Mid-Atlantic Koi August 2013

Mid~Atlantic Koi The Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club

August 2013

Mid~Atlantic Koi The Membership Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club

Volume 27, Number 2

August 2013

—Upcoming Events Long Island Chapter Meetings . . . . .32 2 MAKC Club Events . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 BBQ and Multi-Club Auction MAKC Koi Show - Show is Cancelled

Beginner’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 MAKC Corporate Members . . . . . . . . . . .7 Learning the Art of Sanke Appreciation 8 Taro Kodama, Kodama Koi Farm

400 Koi Fish Stolen from VA. Pond . . .12 NBCWashington.com

—MAKC News From the Editor’s Desk . . . . . .4 President’s Message . . . . . . . .6 MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers . . . . . . . .32 Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . . .33 F..A..S..T Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Summer Pond Tips (for Warmer Climates) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Ray Jordan, Texas

The Importance of Oxygen in a Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Linda Montgomery , KHA, Oregon

To Feed, or Not to Feed.

That is the Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Meyer Jordan. Ripples, Aquatic Habitats

Mid-Atlantic Koi Deadlines for articles, meeting announcements and ads September Issue Deadline: August 1 Available Online: September 1 October Issue Deadline: Available Online:

September 1 October 1

Big Koi Caper – Part 4 Pond Repair Nightmare . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Carolyn Weise, Florida

On the Road to a Koi Event . . . . . . . . . . .30 Picture to Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 MAKC Membership Application . . . . .37

Koi Feeding Frenzy Photo by Carolyn Weise

Mid-Atlantic Koi Magazine Editor, Carolyn Weise

Advertising Editor, Philip Gray

(516) 486-5163

philiegray@mac.com

Meeting/Events Editor, Joyce Spears (856) 832-4922 gjs63@comcast.net FAST Ads Editor, Philip Gray

(516) 486-5163

Billing and Collections, Floyd Broussard (703) 491-4921

Page 2 Mid-Atlantic Koi

makcmag@makc.com

(239) 573-6650 x105

philiegray@mac.com fbrou2801@verizon.net

August 2013

MAKC Executive Committee President Philip Gray

(516) 486-5163

philiegray@mac.com

Cell (516) 967-4966 Vice-President Bernie Szer

(516) 241-4655

Dinah Bwint

(610) 287-9178

Anthony Vitale

(516) 420-0740

gasssman246@aol.com

Secretary sanke@verizon.net

Treasurer nyssba96@aol.com

Central Chapter Vice-President

Remember to Renew Your Membership

Looking for a Volunteer Long Island Chapter Vice-President Bruce Levine

(516) 735-2644

bruce@li-koi.com

North Chapter Vice-President Dan Bitcon

(973) 699-2186

DanVideo@aol.com

Saugerties (NY) Chapter Vice-President Herb Ehrich

(845) 247-7105

koiking15@yahoo.com

South Chapter Vice-President Chuk Nixon

(301) 717-7702

chuknixon@aol.com

Standing Committe es Membership Barry Hixson

(610) 262-5184 makcmembers@verizon.net AKCA Representative

Philip Gray

(516) 486-3807

philiegray@mac.com

MAKC Sales Ruth & Gene Rice

(304) 725-2333

sew4Koi@comcast.net

MAKC Notice Group Manager Michael Snyder

(301) 762-2059

makc@imsnyder.com

WebMaster Wayne Orchard

(828) 693-3851 waynesorchard@gmail.com Japanese Cultural Coordinator

Floyd Broussard

(703) 491-4921 fbrou2801@verizon.net

Exe c ut ive B o ard Adv is or y Committe e Joe Zuritsky

(215) 575-4001 jzuritsky@parkwaycorp.com

Betty Roemer

(828) 697-2692

roroemer@mchsi.com

Art Lembke

(410) 867-0270

artsKoi1@aol.com

Mike Riordan

(732) 747-6089

Koidog1@verizon.net

Gene Rice

(304) 725-2333

RiceGene@comcast.net

Eric Wilson

(613) 421-7890

wilseric@rogers.com

Ellie Cooper

(610) 865-1163

mamakoi@verizon.net

Don’t Wait Do it Today.

Renewal form you can print out is on page 37.

Ja p a n es e Cul tur a l Adv is er Misa Sitterly

(703) 490-0770

sitterly@comcast.net

MAKC Home Page: http://www.makc.com

Production: Cindy Graham, TC Publishing, Inc.

August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi is the magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club.

Material is selected for its interest to Koi keepers. MAKC accepts no responsibility for accuracy of content. Reproduction of uncopyrighted articles is permitted as long as this magazine is credited as the source.

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 3

From the Editor’s Desk

by Carolyn Weise makcmag@makc.com

ever stop learning. In this issue we have great information about Sanke as a Koi variety, and one that I never fully appreciated before. Thanks for Taro Kodama for teaching us his wisdom.

N

And Ray Jordan always has great info to share.

Although he is in Texas, summer is a hot time of year and August was always the worst.

So, basically all our articles this month have to do with surviving the summer heat and the issues related to it. Some you know, some you may not be aware of, but if you take the time, we have experts doing the research for you.

One of my favorite new contributors is Meyer Jordan. I want to thank Taro, Ray, Linda Montgomery, and Meyer.

I hope you aren’t sick of seeing the work on my pond because we have the next installment in here. My pond is up and running and the fish are doing very well today.

I hope you are enjoying your summer so far.

Let’s get those Pond Tours and Chapter Meetings going.

Sincere thank you to Carolyn Broussard for almost a decade of dedication as MAK Treasurer and a big welcome to Anthony Vitale, our new MAK Treasurer!

Together in Koi, Carolyn Page 4 Mid-Atlantic Koi

August 2013

Beginner’s Corner Ask a question and we will get you an answer.

This is a repeat but it is always a good reminder.

Don’t forget; send in your questions for the beginner’s corner.

Question: Now that it is summer time my fish want to eat all the time. How much do I feed them and how often??

Answer: First the fish do want to eat all the time, that doesn’t mean they need food. When they see you they want to eat, that’s a conditioned response.

Stick to the feeding schedule.

Spring –Starts at 45° F. - wheat germ food once a day what they will eat in 5 to 10 minutes.

Summer – Starts at about 60° F. Regular high protein food once a day what they will eat in 510 minutes.

At 65-70° F. Feed twice a day what they will eat in 5 to 10 minutes.

For the adventurous ones:

DR.WAYNE’S KOI KUBE RECIPE 8 oz. frozen chopped kale, or collard greens ¾ cup frozen peas 4 oz. smelt, white fish, or (I use shrimp) 1 oz. red pepper (plus one medium chopped carrot) 1 Tbsp. wheat germ (plus 1 tbsp. brewer’s yeast) ½ tsp. liquid fish vitamins (plus 2 caps 400 IU vitamin E) 2 pills vitamin C crushed 2 to 4 packets KNOX gelatin, dissolved in hot water.

Puree in food processor all but hot water and gelatin. (may have to add water to puree solids Then add vitamins and water with gelatin, mix by hand, spread on nonstick cookie sheets and freeze. After about an hour, take out and score with serrated knife into 4 in squares then finish freezing. When done remove from cookie sheets break apart and store in plastic bag. To feed fish take out one or two defrost and cut into small cubes. Fish just love them.

