Mid~Atlantic Koi The Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club
April 2015
Mid~Atlantic Koi The Membership Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club
Volume 28, Number 8
April 2015 Beginner’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 MAKC Corporate Members . . . . . . . . . .8
—Upcoming Events Saugerties Chapter Meetings . . . . . .38
Introducing Omosako Koi Farm . . . . . .9 Courtesy of Hikari USA
My Fish Aren’t Eating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
—MAKC News
Carolyn Weise, Florida
President’s Message . . . . . . . .4 From the Editor’s Desk . . . . .6
Koi Anatomy – Part 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . .38
The Math Behind The Chemicals . . . . .20
MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers . . . . . . . .39 Sunshine Column . . . . . . . . .41 F..A..S..T Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Mid-Atlantic Koi Deadlines for Articles, Meeting Announcements and Ads May Issue Deadline: Available Online:
April 1 May 1
June Issue Deadline: Available Online:
May 1 June 1
Omosako Koi Farm Photo Provided by Hikari USA
Spike Cover , California Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper
My New Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Carolyn Weise, Florida
Pond Filtration Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper
Information About Koi . . . . . . . . . . . . .26 Don Harrawood, Texas
Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Rupert Bridges, Tetra
MAKC Drawing - April 2015 . . . . . . . .30 Single Tail Fish Comet Goldfish . . . . .31 American Goldfish Association
Koi Keeper Forms Koi Health Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Koi Identification Record . . . . . . . . .36 Koi Pond Maintenance Record . . . . .37 On the Road to a Koi Event . . . . . . . . . .38 The Joys of Winter Koi Keeping in the North East . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 Paul Tomasko, Saugerties Chapter
Picture to Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44 MAKC Membership Application . . . . .45 Page 2 Mid-Atlantic Koi
April 2015
April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 3
P r e s i d e n t ’s M e s s a g e by Joann Mead Suggestions4MAKC@gmail.com meeting dates for the Chapters. The newly designed website will have an events calendar which will list the date, time and city of the Chapter meetings. The street address of the meeting will not publish. MAKC members are welcome to attend any Chapter’s meeting. If you wish to attend another Chapter’s meeting please contact the Chapter Vice President. We will be voting for the 2015-2016 Hopefully when you read this, winter will be gone Executive Board in and it will feel like spring. June 2015. If you would consider running for one of the (President, would like to personally thank Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer) Sara Johnson, MAKC Webmaster, for Executive club positions, please give your name redesigning the website for the benefit of to your Chapter VP by May 15, 2015 so we can MAKC community. With this tremendous get you onto the ballot. MAKC always welcomes redesign the Club will have the ability to enthusiastic leadership! have an online store and a secure shopping cart to sell MAKC merchandise. Check out the new site at www.makc.com
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Joann
On Sunday March 1, 2015, the Club held a Special Meeting at Quality Koi in Carneys Point, NJ to vote on Bylaw changes. The ballot passed with the 2/3 majority as required by the Club Bylaws. There were no dissenting votes casted. Spring is around the corner after a brutal winter and in the coming weeks we will be publishing Page 4 Mid-Atlantic Koi
MAKC Contest See Page 30 for Details April 2015
MAKC Executive Committee President Joann Mead
(845) 389-5712
jo_mead@earthlink.net
Vice-President Herb Ehrich
(845) 247-7105
koiking15@yahoo.com
Secretary Looking for a Volunteer Treasurer Anthony Vitale
(516) 420-0740
nyssba96@aol.com
Central Chapter Vice-President Bruce Damme (302) 598-8431 Drbdamme@windcrestanimal.com
Remember to Renew Your Membership
Long Island Chapter Vice-President Bruce Levine
(516) 735-2644
bruce@li-koi.com
Saugerties (NY) Chapter Vice-President Herb Ehrich Alan Mickelson
(845) 247-7105
koiking15@yahoo.com
South Chapter Vice-President (301) 332-7042 alanmickelson@msn.com
Standing Committees Richard Douglass
Membership (845) 723-4373
pvsherow@gmail.com
MAKC Sales Looking for a Volunteer MAKC Notice Group Manager Michael Snyder Sarah Johnson
(301) 762-2059 makc@imsnyder.com WebMaster (732) 567-6678 sarranna@yahoo.com
Executive Board Advisor y C ommittee Joe Zuritsky (215) 575-4001 Eric Wilson
jzuritsky@parkwaycorp.com
(443) 203-6486
wilseric@comcast.net
Don’t Wait – Do it Today. Renewal form you can print out is on page 45.
MAKC Home Page: http://www.makc.com
Production: Cindy Graham, NextUp Creations
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. April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Magazine Editor, Carolyn Weise
(239) 573-6650 x105
Advertising Editor, Joann Mead
(845) 389-5712
makcmag@makc.com jo_mead@earthlink.net
Meeting/Events Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 makcmag@makc.com FAST Ads Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 makcmag@makc.com
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 5
From the Editor’s Desk by Carolyn Weise makcmag@makc.com
hat does it take to keep our Koi in good condition? For one thing, a reasonably stress-free environment will provide a healthy place for Koi to not just live a couple of months or years, but to actually thrive; to live out their lives. Koi are long-lived fish and grow to good size (averaging over 30˝ if properly housed).
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hear how you weathered the winter, what kind of filtration system you have, how you got into keeping Koi, what you’ve learned from being a club member (so far), any technical knowledge you have and would like to share with us, or if you have been visited by predators lately… If you are good at making up puzzles, we can use that, too. Whatever it is, we would love to hear about it.
This issue addresses some of the basics of Koi keeping that not only produce pretty fish, but healthy ones. Koi don’t actually die from disease or parasites. They succumb to disease and/or parasites when they are under too much stress. Stress kills our fish.
