peter in this book takes away from our hobby that what is mysterious to the newcomer , it is a fully comprehensive read that covers all the bases but keeps it simple, (our book has those ever present bit's of paper sticking out at pages we find interesting), it has helped us out with a problem more than once ", (a must for the new and experienced).Dave B
Koi a Complete Introduction ISBN 0866223991. Dr H R Axelrod.
"Dr Axelrod again produced in this book a good little book for the novice but again the book is getting more than a little dated (good for the beginners out there in Koi land).Dave B
Modern Nishikigoi ISBN 880241024 C2076 Takeo Kuroki.
"Takeo in this book takes us on a journey through all those confusing names that each class of Koi have. This book has great photographs to explain just what you are looking at, he covers the basic Varieties and some of the more Unique Koi", (Takeo’s book is a little confusing in places because if he doesn’t have a word for it in the Japanese to English translation then he just leaves it and carry's on regardless) but at the same time makes the book more endearing to the reader. Dave B
Manual of Nishikigoi (No Number) Takeo Kuroki. "Takeo Takes us on a journey through the world of Koi, with great pictures and comic illustrations throughout, again it is missing words in places but it is fully comprehensive in every other way ". (this was our first ever Koi book and is a must).Dave B
Fish and their behaviour ISBN 3923880197. Günter KH Zupac.
"Though not about Koi Günter brings in this book a greater understanding of fish that is a must for Fish keepers in general, it's a stimulating book and is full of very useful tips and encourages us to get even more out of our hobby by helping us understand the language and behaviour our charges speak" (A recommended read ).Dave B
Live Jewel's General Survey of Fancy Carp (No Number) Masayuki Amano
" I love this book but try to keep it in it's box as it's a little gem that needs protecting it is a crazy mix of both Japanese and English with fully illustrated pages throughout and a pull out chart of Koi". (Given to me by a very good friend Doc Price of Plymouth Devon, a retired Tattoo Artist, who now makes Japanese swords). (note there is another book out by this title but is written by Western Authors).Dave B
Koi For Home and Garden ISBN 087666745 X. Glenn Y. Takeshita.
"Glenn Covers the History of our Hobby then takes us through everything from Pond design and construction, through to Care and Feeding, Breeding, all the different Varieties of Koi and ends in Diseases and treatments. The copy we have was Printed in 82 so it is now sadly outdated but if you can get a copy well worth a read". (It is dedicated to the Koi enthusiasts of Hawaii). Dave B
An Interpet Guide to Koi ISBN 5012922000131. Barry James.
"Barry has created a 120 page easy step by step beginners guide to our Hobby , it contains great colour Photographs and I would fully recommend it to the novice" (well worth the buy).Dave B
Koi Varieties (Japanese Collared Carp Nishikigoi) ISBN 0866228853. Dr H R Axelrod.
"Again this book is fast becoming outdated and surpassed by the new Generation of Koi Author”. Dave B
The Cult of Koi ISBN 086622085. Michigan Tamadachi.
"This book I just love and is a must for everyone, it contains everything you need to know about Koi Keeping ", (you just have to buy this book).Dave B
The Practical Encyclopaedia of Koi ISBN 0861014057. N Brewster, N Chapple, J Cuvelier, M Davis, D Evans, K Phipps, Y Rees and P W Scott MSc BVSc MRCVS MIBiol.
"This book has a great pedigree!!... just look at the list of Koi Consultants", (need I say more ?, yes buy this book you'll never regret it).Dave B
Revised and Expanded Textbook of Fish Health ISBN 086624912 Dr George Post.
"Dr Post has created a really technical book here, more for the student than the Koi keeper but if you can understand it, it gives you a great insight into subject of Fish health, parasites and diseases of fish". (I found this book mentally taxing and had to put it away for another day , I'm not the student type).Dave B
The Ultimate Koi ISBN 1860541461. Nick Fletcher.
"Nick surpassed himself with this book; he has gotten together a relative who's who of specialist consultants in the creating of this book. It is split into three parts, covering in part one anatomy and Physiology, Koi senses; Koi varieties and an amazingly in depth look at Tatigio. In part two we look into the Koi environment, pond construction and filtration, seasonal changes and great tips on how to run your pond. "Then the icing on the cake", In part three we look into the aspects of Koi care telling us about handling .feeding and breeding Koi". (buy this book its a must have).Dave B
Koi of the World (Japanese Colored Carp) ISBN 0876660928.Dr HR Axelrod.
"By now you must think we have something against the good Dr!.. but we haven't because we feel as with all previous books it is sadly in need of being revised”. Dave B
Hand Book of Fish Diseases (All Fish) ISBN 0866227032. Dieter Untergasser.