Over 70° F. You could go to three times a day what they will eat in 5 to 10 minutes.

You can add some of the following when getting ready for a show: avocado, zucchini, romaine or swiss chard. 

Over 80° F. Too Hot Do Not Feed look for ways to cool the water.

Note: This column offers suggestions only; the ultimate care of your pond and fish is up to you.

Fall – Do the schedule in reverse until 45° F. Then don’t feed.

If you feed more than this you will be fouling the water and over taxing your filter system, by making more ammonia. Don’t forget to do your water changes and ammonia testing on a regular schedule; this will help water quality stay high.

August 2013

Wanted – Your Questions Please email your questions to makcmag@makc.com.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 5

President’s Message

by Philip Gray Suggestions4MAKC@gmail.com

Hello All, I hope all club members are enjoying their summer and getting the most out of this Koi Season. In this letter I have a few announcements I must share.

Carolyn Broussard It is with mixed emotions that I must announce that Carolyn Broussard is stepping down as Treasurer for the club.

Carolyn has been the Treasurer for about a decade. Her dedication and hard work to the club have been an immeasurable asset and she will be sorely missed. On be half of all of our members I would like to express my gratitude for her commitment and devotion to the club and wish her the very best on all of her future endeavors.

Show Cancelled I also must announce that unfortunately due to a lack of volunteer assistance this year's September koi show will be cancelled. I apologize to those of you who were looking forward to attending this event.

I would like to look at this as a moment to first, express my gratitude to all members who give of their time and serve as volunteers. Your time and efforts allow for the club to enjoy such memorable events.

Page 6 Mid-Atlantic Koi

Secondly, I would like to encourage all of our members to become more involved. Please discuss with your Chapter officers any interest you have in volunteering or any special skills you can bring to the club. It is our united love and respect for Koi that calls us to members of this club.

Elected Officers Finally I want to send a heart felt congratulations to all of our new officers in this new slate.

Congratulations to all!

President Philip Gray (516) 486-5163 philiegray@mac.com Vice-President Bernie Szer (516) 241-4655 gasssman246@aol.com Secretary Dinah Bwint (610) 287-9178 sanke@verizon.net Treasurer Anthony Vitale (516) 420-0740 nyssba96@aol.com ď ś

"We are pleased to introduce the new Treasurer, Anthony Vitale."

August 2013

M A KC

Corporate

Members

www.mazuri.com

Quality Koi Company Nisei Koi Farm 856-299-7564 info@qualitykoi.com

www.qualitykoi.com

Interested in becoming a Corporate Member?

East Coast – Patio Ponds, LTD 301-874-8440 West Coast – Laguna Koi Ponds 949-494-5107

www.MatalaUSA.com August 2013

Reasonable one time fee for the year – includes a Business Card size ad in all issues in this section and on the MAKC website.

Contact Barry Hixson at 610-262-5184 or makcmembers@verizon.net Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 7

Language of Koi Taisho Sanshoku – Learning the Art of Sanke Appreciation

by Taro Kodama, Kodama Koi Farm

ave you ever heard of “Sanke Bim bou”? No, it is not bimbo. It is “Bim bou.” In Japanese, it means “the poor.” “Sanke Bimbou” means Sanke breeders are always poor. Why are they poor? It is because it is very difficult to breed nice Sanke and make money. Of course, they are not necessarily poor, but that is how breeders in Niigata, Japan described the challenges of Sanke breeding. You might understand how difficult it is to come across a nice Sanke even from your experience. Let’s discuss this variety that is often difficult to breed.

H

What’s in a Name?

“Sanke,” “Taisho Sanke” or “Taisho Sanshoku”?

These are all names of this variety. You may wonder why this variety seems to have several Page 8 Mid-Atlantic Koi

names. The most appropriate name is Taisho Sanshoku. Some call this Koi “Taisho Sanke” or just “Sanke.” It got shorter simply because the original name is a bit long. I, therefore, would assume Sanke is probably the name you hear the most.

Sanshoku means three colors, obviously because this variety is a Koi with three colors: red, white and black. Sanke is a shorter version of the three colors. Now, what is “Taisho”? In Japan, we have two calendars. One is the Western calendar we use here, and the other is the Japanese calendar.

In Japan, we have the emperor system. Each emperor has his own era, which is named after him on the calendar. For example, the era of the reign of the current emperor, Akihito, bears the name of Heisei. 2014 is Heisei 25. Taisho is the name of the era when emperor Taisho reigned in August 2013

2.

1.

3.

Beautiful example of tsubo zumi.

This two-year-old female has a beautiful Kohaku pattern. The sumi is gradually coming out, with more to come. The sumi in circle 1 shows you the quality of sumi she has and the same quality sumi will definitely come out over time in circle 2 and 3.

August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 9

A massive Sanke: over 30 inches long.

The powerful body showcases the beautiful harmony of hi, shiroji and sumi.

Japan from 1912 to 1926. From this, you can tell Taisho Sanke is a tri-colored Koi created in the era of Taisho.

appreciate an art of beautiful red expression with deep and bright red ink on pure white canvas.

2. Sumi Kohaku is the foundation of Koi appreciation.

Sanke is basically a Kohaku with a sumi (black) pattern. At first, it must be good as Kohaku.

Then, we need to see if the sumi are located in the right positions to balance with the Kohaku base.

When you look at Sanke, check the following: 1) Kohaku 2) Sumi 3) Breeders

1. Kohaku In the previous article, I discussed the importance of quality and pattern. Just like that, we would like to see snow-white shiroji (white ground) and bright hi (red). We would like to see the beautiful hi design. It is as if we would Page 10 Mid-Atlantic Koi

Sumi is a term that originally came from calligraphy. Sumi means black ink in calligraphy. So the quality of the color needs to be as thick and deep as the sumi ink. Assuming the sumi is of excellent quality, position is critical. It is not too much exaggeration that the difficulty of sumi position created the term, “Sanke Bimbo.” Unlike hi or shiroji, the area of sumi is very small – yet such a delicate positioning is required to keep the balance with the other colors. On the other side of the coin, this means it is very easy to ruin the beauty if sumi is located in the wrong positions.

“Tsubo Zumi” is the term to express a sumi that exists at the perfect spot. We use this term only for this variety. Unless it is important, we do not usually create a special term.

August 2013

Unlike Kohaku, sumi is not usually all up when they are babies. They come and go before the color is stabilized. So it is very important to determine or estimate what kind of quality sumi appears where.

3. Breeders I have heard some dealers in the U.S. tell their customers, “You do not need to know breeders to buy Koi. Good Koi are good Koi.” I disagree.

I must say, “How can you buy Koi without knowing the breeders?!”

Koi is a living jewel, not a piece of jewelry that does not change its form of beauty. Without knowing the bloodline, it is very difficult to predict if the Koi has a promising future or not. I do my best to share the breeder information with my hobbyist customers and dealer customers. I also encourage my hobbyist customers to ALWAYS ask about the breeders whenever they buy Koi at any Koi store.

There are many famous Sanke breeders. But you may want to know at least the following: Marudo Koi Farm, Yamamatsu Koi Farm (aka Matsunosuke) and Oya Koi Farm. I recommend you read “Koishi: Koi Breeders-Creators of Living Jewels,” a book by Mamoru Kodama, to study these bloodlines.