Yours in Koi! Carolyn
I’d like to thank Ken Austin, Don Harrawood, Rupert Bridges, Spike Cover and the organizations from which they are affiliated for contributing to this issue of Mid-Atlantic Koi. We are members of AKCA and have recently joined Koi Keepers of America. MAK exchanges important information with sister clubs across the US to bring you the best up-to-date information. We’d like to have more member pond stories and photos from you. Send me whatever you have [makcmag@makc.com] and get it into the magazine. We’d like to Page 6 Mid-Atlantic Koi
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Beginner’s Corner Ask a question and we will get you an answer. Remember any questions you have are welcome, Just send them in to the editor. kay, no questions yet. So let’s talk. It’s almost time to start thinking about the spring startup of our ponds. Boy will that be a welcome change from this winter. There is snow and ice on and around my ponds. I guess you have something similar going on at your ponds.
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Look in the August 2013 issue for “Dr. Wayne’s Koi Cube Recipe” to start the year off right. Enjoy spring. Don’t forget to ask questions so I can find the answers for you in following issues.
Note: This column offers suggestions only; the ultimate care of your pond and fish is up to you. !
Getting rid of the piles of snow is the problem. Watch when it melts it doesn’t all run into the pond. Some of the runoff won’t hurt but a lot could wash unwanted material in the pond. This could raise the level of stress on the fish. Bad thing in spring there will be enough stress without adding to it. Speaking of stress on the fish, doing small water changes in the winter is a great stress reliever for them. This is a good time to do one. Remember they live in the bottom of the pond where all the junk settles and collects. Try to take the water from the bottom. (Don’t forget the Dechlor.) This is April. This month is time to do your spring cleanup. Start with a 30% or 50% water change and get your filters going again. (Don’t forget the Dechlor.) You can look forward to feeding the fish when the water warms up to 50 deg. with the wheat germ food. Then when it gets to 60 deg. then use the high protein food. April 2015
Wanted – Your Questions Please email your questions to makcmag@makc.com.
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 7
MAKC
Corporate
Members
Quality Koi Company Nisei Koi Farm 856-299-7564 info@qualitykoi.com
www.qualitykoi.com
Interested in becoming a Corporate Member? Reasonable one time fee for the year – includes a Business Card size ad in all issues in this section and on the MAKC website.
www.mazuri.com Page 8 Mid-Atlantic Koi
Contact Joann Mead at 845-389-5712 or jo_mead@earthlink.net
April 2015
Introducing Omosako Koi Farm Courtesy of Hikari USA
ontinuing our conversations with leading Japanese Koi breeders this time we visited Omosako Koi Farm, to spend time talking with Mr. Takashi Omosako, the president of Omosako Koi Farm and Mr. Takayoshi Omosako who has worked hard to establish the ShiroUtsuri's unshakable position in the Gosanke varieties.
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Inside the newly built grow out house (construction completed in 2010)
About Omosako Koi Farm History Located in Hiroshima, one of two largest Koi breeding regions in Japan, the 55year old farm is famous for Omosako Shiro-Utsuri. There are two breeding teams on the farm: one led by President Omosako which mainly cultivates Omosako ShiroUtsuri using six spawnings annually and the other led by Mr. Takayoshi Omosako which cultivates Omosako Showa using two spawning each year. The annual total of 40,000 Shiro-Utsuri accounts for 90% of their total cultivation. All Koi are grown out in 40 ponds located in seven indoor houses.
President Omosako’s Objectives During Shiro-Utsuri Cultivation A 60-ton pond full of Shiro-Utsuri looks like a Sumie monochrome work of art. April 2015
According to President Omosako, the ultimate goal of their cultivation process is growing Shiro-Utsuri which have superior qualities when compared to Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 9
other Gosanke varieties. The primary objective is to beat other Gosanke varieties at the major Koi shows. They work diligently to improve the darkness of the sumi markings and luster of the pure white background so as to highlight the sumi. President Omosako says, "Our Shiro-Utsuri's quality must be approved by all of the judges in a Koi contest. There are no other factors other than beautiful white skin and bold black sumi on Shiro-Utsuri, so it is very difficult to deceive the judges' eye. It is never an easy task to grow Shiro-Utsuri but that's why this variety attracts our farmers." The quality, physical beauty and breeding quantity of the Omosako Shiro-Utsuri, originates from the “Tatsuma Utsuri” lineage. The jumbo Shiro-Utsuri, “Musashi,” 92 cm in length, “Panda,” 90 cm, and “Godzilla,” 92 cm, were born one after another. In 2010, a descendant, “Zebra,” bettered the long cherished record by reaching 57cm at the age of two and 70cm at when it turned three. With this ongoing evolution the Omosako Shiro-Utsuri has entered another new stage.
President Omosako's Most Impressive Shiro-Utsuri Nicknamed “Musashi,” President Omosako considers this offspring the ideal Shiro-Utsuri in quality and size. The fish won the 85Bu Kokugyo Prize in the 36th All Japan Koi Show. Today it has reached 92cm in length, and has been spawning as a Koi parent since its impressive victory.
The Omosako Showa for Which Mr. Takayoshi Omosako Focuses His Efforts After a five year training period at the Dainichi Koi Farm in Niigata, Mr. Takayoshi Omosako is now working diligently to produce a new Showa Page 10 Mid-Atlantic Koi
The 36th All Japan Koi Show, Kokugyo Prize, 85 Bu Shiro-Utsuri
variety that possesses both the grand physique of the famous Dainichi Showa and the lustrous sumi markings of the Omosako Shiro-Utsuri. During our visit we were unable to take our eyes off their beautiful Showa. (Page 11.)
Phantasmagoric Sumi Markings of Shiro-Utsuri Here is an excellent example of the dynamic changes the sumi undergoes as the 65Bu ShiroUtsuri that won the mature championship in the 38th All Japan Koi Show in 2007 ages. (Pictures on page 12.)
April 2015
The 41st All Japan Koi Show, Gigantic Champion, 90 Bu Showa Sanshoku
Omosako says, "This is unique example of the changes of the sumi. Not all the Shiro-Utsuri's sumi develops like this, but there is usually a high possibility of desirable sumi with age. The attracApril 2015
tiveness of tategoi usually is true to their potential." Through his words, we could feel this farmer's strong intention and realize the true charm of the Omosako Shiro-Utsuri. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 11
Year to Year Dynamic Changes of One Utsuri
Two Years Old
Three Years Old
Four Years Old
Five Years Old
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Q: How can amateur Koi lovers truly enjoy keeping Shiro-Utsuri? In order to enjoy the phantasmagorical sumi markings, amateur Koi lovers should understand the types of sumi markings and that sumi will change according to breeding environment as well as the lineage. If possible, keep several ShiroUtsuri with differing types of sumi markings, such as already fixed sumi markings, late bloomer, and those similar to the Showa variety, and examine which type of sumi markings are most adaptable to your breeding environment. It is often said that the sumi is influenced by the hardness of water. The harder it is, the more the sumi tends to appear. The Japanese water is always soft. It would be very interesting to keep Shiro-Utsuri in some foreign countries where the water is harder.