"Dieter Untergasser has created in this book an in depth, yet easy to follow guide to fish diseases. It is full of great photographs with microscopic views of every nasty you can think of. it is a well thought out book", ( a must for any fish keeper ).Dave B
The Professionals Book of Koi ISBN 0866225285. Anmarie Barrie.
“Anmarie Barrie has put together a fascinating book which has great photographs. It covers all the aspects of both Koi care and maintenance; it does a great job of cutting through the often confusing list of Japanese names. It's a book I like to reference quite often". ( a great book for both the novice and experienced Koi keeper alike).Dave B
An Essential Guide to Choosing your Koi Colour Varieties (Pond Master) ISBN 184286064X Nick Fletcher...
"Another one of Nicks gems, it is a great little book and very easy to understand" (strongly recommended for the beginner to buy).Dave B
Nishikigoi Fancy Koi (No Number) Takehiko Tamaki.
“A Chief priest at a Shinto shrine and Nishikigoi breeder, who else is more qualified to write on the subject than Takehiko Tamaki. It is an early book but I would hazard a guess that this book over the years has done more than enough to bring the hobby to the west. It is extremely easy to follow for the novice to our hobby". (if this book is still in print buy it).Dave B
The Manual of Fish Health ISBN 0861013869. Dr Chris Andrews Adrian Exell, Dr Neville Carrington.
"This book is the one that did it for me!!!... At the end of my tether and about to give up keeping Goldfish, after a spate of deaths (prior to discovering Koi). Val bought it for my Birthday ", (it is the most dog eared book in our Library full of bits of paper marking pages of interest, it is a fish bible that even has connections through Adrian Exell to Plymouth, (he studied fisheries sciences at the Plymouth Polytechnic (now University), though not exclusive to Koi. I would strongly recommend it to any fish keeper its a Must).Dave B
The Interpet Manual of fish health revised (formally Salamander) ISBN 1842860674, Authors as with the manual of Fish Health.
“See the above!!... This is a newer updated Version of the same book But is Even Better”. Manual of Fish Health Salamander ISBN 0861013689 Dr Chris Andrews, Dave B
Understanding Koi (No Number) David E Hulse, Michael I George.
"A small paperback book written with the novice in mind and is a general guide to our hobby, it is deliberately non technical. It covers all aspects of our hobby and is based around well established principals ", ( A nice little book).Dave B
The Interpet Manual of Koi Health ISBN 1842860992. Keith Holmes, Tony Pitham.
"Keith and Tony in writing this book have surpassed themselves!!!... It is a masterpiece, a book that will help people in the hobby for many a year to come. It is on a par with the Manual of fish health. Already it has little bits of paper marking out pages to of interest beautifully illustrated and easy to use" (strongly recommended). Dave B
The Koi Doctor ISBN 9080856630. Maarten Lammens. Veterinarian.
"In writing this book the Author is taking the Koi keeper to the next level. It’s well illustrated easy to understand and pleasing to read. It is full of helpful tips, it gives us simple solutions when and where it can and in my book it ranks amongst the best, it even covers complex operations and just about covers everything you need to know " ( A great Buy). Dave B
Step by Step Advanced Koi Diagnosis and Treatments Duncan Griffiths.
Duncan has written a masterpiece with his book, at the moment I am only halfway through this book, It is easy to understand as Duncan has masterfully presented the book in lay mans terms, reading it is like re learning everything you thought you knew!!!... but with that bit extra (I'll report more on this book at a later date ) but so far wow what more can I say". (You really need to buy this book).Dave B
Koi Medicine ISBN 185278172 Lance Jepson MA VetMB CBiol MIBiol MRCVS.
"Lance has done it!!!.... the cross over between the vet and the Koi keeper, yet I find this book a little confusing in its layout," Perhaps it's just me”. I’ll have to go back through this book to see if I can get it clearer in my mind. It is a comprehensive book that covers a large section of problems, yet strangely I can find no mention of KHV in this book". (A must). Dave B
Koi ISBN 1093098424, S Hickling M Martin B Brewster N Fletcher.
“Dont you just know when these names pop up your onto something special!!!.... I've yet to read further in this book but so far they have gone that one step further (buy).Dave B
The Enigma of Koi ISBN 0952657619 Barry Goodwin (Signed By Author).*
Koi Kichi ISBN 095263810X Hardback ISBN 0952638118 Deluxe. Peter Waddington (signed By Author).*
Book of Water Gardens ISBN 0866226621 John Dawes*
Water Gardens in a Weekend ISBN 060060697X Peter Robinson
*Please note: - these last three titles were bought at a Section Auction and were Kindly donated by the Widow of our Late Chairman Ed Hampson, sadly we were out bid on a number of other titles, but such is life. "Many thanks Sue".