It is also good to know the bloodlines that built the foundation of modern Sanke development, such as Torazo line, Jimbei line, Matsunosuke line and Sadazo line. 

August 2013

Taro Kataoka (left) and Mr. Mamoru Kodama (right) at Oya Koi Farm.

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 11

400 Koi Fish Stolen from VA. Pond The men scooped out the fish with large nets and placed them in coolers NBCWashington.com, reprinted with permission

wo men posing as maintenance workers have stolen 400 Koi fish from a pond in Herndon, VA, over the past month, authorities say.

T

The men visited a pond at a business park near 2411 Dulles Corner Park at least four times in

The men visited the park on the weekends of June 8 and 9, and June 15 and 16, between 1 and 4 p.m. Police say the employees eventually realized the men were not who they said they were.

Reinhardt told News4's David Culver that the Koi from the Herndon pond were likely worth about $200 each, based on photos -- which means the

Koi were solen from this industrial park pond

June, scooping out fish with large nets and placing them in coolers.

When confronted by employees, the men claimed to be checking on the health of the fish, saying they were removing unhealthy ones from the pond.

"There's a lot involved to move them properly so you don't hurt them, you don't damage them," said Chris Reinhardt of Vienna Aquarium and Pets. "I mean, you could easily kill them in this heat."

Page 12 Mid-Atlantic Koi

thieves could have gotten away with $80,000 worth of fish.

Koi can be priced anywhere from $7 to $50,000, depending on their size and rarity.

"They have to know what they're doing," Reinhardt said. "Or they really don't have a clue what they're doing."

Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact the Fair Oaks Police District at 703-591-0966. ď ś August 2013

August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 13

Summer Pond Tips (for Warmer Climates)

by Ray Jordan, Texas

Advice on the best individual care of your Koi depends on many factors including your local climate, source water perimeters, pond and filter system dynamics, stocking rate, and your personal goals as a Koi hobbyist. All of these factors are interconnected and making small but consistent improvement in multiple perimeters can have a significant impact on your ponds water quality and Koi development.

Photo of Ray and Martha’s 9,000-gallon Koi pond

Foreword The focus of this information is for warmer climates but it will benefit a broader audience as well. Koi are best raised as a four-season animal, which is how their common carp ancestors evolved. As seasons progress important hormonal and environmental signals prepare Koi to develop to their genetic potential. Perpetual summer or eternal winter temperatures have their own individual unique disadvantages on the growth and health of our Koi. Understanding seasonal variations in terms of temperature, light, and feeding techniques and working to moderate the inherent stressors can be an effective method to improve the health and beauty of your Koi. In warmer climates with intense summers efforts to moderate the effects of intense sunlight and provide milder seasonal temperatures can be beneficial.

Page 14 Mid-Atlantic Koi

It is critical to the health and development of your Koi to maintain as clean an pond/filter system as possible regardless of season: If you do not have effective bottom drains, skimmers, and a method to separate and remove solids from your water before it clogs your biological filters please consider how best to retrofit these important elements without delay. Yes, it is possible (with a lot of daily effort) to remove debris and sludge the old fashioned way. It is important to understand that without a clean pond/filter system 24/7 you will likely continue to struggle to keep your water quality at a high level and your Koi healthy. Koi ponds/filter systems should be DESIGNED and MAINTAINED to easily remove waste from your pond.

Warmer Climates South Texas summers can be brutal with peak daily high air temperatures well above 95F and up to low triple digits and morning lows in the lower 80’s. There is a fair amount of information on how to care for Koi in conventional cooler climates, however, there is not as much written about techniques for Koi care in warmer climates. Koi keepers need to think about how to minimize the stress of rapid daily temperature changes and also how to care for your Koi August 2013

according to the local climate conditions. Koi keepers need to understand that Koi stressed by summer heat will have their health and overall development adversely affected. Your individual pond situation, this summer, will depend on several factors including the success of previous seasons. An outdoor Koi pond/filter system is a dynamic changing environment. Keeping Koi is primarily about keeping your pond water clean, stable and healthy. Here is a description of key seasonal goals for keeping Koi successfully in warmer climates.

Following are suggestions that will hopefully help you manage your pond and Koi through a trouble free summer, which will help prepare your Koi for a healthier fall and winter. Each of these topics merits a greater in depth discussion than found in this article. I urge you to explore these issues in more detail depending on your needs.

Oxygen The biggest hazard and challenge to your Koi in warmer climates is lower oxygen levels in the summer. Air breathing creatures like us live in a relative oxygen rich environment that is ~ 21% oxygen. However the amount of oxygen that can be dissolved in water is so tiny it is measured in parts per million (ppm).

One of the most important concepts in maintaining healthy Koi requires understanding the effects that temperature has on oxygen content of water. At 85°F only about a maximum of 6.1 ppm of dissolved oxygen can be maintained in fresh water. Realize it will take a lot of aeration to get your ponds oxygen level to near saturation and the goal is to be at least 80% saturated at all times. 6.1 ppm is about 35,000 times less oxygen than found in the air we breathe. At elevations well above sea level the amount of oxygen would be even lower. There is very little safety cushion when you consider that Koi become stressed at oxygen levels of less than 5.0 ppm and start dying at 3.0 ppm.

August 2013

Season Key Seasonal Goals of a Successful Koi Keeper in Warmer Climates

Spring

Transition from winter without experiencing episodes of poor water quality or Koi health problems.

Avoid tendency to overfeed and overstock.

Summer

Take advantage of early summer growth period and minimize mid to late summer heat and sunlight stress while maintaining water quality.

Fall

This when your adult Koi should experience their major annual growth and body development and prepare to enter winter in peak condition

Winter

Transition from fall growth to winter fasting and rest plus resetting their biological clock for next year’s cycle of growth and development.

Temperature effects on oxygen levels are twofold. First, temperature affects the ability of water to hold dissolved oxygen as seen in the chart on the next page.

Second, the rate of metabolism doubles for every 10°C (18°F) temperature change in cold-blooded animals. This means the metabolism decreases by 50% for each drop in temperature of 18°F and conversely doubles for every increase of 18°F. For example, increasing water temperature from 70°F to 88°F means that the requirements of fish, biofiltration bacteria, algae, in fact all living things are increased by 100% for nutrients, oxygen, and everything else.

At the same time the oxygen content of the system would decrease not only because of warmer water’s reduced ability to dissolve oxygen Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 15

but also because of Temp Fresh Water the increase in the ppm/sea level oxygen °F @80% saturation demand. If you were to 50 9.0 compare the amount of oxygen 55 8.5 and the oxygen 60 8.0 demand at 52°F 65 7.5 degrees vs.

88°F degrees the 70 7.1 difference is even more 75 6.7 significant.

At 88°F 80 6.4 your pond oxygen level 85 6.1 would be about 1/3 less 90 5.7 however the oxygen demand would be 4 fold greater than at 52°F. Is it any wonder that a pond’s water quality and Koi can suffer during the relatively hot summers in warmer climates? Here is a chart that shows the amount of oxygen (at 80% saturation levels) at different temperatures at sea level.

Remember that the beneficial bacteria that live in your filter are also dependent on the amount of oxygen in the water to thrive and do their job of converting ammonia to nitrites and nitrates.

Lower oxygen levels can suppress the population of “good” bacteria and let ammonia and nitrite levels increase to stressful or even potentially lethal levels.