We carefully select fine food that makes our Koi grow large while maintaining the desired shape.
Q: Do you have any particular preference for Koi food? We feed our Koi exclusively the Hikari® Koi diets. We use a sinking type food in our mud ponds and a floating type in our cement ponds. Of course, we use the Saki-Hikari® series too and now we feed our Koi Saki-Hikari® “Pure White™” for the purpose of intensifying their white skin as the Koi shows approach. We feel we had very good results at the 42nd All Japan Koi Show; Best in Utsurimono Prize, 70 Bu Sakura Prize and 15 Bu, 35 Bu, 40 Bu, Kokugyo Prizes. We are also thinking about using Kyorin’s growth food. We feel it will certainly meet your expectations. !
How to Grow Koi Large, and the Importance of Diet
Q: What is the most important factor to grow larger Koi? I pay careful attention to our Koi to be sure they are growing at a healthy rate while maintaining a desirable body shape. As you know, the dark and lustrous sumi and the beautiful white background are the primary requirements for the ideal Shiro-Utsuri, but the value rapidly drops Left Mr. Takashi Omosako, when it loses its Right Takayoshi Omosako shape. To maintain the Koi’s value, three things are equally important, the lineage of the Koi, its breeding environment and the diet it’s offered. April 2015
The 42nd All Japan Koi Show, Best in Utsurimono Prize (Size 90 Bu) Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 13
My Fish Aren’t Eating by Carolyn Weise, Florida
You know fish don’t like loud noises around their pond, so if somebody is hammering in the house behind you it could be upsetting them.
Now, why wouldn’t your fish be eating?? Are they sick? Are they afraid of something? Is there a predator coming around while you are sleeping so they don’t feel safe? Are they new to this pond and maybe they don’t know you yet? Were they eating a week ago? Are they swimming? Are they sitting on the bottom all by themselves? Are they all not eating or is it just one fish? Is there anything that looks wrong with the fish, other than that it isn’t eating? Have you had any lawn care or tree care done lately, perhaps somebody sprayed chemicals that drifted into your pond? Is the fish still ALIVE? (Dead fish don’t eat very much.) Can you see its eyes? Are the eyes cloudy or clear? Are they sunk in or protruding more than usual? Is another fish in the pond bullying the littler fish? Is there any construction going on around you? Page 14 Mid-Atlantic Koi
Fish also “feel” with their lateral line, so they can sense any reverberations within the pond. This is their best defense against predators, almost like sonar that tell the fish how close another fish is to them. Digging in the yard can send ripples through the pond that fish sense. Why else wouldn’t they be eating? Maybe you changed the food and they don’t like it? Each fish is an individual with individual tastes. Maybe one fish just doesn’t like the new food. Or maybe he isn’t hungry. Maybe he just ate a small fish or frog. Does he hang around the waterfall gasping for air? Does he have parasites and flash along the sides and bottom of the pond, trying to scratch an itch? Who would want to eat with bugs biting them?? Perhaps he has a stomach infection that he can’t tell you about. Does he look bloated at all? Maybe he’s a she and is egg-bound, unable to reabsorb the season’s undistributed eggs? You say you live in ALASKA??? In that case, your fish won’t eat because it’s TOO COLD. Feeding stops at 50°F. !
April 2015
Koi Anatomy – Part 1 by Spike Cover , California
This article is supplemental to the “Anatomy of Koi” section of Chapter One of Advanced Koi Care, by Nicholas Saint-Erne, DVM. This book is available through the AKCA Bookstore.
natomy is defined as the morphologic structure of an organism. Morphology is defined as the science concerned with the configuration or the structure of animals and plants.
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External Anatomy: Form Koi have what is known as a fusiform shaped body (tapering toward each end) as seen in the diagram above from Living Jewels (reproduced with the kind permission of the authors, Ronnie Watt and Servaas de Kock).
Fins – Koi have 3 single fins and two sets of paired fins. The caudal or tail fin is primarily used for forward swimming especially fast swimming. The dorsal (top) fin is used for stabilization
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April 2015
during forward motion. The largest leading ray becomes very stiff, sharp and thorn-like as the Koi grows older. The anal fin, like the dorsal, is used for stabilization. Also, the largest leading ray becomes very stiff, sharp and thorn-like as the Koi grows older. The pectoral fins are paired and are used for numerous functions including: steering during forward motion, slow swimming both forward and backward, breaking and to counteract the jet effect of the water being forced out of the opercular openings. The pelvic (or ventral) fins are also paired and serve to control pitch and roll and to counter lift. The fins are thin and well vascularized, which makes them vulnerable to damage. It is also easy to see or detect changes and damage to the fins. Therefore, diseases are often first detected in the fins, which can appear to be damaged, torn, or hemorrhaging.
Skin The cellular layers of the skin consists of an epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis (outermost cellular layer) is very thin, usually only 6 to 8 cells thick and contains unicellular mucous glands with a network of very small capillaries. The dermis (middle layer) contains the scales, the scale forming cells, pigment, blood vessels, and nerves. The hypodermis is a vascularized fatty layer between the epidermis and the muscle or bone beneath. It is the interface between the skin and the rest of the body. The following illustration is of the skin of a swordtail (tropical livebearer) but with the exception of the outline shape of the scales (which are shown later in this section), is very similar to carp (Koi) and is reproduced with the kind permission of Tetra Press from the book, Aquariology, The Science of Fish Health Management – Master Volume, edited by John Gratzek and Janice Matthews.