Just added:
How to keep koi an essential guide ISBN 9781903098073 David Twigg
Hobbyist Guide to Successful Koi Keeping ISBN 4679816582 Dr David Pool *
*This book is an Aquarium Digest International-Collectors Edition by Tetra


As such they have yet to be reviewed.

rgrds


Dave

 

[Dave 54]

May I add to this by saying much of the money that paid for these books came from the growing on and selling of koi you could say we created a sort of self perpetuating hobby in that we would buy either books , food, koi and equipment from these sales each koi is grown on to 22" those that aren't pets that is then sold on to friends and other koi keepers .
Koi would be bought in small we would get the enjoyment of growing them on and watching them develope to maturity
We Iike to think a sort of win, win hobby if ever there was one . :highfive:

 

[sissy]

not sure I would ever want to get into selling koi .There is a koi farm right in NC 20 minutes from my house and thats where I got aggie and bert 3 dollars each and some of the ugly ones he sells for a dollar

 

[Mucky_Waters]

You got a lot of books there Dave. It looks like those books get into some serious details relating to koi.
I gota say though, posting all those books with all those detailed subjects about koi husbandry kind of makes my head spin just thinking about reading them all. It kind of flies in the face of the topic you posted for this thread about "keeping it simple". Actually, as I think about it, it seems to me that basic water gardening is simple, it's when you get into raising koi in ponds that things start to get a lot more complicated.
What do you think?

 

[Dave 54]

No Mucky there are books there for every level of fishkeeper those who wish to learn like ourselves could if they wish take the information supplied and go buy their own books, yes there are some complicated books there but they come later.
But its information freely given and that what fishkeeping is all about in the end keeping it simple is taking what the more advanced books say and putting out the information in a more simplified form..
Yes you can go through the web googling this and that but is the information right or just someones ideas that may be wong or darn right dangerous .
At least with books you know the information is correct so if just one person on this or any other site I visit says hey you kow this guy is right books are for me then goes out and buys say the Internet book of Fish health then I've done my job in opening up another person to the health issuses that fish, not just koi but everything from cold water species, to tropical fish .
The health books are simple, very well laid out but better still very easy to understand .
That person at a later date then says to another fish keeper hey you know I have this book , its my fish health bible why dont you buy it , I havent lost a fish since I read it , I recomend you use it and so on and so forth .
Not slating someone who comes on a site with ideas and a doctorate in Ichtheology , i think they have every right to pass on ideas the same way I'm trying to do , that my friend is a petty thing to do and in my book totally out of order .
Have you any idea how many fish are exported to the west and dont see out their first year because of a lack of knowledge ?.( I see it in the fish shop I visit every week ).oh my fish has died I dont know why.....
The mortality rate is in the millions thats in the US alone not, counting the UK or Europe, in the tropical trade it is putting a severe strain on native fish stocks in the Amazon each year.
But in the coldwater trade it keeps the breeders happy that they can export these huge numbers of fish each year ok but they are only goldfish or koi but a koi can live up to 80 years and a goldfish 40 years
I owe my koi a great deal in that the helped me through PTSD and most probably saved my life to boot but thats smething I'd rather not talk about......
So dont we owe it to the fish ?
rgrds
Dave

 

[sissy]

Never seemed to me my koi were that complicated ,maybe because they are nothing fancy or special and did not cost a lot of money .It is just over all the years they became special to me as they got older and gained personality that made them special .To me they were just fish at the time .I bought them because they were cheap and fish were fish .I did not know anything about koi or goldfish ,never owned a fish or tank in my life .My dads fish in his pond were just fish we caught in a lake and were little so we brought them home .Actually may have been some kind of minnow I guess .