The aquatic submerged plants like algae in your pond are both beneficial and detrimental to oxygen levels. During the day aquatic plants such Page 16 Mid-Atlantic Koi

as algae in your pond produce oxygen. However, at night, they consume oxygen and compete with your fish and filter bacteria for the limited supply of oxygen in the water. This is why fish die offs usually happen in the early morning hours. This is why oxygen testing should be done in the early morning to determine lowest levels.

Sadly, I have had too many calls from pond owners that experienced the majority of their fish dying over night during the hottest summer months. These summer fish kills are usually the result of a sequence of events. A combination of warmer water, increased plant growth, accumulation and decay of organic matter, and an ever growing biomass of fish causes increased oxygen consumption at night to the point where the drop is significant and lasts long enough to cause the death of most if not all your Koi. When Koi are stressed by chronic low oxygen problems they will be much more likely to succumb to diseases and lose their pretty colors.

Here are some tips to prevent low oxygen levels.

It is important to determine your pond’s lowest oxygen level and increase it if needed. The cheapest method to measure dissolved oxygen (commonly just called DO) is to buy an oxygen test kit. Be sure to get a test kit for fresh water.

You fill a test tube with pond water to a predetermined level and then add a reagent and match the color to a chart. You also, need to know your pond’s water temperature to determine how “saturated” your pond is with oxygen. The goal is to meet or exceed 80% saturation point at a given water temperature. Precise measurement with a drop test kit is not possible but will give you a good idea of how much DO is in your pond. Remember you should be measuring about sunrise to get the lowest level of the day.

You can also buy an oxygen meter to get more accurate measurements. DO meters are more expensive and require calibration and constant cleaning to be accurate.

How much aeration should you have in a healthy moderately stocked Koi pond? The amount of August 2013

aeration created from a waterfall is difficult to calculate. I suggest that all Koi ponds use air pumps rated at 80+ liters per minute per 3,000 gallons of water. Use air stones positioned in your pond, waterfall area, or bio-filters. Most common air pumps utilize rubber diaphragms, which will wear out in two to three years. Heat is a critical factor in how long they last. Also these air pumps have a filter to prevent dust from damaging the pump. Be sure to clean this filter twice a year as a clogged filter makes the pump run even hotter. If you have hard water it can clog the pores in air stones and cause your air pumps to work even harder and hotter. Clean air stones used in harder water at least twice per year with muriatic acid diluted with three parts water.

Air stones can improve pond water circulation by moving water from the bottom to the surface and also eliminating dead zones of stagnant or slow moving water in your system. Also consider installing passive air venturi’s, which is a fairly easy DIY project. Venturi’s save the cost of additional air pumps and electricity but they also reduce the return flow rate somewhat.

Some types of Koi pond filters such as those with moving bed filters require aeration to tumble the media and this counts towards your total aeration needs. Shower filters or trickle towers also increase aeration based on their above water media designs. In general, the deeper your pond and the less relative surface area to total pond volume the more supplemental aeration you are likely to need. Trickle towers and shower filters actually increase the surface area of your pond which not only improves the oxygen absorption but also helps with degassing carbon dioxide and other dissolved gases in the pond. It is almost impossible to supply too much aeration to a Koi pond as long as the aeration occurs in less than 8-10 feet of depth. Injecting air at deeper depths can potentially cause problems with air bubble disease in your fish in certain situations. Realize if your electricity goes off for any reason during the hottest summer months you will have much less time before oxygen is depleted from your August 2013

Backup Automatic 12 V Battery system to power air pump during power outages

water particularly if the oxygen was already near critical levels. Please consider installing some type of battery backup system to power an air pump/air stones in your pond during power outages.

Water Temperature You can assume your fish will be significantly stressed if your water temperature goes over 85 degrees or your pond temperature changes by more than +/- 10 degrees during 24 hours. Find a way to shade at least part of your pond from the hottest part of the afternoon sun. Plant a tall hedge on the west side of your pond or locate some tall potted plants or patio umbrellas to help provide some shade. Consider building an arbor, trellis, or place shade cloth over your pond. Also, if your filter system is exposed to the sun create shade for it as well.

Increase your water circulation. If you have a waterfall or fountain increase the water flow. If your fountain can be adjusted try for a fine mist type effect. Another method is to modify your pond water return into a spray bar. Spray bars are pipes with small holes drilled along the bottom that create a curtain of water as it is returned to the pond. Spray bars can drop water temperatures by 5-8°F degrees when they are built large enough and enough water is pumped through them. Maybe this is the time to consider getting a Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 17

larger water pump. Increased circulation will encourage evaporation, which will have an additional cooling effect.

Another method to cool the area around your pond is to use one of the water “mist” products you might have noticed at some restaurants and amusement parks. We bought one at Home Depot for about $13. You connect the mister to a garden hose and several tiny nozzles create a fog like mist that can cool the immediate area by up to twenty degrees. This mister could be placed on

Pond & Filter Maintainence Because of higher temperatures fish waste and wind blown trash decompose faster in the summer. To compensate you will need to increase the amount and frequency of water changes and filter cleaning. Do not forget to use adequate dechlor. Chlorine is likely still the #1 reason for Koi deaths. I recommend you avoid auto fill devices if you use chlorinated water.

Sooner or later these devices fail and dead fish are the result.

A sign of a healthy Koi pond is a thriving growth of short filamentous algae on pond surfaces. This beneficial type of algae helps balance the pond by utilizing pond nutrients and removing them before planktonic algae starts to increase in population and create green water.

Dissolved Organic compounds

Spray bar water return created with 2˝ pvc pipe with 1/4˝ holes spaced 1/4˝ apart

a timer to come on for an hour or so every afternoon in the hottest part of the day. A side benefit to this is you can be more comfortable and able to enjoy your pond on even the hottest afternoons. The amount of water used is minimal, perhaps a few gallons an hour.

Shade Koi can get sunburned and develop skin problems and even eye cataracts in shallow ponds. Many Koi keepers also believe that hikui, which is a skin disease of unknown cause might very well be related to excessive sun exposure. In warmer climates, it is important to provide some shade for your fish. Shade will also help keep your ponds water temperature cooler and help control excessive algae growth.

Page 18 Mid-Atlantic Koi

Are often shortened to DOCS. DOCS are the result of too much pollution in your pond from over stocking, over feeding, under filtering, and under maintaining the filters and water changes.

No water testing needed here as DOCS are easily detected when a foamy scum is observed on your pond’s surface or in the skimmer. Higher levels of decaying organic compounds creates population explosions of disease causing bacteria and undesirable algae. High levels of DOCS create an hostile environment for beneficial bacteria and algae species by consuming significant amounts of dissolved oxygen which creates additional stress on your Koi. Remember how earlier I said many of these issues are interrelated? DOCS indicate a ticking time bomb for your Koi’s future health. The solution to high DOCS is a combination of increasing aeration, increasing filtration, increasing water changes, reducing fish load, and reducing feeding.

Feeding Most people feed their Koi way too much. I do and I bet that you do also. If your Koi are shaped more like footballs than spindles you need to August 2013

reduce the amount of food you feed. In the summer it is better to feed early in the morning when the water temperature is lower. Remember optimum water temperature for Koi and Goldfish is between 68 and 74°F. When your water temperature rises above 80°F over feeding causes additional problems including increased water pollution, oxygen depletion, and algae growth. At water temperatures over 85F I would reduce feeding to a very small amount every other day or every 3rd day. At water temperatures approaching 90°F I would stop feeding or feed very lightly only once a week. At these high temperatures very little nutrition can be obtained by your Koi from the food passing through their systems anyway. As the water starts to cool down healthy Koi will make up for any growth they might have missed during the hottest part of the summer.