Cuticle The skin and scales are covered by the cuticle, a noncellular mucus coating. More commonly known as the slime coat, the cuticle of the Koi is a thin layer of mucus that contains many protective substances including antibodies, lysozyme (an enzyme that is destructive to cell walls of certain bacteria), and C-reactive protein (a protein that may have some antibacterial properties). The cuticle is the Koi’s first line of defense against waterborne irritants and parasites and it assists the skin with drag reduction for better locomotion. April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 17
Scales All Koi scales are of the cycloid type and most Koi have scales over most of their bodies but lack scales on the head. These Koi scaled Koi are referred to as wagoi in Japanese.
the scale below (courtesy of Mark Whalen): Note Scales are normally flat, however the picture of the scale below had been off the fish and dried for one to two years prior to scanning.
Note: the age of a Koi cannot be determined by simply counting the rings on a scale (as can be done with a tree from a cross sections of the trunk). A detailed look at the growth rings as seen through a microscope at 100x (Courtesy of Brett Rowley)
Some Koi have scales only along the dorsal line and the lateral line; these are called German scaled Koi (Doitsu, in Japanese). Some Koi/carp are scale-less and are referred to as leather Koi/carp. Other Koi/carp have a heavy scales appearing almost randomly and are referred to as armored scaled Koi/carp. Scales are thin flexible plates with a layered structure that grow from the dermis. Note that since the scales are produced in the dermal layer, removing a scale creates an ulcer, or hole in the skin, which can be a potential area for pathogens to enter the body. The scales grow essentially from the center outward. The actual origin of growth is in the center of the scale and is seen in Page 18 Mid-Atlantic Koi
April 2015
There is a tremendous amout of overlapping in scales and there can be up to six or seven layers in some spots (small dark areas). About 20% of most scales are exposed to the exterior, i.e., the portion of the scale without overlapping scales, see large dark area of illustration prior page (provided by Masaki Okamoto). Note: On some Koi, the dermis grows from beneath the scale and is seen as ‘fukurin.’ Varieties such as ogon and asagi typically display fukurin especially on the shoulder area. It appears around the external edges of the scales. On the main body of the fish shown on the left, the platinum or white areas are the fukurin while the darker or yellowish areas are the scales. !
Reading this on issuu.com Please help support the magazine by joining MAKC today. The MAKC Membership Form can be found on page 45 Do it today, it only takes a couple of minutes. April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 19
The Math Behind The Chemicals by Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper Koi Organisation International t is not uncommon for a pond keeper to make use of chemicals to solve a water quality or fish health problem. This requires the accurate measurement of both water and chemical and the correct selection of a chemical-to-water ratio, called the dose (or dosage). Even for commercially prepared formulas, the label instructions may say something like one cup per thousand gallons of pond water. For such prepared chemical solutions, the dose has already been calculated for you, but it still means you will have to know fairly accurately know many gallons (or liters) of water are in your pond.
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Chemical solution doses are expressed as weight ratios, either parts per million (PPM) or milligrams per liter (mg/l). Those are just two different ways of saying the same thing. One pound of chemical in a million pounds of water is a 1 PPM dose. One milligram of chemical in one liter of water is a 1 mg/l dose. Since a liter of water weighs one kilogram (or a million milligrams), those weight ratios (one to a million) are the same in both cases. When preparing a chemical solution, bear in mind that a specified dose assumes the chemical you add to the water is high purity. For example Potassium Permanganate is sold in various grades from commercial grade which can be as low as 60% purity to reagent grade which is 99%+ purity. The commercial grade is cheaper, but it may take 67% more of that grade of chemical to create the same chemical-to-water Page 20 Mid-Atlantic Koi
ratio. The commercial grade is OK to use, as long as you make adjustments for the lower purity. For example it would take 1.67 pounds of 60% pure Potassium Permanganate in a million pounds of water to create a 1 PPM (or 1 mg/l) dose. The use of weight ratios factors out any density variance in the chemical. For example a cup of rock salt weighs less than a cup of table salt. That’s because the small particle size of the table salt allows the particles to pack close together with less void space, so more salt will fit into the same one April 2015
cup volume. However, a pound of rock salt weighs exactly the same as a pound of table salt. Since most of the chemical doses a pond keeper will use are measured in grams or milligrams, it is worthwhile to include a gram scale in your pond keeping tool kit. As mentioned above, selecting the correct dose to use is part of the chemical treatment process. For any chemical, a safe dose has been determined by toxicity testing and is available at various sources. Seek out the assistance of someone with experience if you are unsure how to select the correct dose and prepare the chemical solution. Of course, the water part of the chemical-towater ratio is going to be the amount of water in your pond. The table here will aid in determining the total amount of chemical to use for your pond. !
April 2015
PPM or mg/l
Grams to add to each 1000 gallons of pond water
1
3.78
2
7.56
3
11.34
4
15.12
5
18.90
6
22.68
7
26.46
8
30.24
9
34.02
10
37.80
15
56.70
20
75.60
50
189.00
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 21
My New Pump by Carolyn Weise, Florida
was afraid of the big expense but knew it was imminent. My pump had gone through the wringer and any brief power outage was enough to stop the entire filtration–due to the pump. Pieces of “liquid rubber” sloughing off the sides of the pond continued for months, until the pump was ready to die.
