"BenignVanilla" wrote in message ...
Assuming you have proper filtration, you should be fine. Technically you
could keep a koi in a couple gallons of water and call it a Betta, if you
had the proper filtration. The 1000+100per limit is a general rule of thumb
that in general provides enough buffer for swings in ammonia, nitrites, etc.
With this buffer you are able to having rising levels without instant fish
kills. It's akin to being in a burning house, or near a burning a house. You
make the choice which would be easier to tolerate. LOL.

Currently I just have a skimmer with a bottom drain feeding a biofalls
with 3 thick filter mats. It came with the bag for some media, but
I'm a dolt and put the filters in the bag thinking that was the media
;-) I need to get some in there, I see alot of people use little
chunks of foam or is there something better?


I put salt in last night along with 2 different things the pond store
gave - one to help my lilies grow and the other was like a bacteria
shot, I meant to write down the names for here(I also got water
hycanith and a barley bale). I don't nearly have enough plants
though, so I hope they get growing pretty quick!

What are you treating for? There are 2 or 3 of us on this group, that don't
fix it, if it ain't broke. Additives? What for?

They told me salt (1lb/100gallons) was a must for a startup tank.
Maybe they just sold me something I don't need I dunno. I had planned
on turtles and goldfish but my wife saw the koi and declared we were
having those. I was pretty sure I had enough water so I said ok. The
problem is now I have to start learning again all over ;-) I had
previously been skipping all the koi comments.

Currently my only filter is my biofalls, do I need to get an external
filter and if so what kind would work the best? Also, the pond store
was convinvced I needed a UV but I would be more interested in the
natural way, plants etc(partly cost, partly because I just dont think
all this external stuff should be needed) and I know some of you on
here subscibe to that. Can anyone send me to some startup reading?

Thanks for all the help guys/gals, I'd much rather listen to people
who have ponds on here then the guys at the store who just want to
sell me another 20 things. Plus I'm a DIY'r and this is much more the
spirit ;-)