August 2013

Hot summers are the price we pay in the south for our snow free winters. I hope that this article has given you a few ideas to help your Koi have a healthier and less stressful summer. Making several small improvements in your pond dynamics this summer can add up to healthier less stressed Koi. 

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 19

The Importance of Oxygen in a Pond

by Linda Montgomery, KHA, Oregon reprinted from the Northwest Koi and Goldfish Club

was asked to write about the importance of having adequate aeration and good oxygen levels in a pond. Many pond keepers don’t realize that the oxygen level in pond water is possibly the single most important element for good water quality, so I wasn’t really surprised when this topic was suggested for an article for the newsletter. It is also probably the single most neglected aspect of water quality by most Koi keepers. We are always talking about testing for pH, ammonia, nitrite and taking the temperature of your water, but rarely do you hear anyone mention testing for dissolved oxygen.

I

wouldn’t be quite so complicated…after all…the fish don’t have lungs to breath with…so just how important could oxygen be!

Since Koi are cold-blooded, their body temperature is essentially the same as their environment, and as such, their oxygen consumption is closely related to the temperature of the water. This can be a major factor in the oxygen content of a pond. The reason for this is that when the water gets warmer, the metabolism and activity of our Koi increases and with that, so does their oxygen demand. The problem with this is that as the temperature increases the amount of oxygen in the water decreases. On top of that, the biofilter and organic decomposition also extract oxygen from the pond water.

However, oxygen is extremely important…in fact; just a very small increase in the oxygen level can make a huge difference in the health of your fish and activity of your biological filtration.

Since oxygen can only be introduced into your pond by contact with the air and the surface of the water, it is really important to consider when you design a pond to include in the planning stage certain design aspects that will help to increase the oxygen content. Some design considerations include such options as: waterfalls, streams, larger pump for a higher turnover rate, venturis, and air pumps.

Another consideration is that photosynthesis, by plants and algae, which introduce oxygen into the pond during the day, will remove oxygen at night. Because of this, oxygen levels can fluctuate largely from day to night. As mentioned before, the level of oxygen in the pond can also change during high and low temperature changes of the pond water. WOW…bet you thought oxygen

In ponds that have poor circulation or do not ‘pull’ the water off the bottom (the water that is furthest away from the air) there can be very significant variations in oxygen content. There is also less oxygen in water at higher altitudes, than at sea level (in fact approximately 20% less).

Another consideration is that if your water supply is well water, you have very little to no

Page 20 Mid-Atlantic Koi

August 2013

oxygen in it. So when replenishing your water level after a water change out, whether it is well water or from a regular water supply, remember to always spray it in to add oxygen/aeration to your pond water.

Even though our Koi are extremely well adapted for extracting oxygen, even from very low concentrations in pond water, you have to understand that the competition is fierce for the oxygen available. Not just our Koi need oxygen to thrive, but also the plants and the microorganisms in our pond need it.

During sunlight the process of photosynthesis can increase the level of oxygen in the pond dramatically but it can also plunge with the reversal of the process at night, which can certainly spell disaster for the fish and in some instances cause the fish to suffocate in ponds at dawn.

As mentioned before, the more your pond water is exposed to the air the better your oxygen level will be. For example: Pond #1 is shallow (2 feet deep) but has a large surface area. Pond #2 is deeper (4 feet deep) but has half the surface area.

Both ponds are the same gallons and have the same size pump. The fish load, plant load, all other factors are similar between both ponds.

Which pond would have the higher oxygen content? Pond #1 would, due to the larger surface area exposure of water to air. However, if the deeper pond (pond #2) had a larger pump with a greater turnover rate, so that more water would come into contact with the air, then the lack of surface area could be compensated for. I think that you can see how important the design of a pond is as well as the equipment that you choose to put in your pond system.

hanging or hovering near the surface or at the base of the waterfall. The fish could also be breathing heavy or ‘piping’ (which is going up to the surface and back down repeatedly). Also, be careful when treating your pond with medications as several medications can cause the water in your pond to become depleted of oxygen.

There are other reasons for these symptoms such as stress, gill problems or parasites, but if you do suspect an oxygen problem you can do fairly simple things that will add oxygen and will do no harm to the fish if there does happen to be another reason.

If you suspect oxygen depletion in your pond you can add a pump that splashes the water off the surface of the pond to agitate the water and increase the oxygen. You can also add air stones to the pond. In an emergency situation you could spray hydrogen peroxide on the surface of the water to add oxygen. And stop feeding your fish for a few days, it certainly won’t hurt them to go a couple of days without food, and often when they are oxygen starved they lose appetite anyway.

When we are into the warmer water temperatures of summer, be sure to keep the oxygen content of your pond in mind. Observe your fish, they will definitely let you know if they are having a problem…and try not to overlook oxygen, it is a very important aspect of the pond water…it is not only a necessity to us, but also to our beautiful Koi and Goldfish! 

Symptoms of low oxygen in a pond are very important to identify. As mentioned earlier, you may very likely notice a shortage of oxygen early in the morning, due to the process of photosynthesis. The Koi could be moving very slowly and August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 21

To Feed, or Not to Feed. That is the Question.

(Along with How Much, How Often and When)

by Meyer Jordan. Ripples, Aquatic Habitats

http://ripplesinc.blogspot.com he seemingly simple act of feeding one’s pond fish, whether they be Koi, Goldfish, Orfe or other variety, can quickly become confusing when one is bombarded with admonitions such as- “You are feeding too much!,” “You are feeding too little!,” “Too often!,” “Not often enough!,” “Wrong time of day” ad nauseum et confusium.

T

Perhaps if we were to take the time to examine a few basic facts surrounding the digestive processes and natural feeding behavior and food preferences of fish, the solution may reveal itself.

The focus here will be placed on Koi (Cyprinus Page 22 Mid-Atlantic Koi

carpio)given that this is presently the most popular of pond fish.

When examining the digestive system of a Koi, we are immediately presented with a glaring physiological difference between Koi and most other fish. Koi do not have stomachs! They instead have just one continuous gut. In a natural environment, food seems to be ingested in small particles in a relatively steady stream instead of intermittently in large units, so the storage function of a stomach probably is not missed.

Digestion takes place in this intestine, which is twice the length of its body. Different enzymes are secreted by the pancreas along the intestine.

The system works best if it is able to process a August 2013

steady supply of food. This is why Koi are constantly rooting around for something to eat.

At the back of the mouth are the pharyngeal teeth. These are aligned in three rows on each side of the mouth, with three teeth in the innermost row and one tooth each in the two outer rows. The teeth are positioned below a tough calcified pad. Food is ground between it and the pharyngeal teeth before being passed to the first part of the gut called the esophagus.

Koi cannot digest all foods efficiently. They might eat bread and sweet corn, but it is difficult for them to digest them. Fibre, especially grass and alfalfa meal, is important as it allows the intestine to grip the food and keep it moving.