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It was then I read about Pentair Aquatic EcoSystems, Inc introducing its new Sparus pump. I didn’t look at the price. I knew it was more than I could afford. But my fish are important to me. I simply knew I had to have that… And voila! I had it. Page 22 Mid-Atlantic Koi
The first 5-6 weeks, it just sat in my pump house waiting for the pool guy to be well enough to install it. He has cancer and was undergoing chemo and radiation treatments. Nobody knew if he was even going to make it through. I told myself, a friend is more important than a fish… Slowly, ever so slowly, my friend rallied and he gained his strength. Around the 6th week, he was able to take a look at it but it didn’t run on regular house current; I had to have an electrician run 220V to the pump house. By the 7th week, the pump was installed. Out with the old; in with the new. Luckily my old April 2015
pump held on until everything fell into place. Boy, did it pump water!! My fish were practically ecstatic. He had set it on 75 gpm. I thought, “Wow, what is this going to cost me?” The water had never been cleaner. I called Pentair AES. They said they’d love to take credit for it, but it’s probably because the weather is cooling off. Okay, makes sense to me, I guess. Whatever it is, I like it and my fish like it. But there was a lot of water movement and lots of filtration going on. Soon I got cold-feet and asked him to turn the pump down a bit. I thought it must be running up the electric at that rate and since my pond is enclosed (in the screened lanai) it shouldn’t need such heavy filtration. He put it down to 45 gpm. That was toward the end of November. Then, mid-December, I decided to find out how my electric compared to last year. Considering in Florida the A/C is the primary cost throughout summer, I went all the way back to this time last year. I called LCEC. I found out the last bill, November 7 through December 6, 2014 (a 30day cycle) my usage was 1,487 kW, costing me $185.62. Last year at that time, from November 5 through December 6, 2013 (a 31-day cycle) my usage was 1,704 kW and I paid $214.00. That is a BIG difference! It will be difficult to estimate the cost differential in the next billing cycle due to added spotlights on Christmas displays added this year which I’m sure will offset the saving of lowering GPM on the pump from 75 to 45. But there was a lot of water movement and now the mini power outages don't interfere with filtration anymore. I’ve been able to backwash the filter without losing prime. That’s something that bedeviled me all last year with the old pump. I am so happy I could cry. The new pump is doing a great jobwhat a blessing. ! April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 23
Pond Filtration Upgrade by Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper Koi Organisation International
ow that you have had your pond for a while you may be thinking about upgrading the filtration system. It is most likely that your pond pump pushes water into your filter (a pump into system). There are very few "pump out of ' systems built these days.
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Just so there is no confusion, a pump in the skimmer that pushes water back to the pond is NOT a "pump out of ' system. That is because no matter how big your skimmer is, it just does not constitute a filter. If you are the proud owner of a pond in which water is pumped out of the filter and back to the pond, you may already have the makings of a very good filter system. Since you are the rare exception, your situation will not be covered in this article, but stay tuned for future articles. This article is also not intended to address the challenges of those who have chosen to dismantle their existing pond and start all over, but you should consider many of the ideas Iisted below. There are many good reasons for upgrading your pond filtration: • Current filter is a lot of work to clean (at least it is more trouble than you want to deal with). • Current filter may be less than what the pond needs because you have so many fish or they have gotten so big and they eat a lot. • Algae is a problem in your pond and you have heard that better filtration reduces algae.
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• You are making your pond system bigger and this is a good opportunity to improve the filter. • You have been told by experts that your pond does not have enough filtration. • Your existing filter equipment is visibly prominent and you wish it could be concealed. • You just want to make your pond a better habitat for your fish. The current design of your pond is probably one of the following, or some combination thereof: • Your pond does not have a filter; • Your pump is submerged in your pond and possibly your filter is also; • Your pond water is pumped into a filter chamber that is essentially your water fall; or, • Your pond water is pumped to a pressurized filter outside of your pond. If your pond currently does not have a filter, all of the options described below are available to you. The same can be said for those of you with a submerged pump and filter system. They can be replaced with larger units, but you should also consider some of the options listed below. Some of your filtration upgrade options are: • Move more water - replace your pump with a larger pump or add another pump. The more water you move through your filter every day, the better the water quality • A submerged pump can be replaced with a surface pump. You will find they cost less to April 2015
run, last longer and are not an electrocution hazard to your fish. • Pump water from the bottom of the pond instead of the skimmer. Retro-drains can be installed so that the particulates that settle on the bottom of the pond can be pulled out into the filter. • Replace your filter media in your water fall type filter- lava rock is not only very heavy, but has low level of surface area for bacteria colonization. Consider using PVC or polypropylene ribbon, which has five times the surface area of lava rock and a fraction of the weight. • Add a pressurized filter - This may require adding a pump that puts up higher head pressure, but there are several options available. The primary benefits of pressurized filters are they are easy to clean and they can be put just about anywhere, so they are easy to conceal. At the lower price range ($300 -$500), the media in pressurized filters is sponge or sponge/plastic media
April 2015
combinations. The sponges eventually need to be removed and hand washed and these filters typically have very low pressure ratings, so they may not provide a high rate of flow for your water fall. The mid-priced range ($500 - $600) pressurized filters are small capacity filters with various types of plastic media. They may be affordable to you but you need to make sure they are not too small for your pond volume. The pressurized filters at the upper end of the price range ($600 and up) use beads or plastic media and the latest ones on the market come with such features as automatic back wash. !
Do you have a picture to share? Please send them to the Editor, Carolyn Weise. makcmag@makc.com
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 25
Information About Koi by Don Harrawood, Texas
id you ever notice that when one of your Koi spooks, they all do? This is because Koi have a very keen sense of water motion. Koi have what is known as the “lateral line.”
D
The lateral line is a line of scales from head to tail located midway along each side of the fish. Holes in these scales lead to a canal beneath the surface that contains a mucus substance. Water movement in any direction striking the sides of the fish will cause the mucus in the canal to vibrate. These vibrations stimulate the cells that are linked to the nerve system and provide one of the most effective perceptions for survival known as “flight reaction.” It should be noted that in scaleless Koi there may not be any scales along the lateral line. These fish have the holes in the skin along the lateral line that perform the same function. Koi can smell and taste? Koi have an acute sense of smell and taste. They are the primary senses in locating food in a natural environment, even more so than by their eye sight. If a substance dissolves in water, it has the potential of being detected by smell. There are little flaps on each side of a Koi’s nose just in front of their eyes? These are organs, called nares, and are used for smell. The cavities can be thought of as “U” tubes in which water enters through the front and exits through the rear as the Koi swims. Just behind the forward opening of the cavity is a flap of skin that directs the water into the forward opening and out the rear opening of the Page 26 Mid-Atlantic Koi
nare when the fish is in motion. This flap of skin is most noticeable on butterfly Koi. Taste buds are numerous on and around the lips, mouth, and tips of the barbels. Koi have two sets of barbels (whiskers), one on each side of the upper and lower lips. These barbels can be used to distinguish Koi from Goldfish and other species. It is not uncommon for Koi to lose scales, and the loss can be a potential area for pathogens to enter their body and produce an ulcer. However not all scale loss is a problem. The scale is produced by the dermis (deep skin layer) and protrudes through the epidermis. It is covered by a protective layer of mucus. A scale can easily be dislodged and lost. By definition the loss of a scale creates an ulcer. However, a healthy fish will produce a new scale and the ulcer will be mended quickly without causing a problem. Think of it as the cut or scrape you get on your skin from time to time which also creates an ulcer by definition. If you are healthy and have a fully functioning immune system, the injury will heal just fine. It is part of living. Massive scale loss, poor water quality, low temperatures, and other stresses can contribute to illnesses in a Koi. But healthy Koi in clean water will produce new scales easily. Low water temperatures will delay recovery, (because their immune system slows during cold temperatures) but even that is not a problem unless other factors are at work.