 

[Dave 54]

You are so right about personalities sissy because they have brown top our oldest and largest loves nibbling my elbow and is first in the que for food .
The Japanese do have a problem because they are working with a very mall gene pool and the more expensive ones can have as I found an impaired immune system they are however introducing some of the Magoi or eating koi which is where they came from all those years ago problem is at the moment they cant get the colours to be vibrent .
It'll take a while to get it right, but the Israeli koi are now on a par with these more expensive koi at alott less price they originate from Japanese parents as do most of the British bred Japanese koi .

rgrds
Dave

 

[sissy]

funny they still call them Japanese koi and read that when that nuclear power plant went that koi were lost and some of the koi were sick or had ulcers or the young were not healthy .I wonder how that will effect future koi that come from there .I saw a nature show also and that they were not only talking about koi breeding but they were talking about all the toxic waste that went into the ocean that some companies are keeping secret and even some researches seem to be afraid to release info as they are afraid of their country doing something to them .They would not even show there face on camera and even disguised there voices .Scary when you see shows like that .You wonder what next . :sad:

 

[Dave 54]

sissy sorry I missed this but due to the break in I've been in a bit of a mess god I must have cleaned and polished our front room and kitchen at least sevn times since it happened to us, we are talking deep clean useing steam and cleaners in the kitchen and steam and polish in the front room and still I cant get this nasty piece of work who came into our home out of my head.
I've not heard about the koi breeders having problems as of yet but if there are problems the Japanese seem to keep themselves to themselves but we'll keep an eye out for this for you have you got a link into this program.
Most of the Prefectures where koi are produced where down wind of the nuclear accident but some are on the other side of Japan .
They themselves after an earthquake a few years ago did have some problems with a KHV outbreak but the earthquake itself did alott of damage to the breeders stcks some ponds were full of dead koi after it .
We sat and watched the whole horrifying incident unfold and what happened makes you think , even the UK has had a szunami in our past and the scientists are finding evidence of this happening all over the world at one time or another, it makes me glad that we live on the high ground well above sea level and between us and the sea (around about 2 miles away there is a huge great hill but if we did have one hitting Plymouth part of the city is reclaimed ground and at sea level so it could cause problems
Fingers crossed it doesnt happen in ur lifetime.

rgrds

Dave

 

[crsublette]

I believe the lack of book reading has more to do with the internet than people simply not wanting to take the time to learn. I have tons of books on all kinds of subjects (I've even read some of them :redface, but all the information in all those books can be found somewhere on the internet. In fact some of those books can be found in their entirety on the net. I almost never buy books anymore, not because I don't like to read, or because I'm looking for an easier way, but because I can usually find the same, or more up to date information, on the internet. The fact that it is quicker and cheaper is just a perk. Not only that, but the internet often offers that information on subjects in multimedia formats that books just can't do. For instance, I'm not much of an automotive mechanic, but I'll sometimes take care of small vehicle repair or maintenance tasks if I have the time, when I do, the last thing I'd think to do is go out and find a book. Maybe 20 years ago that might have been what I would have done, but now I usually do a search on youtube, where I can get direct verbal and visual instruction from a mechanic and actually see what he is doing with my own eyes. That sort of instruction is clearer and easier to follow than text in a book.

That's the entire point right there...

Books are great for creating a baseline, but, as it was in college, very few professors actually followed the books that they forced us to buy. There's the rare book here and there that I have kept from my college days due to the content referring to concrete subject matter.

The community, be it on the internet or in organizations/clubs/seminars, is who keeps the knowledge up to date and where folk go to for continuing education.

Also, keep in mind... anyone can publish a book and simply being able to have something published does not make them correct. This is why I enjoy reading the index of the book first to look at the contents and reference page. This also includes white papers where folk can pay money to get their research published so that it is archived for future prosperity.

I wonder how much info in Dave's list contradict each other. However, I bet there is some good concrete subject matter in them. I look forward to reading them. Definitely pdf archiving this thread for later reference.

Problem with the Internet and pond stores is that the misinformation gets spread by "folk who believe they know better", which also includes some highly credentialled or experienced individuals and often this is how the misinformation initially gains momentum.

Problem with keeping things simple is that it leaves questions unanswered creating holes to be possibly filled by misinformation from others. However, as Mucky stated earlier, it all depends on the person's goals and situation. There are folk who simply just want to enjoy their fish and call someone else to fix their problems.

I think the problem is a lack of communication skills, an abundance of experience with too little knowledge base, a lack of gauging the advice according to the consumer's desires, and one's self desires to give cookie cutter answers regardless of context.

When I first began this hobby, I was so aggravated by folk with their cookie cutter answers. When I would ask a follow up question, then folk would simply shrug their shoulders and point me in another direction which would lead me to be pointed to another direciton, etc etc... It would be nice to find someone who had experience and an extroardinary knowledge base of up to date, relevant information who could just be a good teacher. I've finally found a few, but... ugh... it took a long time to finally find them.