Worms, insect larvae and fresh vegetable matter are only partly digested and serve as roughage to keep the intestine active and healthy. Koi will also ingest silt and other indigestible detritus to bulk out their diet.

Koi is an agastric fish, meaning absorption of nutrients is highly dependent on the rate of feed passage in the gut. Variables which influence gastric evacuation time, along with feeding rate, include temperature, season, activity, body size, gut capacity, satiety, and metabolic rate. The gut transit time (length of time the food takes to pass through the gut), just based on temperature, varies greatly from 16 hours at 25ºC/77F to 60 hours at 12ºC/54F. Koi is also an omnivorous fish that possesses excellent sight, extremely excellent hearing, highly developed taste and, according to some, a sensing mechanism akin to what bats use so effectively. They also possess an excellent memory. Once they have a negative experience with a food item, they will avoid it at all future times.

Research has shown that, even though they are continuously grazing and rooting around for tidbits and tasty morsels, Koi possess a natural feeding rhythm. The research was conducted under temperatures ranging from 4C/39F to August 2013

34C/93F using both juvenile (61g – 91g) and adult (630g – 850g) fish. There were two periods that main feeding activity occurred: 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. and 19:00 – 23:00 p.m. with adults consuming 27% and juveniles consuming 66% of their total daily intake in the two combined time periods. This would seem to indicate that while a certain time period feeding preference is evident in young Koi, this preference wanes with age.

More importantly this study showed the effects of temperature on feeding behavior. Both adult and juvenile Koi reached the maximum daily feeding rate at 28°C/82F, being 2.84% and 12.06% of body weight, respectively. At 14C/57F, the daily feeding rate of adult and juvenile reached 1.21% and 2.63% of body weight, respectively. At 6°C/43F, though both adult and juvenile would still feed, the feeding quantities were only 0.01% and 0.35% of body weight. The daily feeding rate of adult and juvenile reduced suddenly after reaching 34°C/93F and the daily feeding rate was only 0.74% and 9.45% of body mass, respectively.

Separate research was conducted to determine the effects of feeding frequency on final weight, daily weight gain and feed efficiency. Adult Koi were fed over a period of 82 days using three (3) feeding strategies – 1) hand feeding twice a day to apparent satiation, 2) continuously by means of an automatic feeder over 2 x 6 hour periods and 3) continuously feeding a fixed rate of 1.4% body weight using an automatic feeder.

Strategies 2 and 3 improved protein digestibility, whereas only feeding strategy 3 increased organic matter digestibility.

Have we arrived at an answer to the original Title question – To feed or not to feed?

Yes, but not entirely. We know that we must take certain factors into consideration.

1. Age of fish – Young fish need to consume a higher percentage of their body weight daily in Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 23

The chart below lists suggested daily feeding levels (% of body weight) based on temperature and body weight.

Temperature °C

Fish weight (g) >5

5 - 20

20 -50

50 -100

100-300

300-1000

<17

6

5

4

3

2

1.5

17 - 20

7

6

5

4

3

2

20 - 23

9

7

6

5

4

3

23 - 26

12

10

8

6

5

4

>26

19

12

11

8

6

5

(This link is great for determining a close guesstimate of fish weight.

order to sustain healthy growth. As the fish age, growth becomes less of a factor and the feed demand is reduced.

2. Temperature – The metabolic demand greatly diminishes as temperatures are reduced.

Digestion rate is also drastically reduced as evidenced by longer gut transit time.

3. Frequency – It has been shown in laboratory tests that continuous feeding is most beneficial and more closely coincides with natural feeding patterns. Unless one is willing to purchase a programmable automatic feed dispenser, the continuous feeding option is an impossibility, but the greater the number of feeding periods that one can manage the more the fish will benefit.

Beyond the three aforementioned factors, the answer becomes decidedly muddled. One must also take into consideration: Type of pond – Classic Koi or Ecosystem or some hybrid style. The more closely that a pond emulates a true ecosystem, the greater the abunPage 24 Mid-Atlantic Koi

http://www.cnykoi.com/calculators/calclenw.asp)

dance and availability of natural food sources such as phytoplankton, zooplankton and benthic organisms and consequently the lesser need for supplemental feeding.

Stocking levels/Fish load – Here the problem is not overfeeding the fish, but overfeeding the entire system. Unless an exceptional capacity for bioconversion is available, an overstocked pond cannot accommodate the additional organic matter generated by adequate feeding levels. In addition, soon after feeding, the fish experiences an increased Oxygen demand quickly followed by an increased excretion of Ammonia. Neither of these natural occurrences bode well for an overstocked pond.

Every pond is unique, so fish feeding practices must be custom tailored to each pond. There is no ‘One size fits all” approach to proper feeding, but following the above guidelines, if you are willing to expend a little extra time and effort, can get you pretty darn close to what is best for the fish and the pond. 

August 2013

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ABCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Ponds â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Have a friend interested in building a pond?

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August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 25

Big Koi Caper – Part 4 - Pond Repair Nightmare

by Carolyn Weise, Florida

Heavy rains started filling the empty pond and collecting in the roof.

e got the fish safely (except for the one that flew through the air and into the far wall, all by herself- she didn’t make it) from the pond to the swimming pool. We managed to drain down the leaking pond, all 4,300 gallons, out into the yard.

My friend used his brand new pressure washer to clean the sides and bottom 3 times in preparation for repairs. He demolished and removed the Bakki housing, carefully stacking the gray boxes (with the media) on the other side of my patio. There were a couple of small punctures in the pool screen by the pond, so I already knew at least two had to be replaced when this was done. I was looking forward to having my fish back in the pond!

W

Page 26 Mid-Atlantic Koi

This has gone from the POND REPAIR to a POND REPAIR NIGHTMARE. I nervously watched my fish in the swimming pool as the water turned darker, more opaque. I did daily water testing. It was touch and go. The repairman was unavailable for several weeks. I had the 8-gal of liquid EPDM waiting in my living room, still boxed but ready to go at a moment’s notice.

I also had the 3 quarts of primer to guarantee the EPDM was successful. Many trash cans filled with debris had been hauled off by the regular truck on garbage day (2 weeks in a row).

I didn’t need to call a dumpster. And finally, the day came!

The job was started. It was a beautiful, sunny, hot day, perfect weather for “painting” on the August 2013

Things went from bad to worse as the screen roofing collapsed.

primer. This required 2 days of dry weather and then the liquid EPDM would go on. All was finally falling into place. The end was in sight.

But on the day he applied the EPDM, although another beautiful sunny day, the forecast said “chance of scattered rain, possible thunderstorm in the evening” for the following day. We are FLORIDIANS. We know how to handle stuff like this. Besides, this is the DRY SEASON! Most of the scattered “whatevers” and rain patterns down here are hit-and-miss anyway. I bought a 16´ x 20´ tarp just in case.

rain in between downpours. I guess rainy season is early this year… Then, we noticed the tarp and screen bulging with water. Uh-oh! The whole screen pool cage was in danger of collapsing! We had to remove the screens to relieve the weight on the tarp. I even cut the tarp in one place to drain the water. What a mess! And there’s no end in sight of the rain… So, add to the cost of this project new re-screening now when the rest is finished and pray that the liquid EPDM is not going to be damaged by the water.