April 2015
What Determines a “Quality” Koi? Some breeders sell Koi in three or four different categories; these categories are pond run, selects, premium, and show quality. Other breeders sell Koi in only two classifications, these are premium and show quality. Everything that does not meet this breeder’s standards is destroyed, resulting in about a 10 percent yield. The various classifications are determined through a constant culling process, done at regular intervals, where each Koi is inspected for quality features and for future possibilities. Young Koi are very difficult for the layman to determine whether it will be a good or bad choice, since the pattern and color on young Koi change with age, maybe several times. As Koi grow older, their physical shape, pattern and coloration tend to become more predictable. Koi judges look for definite characteristics when judging the Koi for quality. Some of these characteristics are: • Body Shape and Conformation – A fully developed female will possess a fuller, rounded body than the male. The male will have a slender and tapered body. • Color – The quality of the color in a Koi is important. The colors should be very bright and distinct with well defined separation lines between colors. • Pattern – The color patterns should be well balanced across the body of the Koi. • Fins – The fins should be well balanced with each other, with no splits or tears. No tears or splits in the tail. • Scars – Needless to say, scars on the body as a result of ulcers or physical injury can take away from a Koi’s value. Other defects, such as crooked mouth, crooked spine, and missing scales are also negatives.
MAKC’s website has been updated. Have you taken a look yet?
www.makc.com
value is determined by the amount that a buyer is willing to pay. The gills are organs that are used to excrete ammonia and carbon dioxide from a fish’s body, while allowing oxygen exchange from the water into their blood stream. Gill structure is of a very thin membrane which allows gases to flow into and out of the blood. Because of the thinness of the membrane, gills are easily harmed by physical contact and by chemicals in the water. The swim bladders are the major organs for buoyancy. They are composed of two bladders, the front bladder and the rear bladder. The rear bladder remains relatively constant in pressure to maintain the body in neutral buoyancy. The front bladder is very elastic and has a connecting tube to their gut. Koi are able to add or release gas through the tube to the front bladder, allowing them to move vertically in the water with or without swimming. !
Quality Koi generally come from quality breeders who are very selective in their breeding process; however, in general a “Quality Koi” is one that meets the buyer/owner’s approval. A Koi’s true April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 27
Stress by Rupert Bridges, Tetra
Reprinted from Koi Carp Magazine nderstanding how stress affects fish is one of the underlying principals of good Koi keeping. We’re all familiar with the concept of stress, and most of us experience it from time to time. However, it’s often not appreciated how real the physiological effects of stress are, and how it can directly affect the health and condition of our fish. In this article we look at what stress is, how it alters the physiology of your fish, and what can be done to minimize its effects.
U
What is Stress? There are many textbook definitions of stress, but one fairly concise one is: “The response of the cell, or organism, to any demand placed on it such that it causes an extension of a physiological state beyond the normal resting state” (Iwama, Afonso, Vijayan, 2006). In other words, stress involves the fish adjusting its physiology to cope with an adverse situation. A more easily understood notion is the “fight or flight” response. In the wild, if faced with danger, a fish has two options – fight off the threat or swim away from it. Either way, it is beneficial for their muscles to be working above their normal rate, to maximum the chances of survival. The physiological changes that are needed to release this additional energy are what characterizes the stress response. In the wild, stress is generally positive, as it increases chances of survival. In a pond this is not usually the case, as the fish can’t escape the danger, and so there is no opportunity to recover from this advanced physiological state. Eventually, when exposed to prolonged stress, the condition and health of the fish will suffer.
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The Stress Response When a fish perceives danger, a series of events take place to prepare it for action. The stress response can be divided into three steps – primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary response - During the primary response, the fish identifies the danger using its sensory systems, triggering a series of nervous and hormonal events. This is under the control of a part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Firstly, hormones called catecholamines, which include adrenalin, are released from the chromaffin tissue in the head part of the kidney. This is under nervous control, so happens quite rapidly (within minutes). At the same time, the hypothalamus initiates the release of adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the brain’s pituitary gland, which causes the interrenal tissue in the kidney to release corticosteroid hormones, including cortisol. These take longer to be released, but remain in circulation for much longer than adrenalin. Secondary response - The second stage of the stress response is characterized by changes to the chemistry and make-up of the blood. For example, blood glucose levels increase to provide the muscles and other tissues with additional energy. The oxygen content of the blood is also increased, through an increase in the quantity of oxygen-carrying red blood cells, and dilation of the gills. Additional oxygen and glucose allow increased work to be done, enabling the fish to escape any danger. Tertiary response - The tertiary response refers to changes to the whole animal. For example, if the fish fails to adapt to the thing that is stressing it, or can’t escape and recover, its general health and condition will be compromised. For example, energy reserves will be diverted away from growth, reproduction, and other useful things, in order to sustain its heightened level of activity. In addition, the immune system may be compromised, increasing the risk of disease. April 2015
Negative Effect of Stress
Dealing with Stress
Fish have evolved the stress response in order to increase their chances of survival in the wild. Brief periods of stress (acute stress) are usually recovered from quickly, with no lasting effect . However, if a fish is exposed to long periods of stress (chronic stress), its body will eventually be unable to cope, and this is when problems occur.