I have come to realize there's one simple question told by many newbies that is really not so simple to answer and that is... What filtration should I use ?? Well, it's not that simple if you are wanting to gauge the advice according to the consumer's desires and goals. To get a good picture for giving proper advice, this simple question leads to at least seven followup questions that I can think of off the top of my head.

It is nice to keep things simple, but it is also important to point out the expectations and responsibilities when becoming involved in this hobby. I have read too many folk experiencing so much trouble where there should not have been any trouble at all in the first place if the proper advice was given to them.

 

[Dave 54]

That's the entire point right there...

Books are great for creating a baseline, but, as it was in college, very few professors actually followed the books that they forced us to buy. There's the rare book here and there that I have kept from my college days due to the content referring to concrete subject matter.

The community, be it on the internet or in organizations/clubs/seminars, is who keeps the knowledge up to date and where folk go to for continuing education.

Also, keep in mind... anyone can publish a book and simply being able to have something published does not make them correct. This is why I enjoy reading the index of the book first to look at the contents and reference page. This also includes white papers where folk can pay money to get their research published so that it is archived for future prosperity.

I wonder how much info in Dave's list contradict each other. However, I bet there is some good concrete subject matter in them. I look forward to reading them. Definitely pdf archiving this thread for later reference.

Problem with the Internet and pond stores is that the misinformation gets spread by "folk who believe they know better", which also includes some highly credentialled or experienced individuals and often this is how the misinformation initially gains momentum.

Problem with keeping things simple is that it leaves questions unanswered creating holes to be possibly filled by misinformation from others. However, as Mucky stated earlier, it all depends on the person's goals and situation. There are folk who simply just want to enjoy their fish and call someone else to fix their problems.

I think the problem is a lack of communication skills, an abundance of experience with too little knowledge base, a lack of gauging the advice according to the consumer's desires, and one's self desires to give cookie cutter answers regardless of context.

When I first began this hobby, I was so aggravated by folk with their cookie cutter answers. When I would ask a follow up question, then folk would simply shrug their shoulders and point me in another direction which would lead me to be pointed to another direciton, etc etc... It would be nice to find someone who had experience and an extroardinary knowledge base of up to date, relevant information who could just be a good teacher. I've finally found a few, but... ugh... it took a long time to finally find them.

I have come to realize there's one simple question told by many newbies that is really not so simple to answer and that is... What filtration should I use ?? Well, it's not that simple if you are wanting to gauge the advice according to the consumer's desires and goals. To get a good picture for giving proper advice, this simple question leads to at least seven followup questions that I can think of off the top of my head.

It is nice to keep things simple, but it is also important to point out the expectations and responsibilities when becoming involved in this hobby. I have read too many folk experiencing so much trouble where there should not have been any trouble at all in the first place if the proper advice was given to them.

Thats the wonderful thing about books yes some may contradict one another but over time you build up reference library where you can cross reference things doing it this way forces you to find the middleground in all this then go with what you think but at the same time being very well informed.
Many of the Authors in this library are either vets specializing in the fish world or very knowlegable people .
The aim is to create a library that in my passing I can pass on in its entirety either to our koi club our cities reference library or the Plymouth University.
When coming to the novice you can direct them to a book at their level of entry into the fish/koi world that you know is the best one for them to start with explaining about pond builds the right form of filtration and everything else a novice may well need to start up in the hobby.
But as the library is built up, it goes on up through to advanced fish/koi keeping (what you see on that list is only half of it), the rest I have yet to reveiw but with my short term memory problems my medication causes,I'm finding hard to do at the moment.
Books themselves have value both to you and to others not only that they are to be admired as a collection and are there to be accessed when needed
The internet as I previousely stated can if the wrong website is picked up as an example can be darn right dangerous in the wrong hands this is why its our duty to the novice to keep things nice and simple in lay terms if you like to give them the best possible start.
I was the deat of goldfish when I first started out but then my Val bought me a fish health book for my birthday.
The rest is history, that book is still read its also recieved an updating since but its still my bible in the world of fish and is the most battered book in in collection.
I have a dear friend called Martin Simpson who s self taught in all aspects of the fish world his knowledge is encycolpedic he can from memory give you the latin name of every species knownt to man, Martin I have known since he was 14 as a novice koi keeper he took in everything I taught him and beat me four years later with a stunning koi....
He is now in his thirties, he lectures at Plymouth University and is a very well respected guy throughout the fish world .
He runs a Marine fish business with ephesis on conervation creating his own coral rather than have it brought in, he has the best seahorse breeding program I know , even over that at the National Marine Aquarium (from his own kitchen).
My point is he got there by reading books

rgrds


Dave

 

[crsublette]

I think it is easier to find dangerous information on the Internet since it is tremendously easier to write a blog or a column or an article versus the time it takes to write a book. Point is... the Internet got their information from somewhere as well. I wouldn't be suprised if your buddy Simpson also has a website or a place on the Internet where his lectures and knowledge is shared.