We are pumping out the water IN THE BOTTOM as quickly as it fills…

Uh-oh… The following day the sky continued to darken. By 4pm it looked ominous. About an hour later, it did not drizzle; it opened up like a veritable monsoon. He put up the tarp. That seemed like a good idea at the time. By the next day, it was still raining, pouring actually, with

Update

August 2013

After we applied the liquid liner (and then it rained) we had 3 gallons of PondPro2000 left over. We decided to apply a second coat as Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 27

“protection” rather than return it to the company. Considering the expense, I had an internal fight with myself over that one. But by May 6th, the job was done, second coat in place and drying. The cost of the new “roof ” over the pond will be another $750 (because the installer gave me a break). But I chose a hard-top this time, something that, should I ever need to do repairs to the pond again (please God, no!) the weather will not be the issue it was this time. In the meantime, I had to chase out blackbirds, Mockingbirds, Monarch butterflies, the Lovebugs which Florida is famous for, Southern Toads and what-not else from the pool/pond area with which I share my living space when I step outside the slider door that all Florida homes have. It will be so, so nice to have my life back (one of these days). As with any major work (although it didn’t start out major) it seems to be taking forever to finish. It has had its excitement, but when it is all done (soon!), I hope I can still afford to put gas in my car.

Update - Finished

We found the other problem and it was the Multi-Port valve of the bead filter. It still has to be fixed, but everything else is working beautifully. The Multi-Port prevents the pump from self-priming when I try to backwash the system.

Well, don’t have to do that for a few weeks or so, but it will be done. Oh, and the disgusting swamp of a swimming pool? It is now clean, clear, refilled with fresh water and chlorinated!

The fish, too, are in clear, clean water. Initially, coming out of the “swamp-water” (and it was filled with creepy-crawly things) I treated them with Broad-spectrum disease treatment. There were some scales knocked off in the process of netting and moving, so we could not take chances. They are doing very well. I added beneficial bacteria (heterotrophs and nitrifiers) to cycle the pond immediately for the fish. The owner of our local pet shop says “In my next life, I want to come back as one of HER pets!”

(Meaning me...)

That roof also cools the house, my home office, living room, and is such a beautiful thing.

I’m sure it will help the fish in the SW Florida summer heat, too. 

IT’S FINISHED!! And it looks beautiful! The installer not only gave me a break, he allowed me to make installments. I was able to eat through(See picture on next page of the Finished Pond.) out this process, too. The pond no longer leaks. The swimming pool has been drained (all 17,000 gallons) and it was an ugly mess.

The fish removed from the pool were placed in their “new” pond.

The roof was added. The filter works beautifully now that we streamlined it, removing all the 90 angles and replacing them with 140 , so there is almost no resistance/friction in the system.

We took out any non-essential “parts” like the pressurized prefilter that was basically doing nothing, and extra plumbing pipes. This is an enclosed pond, Disassembled filter that is believed to have started so there are no leaves going in. the cracking in the pond.

Page 28 Mid-Atlantic Koi

August 2013

Finished Pond

August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 29

On the Road to a Koi Event August 30–September 1 MKPC’s Second Koi Show/Ikona Koi Show Held at The Pond Place in Milford, Michigan. www.mkpc-se.com

September 6–8 ZNA Potomac Koi Club’s 20th Annual Show See www.znapotomac.org.

September 7-8 Washington Koi & Water Garden Society 22nd Annual Koi Show Bothell, Washington. Contact Nancy Moore at showchair@washingtonkoi.org www.washingtonkoi.org

September 14 Idaho Water Garden & Koi Society 20th Annual Koi Club Held at the Idaho Botanical Garden, Boise, Idaho. Contact Sot Chimonas 208-286-0288 sotchimonas@msn.com or Bob Dethman 208-939-6064 porsche@centurylink.net www.iwgks.org

September 20–22 Carolina Classic Koi Show Hosted by the North Carolina Koi and Watergarden Society. This will be their 5th Annual Show. http://www.nckws.net

September 27-29 Northwest Koi & Goldfish Club 33rd Annual Koi & Goldfish Show Beaverton, Oregon contact Daren Beck 503-580-5492, www.nwkg.org

October 4–6 South Carolina Koi & Goldfish Show Simpsonsville, SC, Contact: Jim Suerth, Co-Chair 864-879-1369 Page 30 Mid-Atlantic Koi

October 11-13 21st Annual Texas Koi & Fancy Goldfish Society - ZNA show.

Latest information on Texas Koi and Fancy Goldfish Society - ZNA on facebook. Or contact Ray Jordan at rjordan8@swbell.net Have an upcoming Koi event, please send the information to makcmag@makc.com. We will be glad to include it in future articles.

Don’t forget your own MAKC Club has events coming up that can be found in our digital magazine or at www.makc.com. We always need volunteers for meetings and shows. We hope to see more of you visiting shows, attending club meetings, and volunteering to help at Koi events this year. It is amazing how much you can learn by helping. Take advantage of being an MAKC member and participate in the club events. See you soon at a Koi event. 

www.makc.com August 2013

August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 31

M A KC E v e n t s Long Island Chapter BBQ Sunday, August 18 1:00 pm Philie Gray 211 South Ocean Ave. Freeport, NY 11520 516-209-3841

Tom Burton

Contact Bruce Levine if you have questions bruce@li-koi.com • Cell: 516-477-1823 

MAKC Upcoming All Chapter Events BBQ and Multi-Club Auction

Auction of 30 Goshiki tosai, 15 ginrin and 15 non-ginrin.

The club will supply Hot Dogs/Hamburgers/ Smoked Ribs and refreshments. Please bring side dishes or dessert. Call Philip if you have any questions. 

MAKC Koi Show

le l e c

Can

d

Held at Kodama Koi Farm at Waterford Gardens 74 East Allendale Road Saddle River, New Jersey  Page 32 Mid-Atlantic Koi

Middletown, NJ

732-671-7045

Jan & Bill Fogle Wayne, PA

610-687-3105

Floyd Broussard Woodbridge, VA

703-491-4921

Terri Janas

Ashburn, VA

703-729-2988

Jeff Nicholson

Odenton, MD

301-912-1928

All members have microscopes and health books. In the event of a recorded message, please suggest a time when you're home to receive a return call or when you'd like to call back.

Please remember that advice is given based on your input–the ultimate responsibility and treatment must remain with you.

Sunday, August 18 1:00 pm Philie Gray 211 South Ocean Ave. Freeport, NY 11520 516-209-3841

September 27 – 29

MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers

www.makc.com Send your meeting and event information to Joyce Spears 856-832-4922 or gjs63@comcast.net.

Deadline August 1st for the September 2013 issue.

August 2013

Upcoming Workshop September 20 & 21 Designing and Constructing Water Features & KOI CARE Upcoming Workshop at Shofuso Japanese House and Garden Philadephia PA: details at http://www.najga.org/ This will include an on site visit to Quality Koi. Check out the website and let me, Herb Ehrich, know your thoughts.

Also please note this is another new email address. Yes, got hacked again! koiking15@yahoo.com

Treasurerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Report Submitted by Carolyn Broussard, Virginia Balance as of May 7, 2013 Income: Memberships Total Income

$19,536.89

812.50 $812.50

Expenses: Disbursement for new MAKC Account Credit Card Fees (May/June) Total Expenses

20,061.49 175.80 $20,237.29

Balance as of July 7, 2013 $112.10 (Pending Additional Credit Card Fees) Reserve Account/Prepaid Memberships

Need to Change Your email or Home Address?