Stress cannot be totally avoided, and is a natural part of a Koi’s life. However, frequent or prolonged stress should be prevented to ensure long-term health and welfare. Fundamental to this is identifying possible sources of stress and managing them correctly. Amongst other things, this means providing the right water quality, a sufficient volume of water for the number of fish being kept, a good quality diet, and avoiding frequent handling or physical disturbance.
Diversion of energy away from growth, reproduction, and the immune system, will result in poor general condition, and an increased likelihood of infection. In addition, the hormones released during the stress response can directly suppress the immune system, reducing the number of certain white blood cells and other important substances. A further effect of stress is to disrupt the body’s internal salt balance. Whilst allowing the fish to obtain more oxygen, dilation of the gills also enables important salts to leak out of the fish, and excess water to enter. The fish must use a lot of energy to prevent its bodily fluids becoming too diluted, and eventually it will be unable to cope and become extremely unwell. These negative effects of stress are the reason why it so often results in fish health problems and disease.
Causes of stress Things that cause stress are referred to as “stressors,” and these may be biological, chemical, or physical. Biological stressors may include interactions with other fish, such as territorial disputes. Physical ones include handling, netting, transportation, and water changes. Chemical ones include any water quality problems. This is why water quality is so important, as in addition to directly harming the fish, failure to maintain it will stress them and leave them open to infection. Stress can be additive; in other words multiple stressors have a greater effect than one on its own. This is important for managing Koi health, as we want to make sure we don’t expose them to too many stressful events at any one time. So, for example, if you’ve just brought a new fish home and added it to your pond, don’t then decide to do a major clean-out the next day.
April 2015
However, when stress does occur, for example during transport or pond maintenance, there are some things that can be done to mitigate its effects. These include: • Providing plentiful oxygen, to meet the fish’s additional requirements. • Not feeding fish for 2-3 days before and after the event, to reduce waste production and oxygen demand. • Avoiding stressful events during very warm weather, when oxygen levels are lower. • Short-term use of pond salt (3g per liter) to help prevent dilution of body fluids, e.g. during transport. • Consider off-the-shelf stress-reducers, such as water conditioners that contain certain polymers and B-vitamins. If you understand the concept of stress, and can identify particular stressors, you can better manage the health of your Koi and reduce the chances of experiencing disease problems. If your fish do develop a problem, it is important to look back at the history and set-up of the pond to determine if there is any underlying cause of stress that should be resolved. !
References: Fish Stress and Health in Aquaculture; Iwama et al (1997) The Physiology of Fishes, Third Edition; Evans & Clairborne (2006) For more information on Koi & Koi keeping: www.koiexcellence.co.uk
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 29
Win a Free MAKC Membership for the 2015/2016 Year! So how do you enter to win a free MAKC membership for the 2015/2016 year? Just mail in an original sale receipt dated from June 1, 2014 thru March 31, 2015 for any products or services from any of the vendors who advertise in the MAKC magazine! Mail the original receipts along with your name, address, phone number and email address to: MAKC PO Box 91 Ulster Park, NY 12487 There is NO limit to the number of entries you can submit! Entries must be postmarked by April 5, 2015 in order to be eligible. The drawing will be held on Sunday, April 19, 2015.
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April 2015
Single Tail Fish Comet Goldfish
Comet Goldfish •
The Comet is a single-tail long-bodied goldfish, and is the fish most people think of when the word goldfish is mentioned to them. The fish possesses a streamlined body shape, and can grow to become from twelve to twenty inches in length. Comets are graceful fish, and swim easily through the water.
•
The comet comes in a variety of colors, including orange, yellow, white, olive or drab green, yellow-brown, and black. If the comet appears in a calico coloring, it is clas-
April 2015
sified as a long-finned Shubunkin, rather than as a comet. •
The identifying characteristic of this variety of goldfish is the long, flowing fins which occur in the dorsal, caudal, pectoral and ventral fins. The caudal fin is often the length of the body, and in well-developed specimens, may be double the length of the body.
•
The tail, in addition to being long, should also possess a prominent forking, so that approximately 80% of the tail is forked in appearance. In the best specimens, the tips of the tail are almost clear, which produces Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 31
Red and White Comet Goldfish
a beautiful effect against the background color of the fish and fins. The dorsal fin should be carried erect, and should be as deep as the body, or slightly deeper. There is a single ventral fin, which should be consistent with the length of the remaining fins.
April 2015
•
Scalation should be regular and even, and scales should not be missing.
•
Since this is a metallic fish, the sheen of the fish is important, and coloration takes on added significance and should be a deep uniform color, throughout.
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 33
Description
Points
Body Style
20
Coloration
20
Deportment and Condition
20
Finnage
20
Special Characteristics (Finage)
20
American Goldfish Association 2014 Goldfish Standards Variety Name: Comet Dorsal Fin: Y/N, Y Tail Type: Single Special Characteristic: Finnage
Total
100
!
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April 2015
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April 2015
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On the Road to a Koi Event
Treasurer’s Report Submitted by Anthony Vitale, New York Beginning Balance Dec, 31, 2014
May 23-24 Greater Louisville Koi & Goldfish Society 20th Annual Show Memorial Day Weekend www.louisvillekoiclub.com/annual_show.html
June 19 – June 21 PNKCA Convention
Income Host Fee Refund Total Income Expenses Printing/Publications Total Expenses
$18,281.31
$46.82 $46.82
$800.00 $800.00
(Pacific Northwest Koi Clubs Association)
31st Annual Convention and Pond Tour and Koi Organisation International 1st Ever Wet Lab and Get Together Held at the Red Lion River Inn Spokane, Washington Hosted by Inland Empire Water Garden & Koi Society. Updated information see our website www.pnkca.com
June 26-28 Midwest Pond & Koi Society Koi and Goldfish Show & Tradeshow Held at the Darien Sportsplex. http://www.mpks.org/
July 10-12 Tri-State ZNA Koi Show/Anniversary Event Held at Kodama Koi Garden Kodama in Saddle River, New Jersey. http://tristateznakoi.com/
September 11-13 ZNA Potomac Koi Show Held at Meadowlark Gardens, Virginia; for
Ending Balance January 31, 2015
$17,528.13
Saving Balance Club Total Balance As if January 31, 2015
$6,325.57 $23,853.37 ❖
information see our website http://www.znapotomac.org/show.htm 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. 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. ❖
Page 38 Mid-Atlantic Koi
April 2015
M A KC Me e t i ng s an d Eve nt s Saugerties Chapter Meetings Sunday, April 19 3:00 pm
Check our website for the most current MAKC Meeting announcements. www.makc.com
Future meetings May 17, June 14, July 19, August 16, Sept 20, Oct 18, Nov 15, and Dec 13.
