About Robyn Rhudy Expertise I can answer questions regarding goldfish, koi, orfe, minnows, frogs, toads, salamanders, turtles, aquatic insects, snails, shrimp, other aquatic animals, algae, aquatic plants, winterizing, pond maintenance, pond setup, pond problems, and more. I am not as good on the actual construction of ponds and with pond equipment such as pumps and filters but know the basics.
Experience I have eight ponds and four aquariums. My largest 1800 gallon pond was built in 1997. Since then, I set up a web site on my animals, fish, and ponds. My pond web site (fishpondinfo.com) is huge, award-winning, and has spawned a free pond e-newsletter and a book on ponds. I am well known and respected in the on-line pond community.
Organizations Mid-Atlantic Koi Club
Publications I am quoted in an article in Aquarium Fish (May 2003). I published my own book on ponds in 2001. I wrote an article for the Jan/Feb 2004 issue of Organic Gardening on tub ponds.
Education/Credentials Masters degree in analytical chemistry; many people consider me a pond expert
Question QUESTION: WHAT IT THE BEST COLOUR TO HAVE MY KOI POND TO SHOW OF THE FISHES NATURAL COLOURS,
ANSWER: Most pond liners are black. They soon get a covering of algae and other micro-life. When koi are shown, they are put into large tubs. Those tubs are blue. So, the best color to show off colors would be blue. But, for an actual pond, I suggest the usual black.
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QUESTION: I'm building a concrete pond, whats best, liner or pond paint? also should I put gravel in the bottom of the pond.
Answer Concrete ponds leach and thus increase the pH and hardness. There are three ways to deal with that. You can repeatedly wash the concrete with acid (like muriatic acid from the pool store which is hydrochloric acid) and rinse, rinse, and rinse some more. You can line the pond. Or, you can "paint" the pond with liquid rubber. The paint is more expensive but may look better, and you wouldn't have to deal with the liner. With a liner, you have to find how to attach it at the top, hide the parts that are out of the water, etc. for it to look good.