Books are fine, but I doubt Mr. Simpsons continuing education came just from books. The contradiction books can create can be just as dangerous. Ultimately, folk have to use their best judgement as to what information to believe.

 

[Mucky_Waters]

I have come to realize there's one simple question told by many newbies that is really not so simple to answer and that is... What filtration should I use ?? Well, it's not that simple if you are wanting to gauge the advice according to the consumer's desires and goals. To get a good picture for giving proper advice, this simple question leads to at least seven followup questions that I can think of off the top of my head.

Indeed! What filtration system should I use???
The answer to that question has got to be the most controversial subject in this hobby, because it covers practically every aspect of the pond, from the pumps, to the actual filter chambers and plumbing, to the plants and even rocks on the bottom of the pond, whom many people figure into their pond's bio-filtration. I'm just glad there is no one definitive answer, because it would make this hobby rather boring.

As far as books go, all my early knowledge about aquariums came from books, but all my knowledge of ponds, which I got into much later, came from the internet. There are two reasons for that, my age, and the age of the internet. I still have a couple old books on aquariums somewhere, last time I flipped through them the pages were falling out. I remember them fondly, but consider them to be somewhat outdated, after all they are at least 25 years old. As for ponds, I have never owned one book on ponds. Not that I don't think there are any good books on ponds out there, but because I just don't buy books anymore, not on any subject. Partly because I'm too cheap, but mainly because I like to get opposing views and ideas on specific topics. Books don't always offer that because the author generally has his, or her, own views on the mater and that is what he, or she. will usually offer as the proper course to take. It makes sense, that's what I would do if I wrote a book on a particular subject. Wouldn't mean I was necessarily right, but hey, it's my book. So to get more views and ideas on a subject I would have to buy several books, and that conflicts with my cheapness, so I find it just easier, quicker, less expensive, and WAY funner to get on the internet.

 

[Dave 54]

Mucky I have a book we found at a car boot on tropical fishkeeping way back in 1948 I love it as it shows the humble roots of the modern day hobby.
Yes some books are now unfit for purpose.... but then we get the new generation of both Fish Vets and Authors most are easy to follow, Dr Johnson DVM being one of them Dr Saint-Earne DVM, Maatin Leemans DVM Dr Lance Jepson DVM,Duncan Griffith etc all are good at what they do.
At one time it was Dr Axelrod or one of a number of Japanese Authors but my whole point is that you are made to use the little grey cells when finding that middle path between them all and thats the important bit....
In other words the same on the net opposing veiws
Many think because its on the net it has to be wright which as we all know isnt so, ok some of it is and I wont dispute that fact but in books it has to be wright otherwise these guys open themselves up to law suites.
You yourself loook back fondly at your Aquatic book collection
On the net its just faceless individuals where there is no come back what so ever, get something wrong go back to this guy or that guy and you'll find they have vanished giving themselves new user names IP adresses etc.
We had one person on a website I used to be on that (sadly failed) now in the end where this person used to quote whole pages of stuff off the internet made colourful and interseting by that peron in an attempt to disguise the fact of where it had come from.
To listen to them you would think my god this person really knows their stuff.... then one day a mistake was made costing koi...no comeback!!!!.....change of name then back to doing what they were doing before.
I was shown a photo of this persons koi pond ha ha the shitiest looking Vat (one of those fold down ones) you see at shows, which was full of crap with the sorriest looking koi I've ever come across in all our years of koi keeping.
The sad part is this person really believed what they were telling people and even took one of the Top Koi Authors to court because and I quote "as a budding Author I have been slandered by this Author of great repute", much to say it was thrown out of court, this person has now disapeared but a number of us keep our eye out just in case and are then able to nip things in the bud.
We left the site now gone in disgust the owner was later quoted as saying I've lost two really good people through you, why because she started thinking she was better than anyone on his site and was literally forcing people to leave.
No I'll stick to our books thank you and my little grey cells much of whats left of them lol

rgds

Dave