Chapter Vice Presidents
Dec 13, 2015 is our annual Christmas Social Event at the home of Herb & RoseMarie Ehrich.
Central Chapter
Contact Herb Ehrich for further information about upcoming meetings - email Herb at koiking15@yahoo.com â?–
Bruce Damme 302-598-8431 Drbdamme@windcrestanimal.com
Long Island Chapter Bruce Levine 516-477-1823 kuba1953@aol.com
MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers Tom Burton
Middletown, NJ
732-671-7045
Jan & Bill Fogle Wayne, PA
610-687-3105
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.
April 2015
Saugerties Chapter Herb Ehrich 845-247-7105 koiking15@yahoo.com
South Chapter Alan Mickelson 301-332-7042 alanmickelson@msn.com
Send your meeting and event information to Carolyn Weise makcmag@makc.com Deadline April 3rd for the May 2015 issue. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 39
The Joys of Winter Koi Keeping in the North East by Paul Tomasko, Saugerties Chapter
intertime can be a relaxing time for pond owners. I have a stream that re-circulates from a bottom drain and skimmer, which I close down for the winter so I do not super cool the water. In the fall, I net the pond and streambed and try to keep the leaves from getting into the water. Some always do and I will get out as many as I can with a net and try to have as clean a pond bottom as possible. In the fall as the water cools the fish have stopped eating and start swimming slower. I then remove the nets that caught the fall leaves and trim back any plants. The fish just go to the bottom and into a state of torpor. Well this year has been different. This has been one of the coldest winters we have had here in the Hudson Valley of New York State. I haven’t seen any of
W
Page 40 Mid-Atlantic Koi
my fish for the last 3 months. The pond is covered with snow and ice. When I rebuilt my pond the second time I decided to put in two Jacuzzi type jets on the either side in order to direct the flow in the warmer months and allow me to sweep the bottom of debris and to clean the surface by directing the water flow with the current that the returns created. They would run at the same time my stream did so my fish could get exercise by swimming against the flow. They will come up and play in the force of water that the jet provided. Sometimes I would throw food into the flow, and watch them frolic and chase and then come back only to be pushed back by the water’s force. I say all this because these jets serve a valuable purpose during the winter. April 2015
When it starts to get cold I turn the jets towards the surface and cause a ripple of moving water. I had tried a trough heater in the past and found I did not want to use 1500 Watts of electricity. Also several times the heater got pushed out of the water by the ice and sat on top of an ice closed pond, doing nothing but using electricity. When I redid my pond, I buried pipes for the Jacuzzi jets but they were not something I could drain easily, however they came into use as a source of keeping a hole in the ice. One year, early on, I tilted the jet too high and had a dome of water coming up. It all seemed fine until it started to form an igloo, which I had to keep open by chipping it lightly pretty much every day. I was also super cooling the water. After that lesson I decided to just let the flow skim the surface. That seemed to work the best, but last year was also a cold one and the pond closed up several times. I know you are never supposed to bang on the ice to try and break it. The force of the blows can give the fish a concussion. It is best to use a pan of hot water, but this ice was at least 4 or 5 inches thick. I got out my circular saw and my sawzall and was able to get through. I had to work my way back to the jet in very cold water and turn it up more to the surface to get more agitation without causing a dome to form. After two or three tries, I finally found the right angle and it worked for the rest of the winter. This year the angle seems to be right, but we have had some of the coldest nights since I have lived here. We have been here since 1986, and never have seen -10.5 temperatures. That is without wind chill. It has been below zero many nights and -5 or -6 a few of those nights. I am able to keep an eye on the pond from my dining room and can see the hole or lack thereof. When I see it closing I walk through the snow and lightly chip away the ice with my wood splitting maul. No pounding, just gentle chipping and I can get a good 6´ x 2´ hole opened. ! April 2015
Sunshine Column
s anyone celebrating a Birthday? Wedding Anniversary? New baby in the family? New fish directly from a Japanese Koi Farm?? Is anyone in the Hospital? Contact Carolyn.
I
Send submissions for our Sunshine Column to Carolyn Weise, Editor makcmag@makc.com â?–
www.makc.com Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 41
F..A..S..T.. Ads – April Disclaimer: MAKC and its officers assume no responsibility for claims of advertisers or the quality/serviceability of goods offered.
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 Joann 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 Joann Mead 845-389-5712 jo_mead@earthlink.net
Page 42 Mid-Atlantic Koi
WANTED KOI. Foster Home. Large natural pond. Happy to accept your overgrown or unwanted “children.” Call Rich Menashe in Metuchen, NJ, 732-767-0720. 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 SECRETARY AND MAKC SALES POSITIONS – are open; please contact club president Joann Mead for more information on how you can fill one of these positions. Joann Mead 845-389-5713 or e-mail jo_mead@earthlink.net. !
April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Ad Index ABC Pond Book . . . . . . . . . .27
Nisei Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . 8, 25
Hikari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 32
Pentair Aquatic
Kodama Koi Farm . . . . . . 8, 21
Eco-Systems, Inc. . . . . . 8, 15
Koi Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 8
Quality Koi Company . . . 8, 25
Matala USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Total Koi Food . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Microbe-Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Next issue learn about the Goldfish variety the Shubunkin.
Join or Renew Your Membership Submit Your MAKC Membership Form by printing out page 45 and mailing it in. Do it today, it only takes a couple of minutes.
Advertise in Mid-Atlantic Koi! Ad Rates from $15/issue* for a business card ad to $300/issue* for a full page color ad.
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April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 43
Picture to Share –
Photo by Carolyn Weise. Do you have a picture to share? Please send them to the Editor, Carolyn Weise. makcmag@makc.com
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April 2015
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