Have Questions about your Membership Status?

Contact: Barry Hixson 5465 Towanda Dr. Bethlehem, PA 18017 610-262-5184 or makcmembers@verizon.net

Balance as of September 30, 2012 $6,408.83 Interest Income 0.16 Balance as of June 30, 2013 $6,408.99 ď ś

Thank You Carolyn Broussard.

We appreciate your years as Treasurer of MAKC!

Renew Your MAKC Membership by printing out page 37 and mailing it to Barry.

August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 33

F..A..S..T.. Ads – August Disclaimer: MAKC and its officers assume no responsibility for claims of advertisers or the quality/serviceability of goods offered.

QUALITY SHOW KOI. Show quality Koi for sale. Need to thin out my pond contact philiegray@mac.com

MAKC Member Needs Your Help

WANTED

LOVING CATS TO GOOD HOMES . Passing of spouse forces me to find homes for both inside and outside cats. All neutered. Phone 973-390-6490 with what you are looking for and we can match you with your new best friend.

KOI. Foster Home. Large natural pond. Happy to accept your overgrown or unwanted “children.”

Call Rich Menashe in Metuchen, NJ, 732-767-0720.

FOR SALE Remember any MAKC member can list their Koi, pond, or related items for sale here in your magazine at no charge. Please contact Ellie today if you have something for sale.

BAMBOO. Winter hardy and tropical for indoors. Thinning collection. Reasonable prices.

Call Ron Altman, NY 718-442-1673 (Office) or 908-658-3055 (H).

F..A..S..T.. Ads Policy & Deadlines F..A..S..T.. Ads are available FREE to MAKC members only; no commercial ads. Ads are limited to 10 items and must include name, phone number, town and state. Deadline is the 1st of each month.

Help do you have an hour or two? We need a volunteer to manage this page.

Please contact

Philip Gray • 516-486-5163 philiegray@mac.com

Page 34 Mid-Atlantic Koi

KOI. Wanted Healthy Pond Grade KOI over 10˝.

Will pay reasonable prices. I have a 750,000 gallon pond and will adopt any unwanted KOI. Call Joseph Pollock in Virginia at 540-788-9222.

KOI. Wanted for large deep natural pond next to soon to be built wine tasting room in wine country of Northern Virginia. Happy to accept any and all Koi of any size and color. Stop by and visit them next year when our tasting room opens. Call Mark Malick in Purcellville, VA, 540-270-3399 (cell).

KOI BITO MAGAZINES – in good condition.

Send list with asking price, or call Roger Klocke 701-491-2803, E-mail at rklockejr@aol.com.

Mailing address: Roger Klocke, 4805 Meadow Creek Dr., Fargo, ND 58104.

KOI STORE EMPLOYEE. Looking for a knowledgeable Koi and pond hobbyist.

Part-time, competitive pay. Outstanding employee discounts! Call John at Blue Ribbon Koi Products. 703-753-7566.

MAKC CENTRAL CHAPTER VICEPRESIDENT. Schedule 4 to 12 meetings per year.

This includes making sure that the meeting announcement is submitted to the magazine and the MAKC website. Plenty of advice and support August 2013

are available. Your "compensation" .... knowing that you have given back to MAKC and your fellow members. Please don't wait for someone else to step forward! MAKC is a membership organization. If more than one person is interested, you can share the fun! E-mail Philip Gray at philiegray@mac.com or call 516-486-5163. 

Mid-Atlantic Koi Ad Index Aquaculture Bead Filter Specialists . . . . . . .7, 31 Aquatic Nutrition –

Time to Renew Your Membership!

Long Island Fish Hospital . . .21 Matala USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Mazuri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Blackwater Gold–N . . . . . . .19

Microbe-Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Books on Amazon . . . . . . . . .25

Nisei Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . .7, 13

Hikari . . . . . . . . . .7, Back Cover

Pentair Aquatic

Kloubec Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . .4

Eco-Systems, Inc. . . . . . . . . .4

Kodama Koi Farm . . . . . . .7, 25

Quality Koi Company . . . .7, 13

Dog Days of Summer Advertise in Mid-Atlantic Koi! Ad Rates from $15/issue* for a business card ad to $300/issue* for a full page color ad.

Reach your target audience of Koi keepers & water gardeners each month and leave your competition in the dust!!

Stay in the Shade and Enjoy Your Summer August 2013

Contact Philip Gray at 516-486-5163 (leave message) or e-mail: philiegray@mac.com to request information on our advertiser packages and/or a copy of our ad rate sheet. *With an annual 10 issue contract.

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 35

A Picture to Share

Our new Lotus; what color will it be!

Photo shared by Tom and Cindy Graham.

Have a picture to share? Send your photos to the Editor, Carolyn Weise at makcmag@makc.com. ď ś Page 36 Mid-Atlantic Koi

August 2013

MAKC Membership Application

W

e are pleased that you have inquired about membership in the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club. The club meets monthly at convenient regional locations in the Mid-Atlantic area and also publishes an informative monthly magazine (bi-monthly in Nov/Dec & Jan/Feb).

Our dues are $30 per year, per family (includes $15.00 for a one-year subscription to Mid-Atlantic Koi Online Magazine). The club year runs June 1st through May 31st of the following year. (Dues are pro-rated per month. Those who join in January or after are also asked to join for the following year.) Join for 4 years for $100 and save - $20. Overseas Membership - $40 per year. Corporate Membership $275 per year which includes advertising and other benefits. Call Barry Hixson at 610-262-5184 or e-mail: makcmembers@verizon.net for details.

Please consult the following chart for the proper amount and send your check (payable to the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club) to me, Barry Hixon, 5465 Towanda Dr., Bethlehem, PA 18017.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

June

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

$42.50

$40

$37.50

$35

$32.50

$30

$27.50

$25

$22.50

$20

$17.50

$15

As soon as I receive your check, I will send you a "Welcome to MAKC" email and a list of upcoming meetings in your area. You will also be given the date of your membership expiration. Your email will be added to our MAKC Notice Group to allow you to receive MAKC news and up-to-date information. A great source of information is our MAKC website: www.makc.com. The MAKC membership list may be made available (upon approval by the MAKC Executive Committee) for the dissemination of Koi-related information.

Welcome to MAKC! I sincerely believe you will enjoy it as much as we all do. Barry Hixson Membership Committee Mid-Atlantic Koi Club

PLEASE PRINT (You may omit any information that may be sensitive such as unlisted phone numbers or email accounts.) LAST NAME ________________________ FIRST NAME(S) _________________________ (If Applicable) CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP NAME: ______________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________ CITY__________________ STATE _____ ZIP______ TELEPHONE ______________________ E-MAIL ________________________________ OCCUPATION(S)______________________ Do you have a pond?____ Dimensions____________ Gallons________ Type filter________________ Do you keep Koi or Goldfish?__________ Type______________ Size___________ How Many? ______ Are there any Koi related problems you need help with?_________ If so, what kind?_______________ ______________________________________________________________________________ Do you have special talents, knowledge or interest you would be willing to share with us? _________ If so, what kind? __________________________________________________________________ Would you be willing to have a Koi Club meeting at your home? _______________________________ SIGNATURE ____________________________ DATE ____________ AMOUNT PAID ___________ August 2013

Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 37