The Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club April 2015

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
Chapter’s. The newly
designed website will
have an events calendar
which will list the date,
time and city of the
Chapter’s meeting.
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
Executive Board in
Hopefully when you read this, winter will be gone
June 2015. If you
and it will feel like spring.
would consider
running for one of the
would like to personally thank Sara
(President, Vice-President, Secretary, and
Johnson, MAKC Webmaster, for
Treasurer) Executive Club positions, please give
redesigning the website for the benefit of
your name to your Chapter VP by May 15, 2015
MAKC community. With this tremendous
so we can get you onto the ballot. MAKC always
redesign the Club will have the ability to
welcomes enthusiastic leadership!
have an online store and a secure shopping cart
to sell MAKC merchandise. Check out the new
site at www.makc.com
I
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).
W
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
April 2015
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.
k 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.
O
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 Declor).
This is March, at the end of this
month or beginning of next month it will be
time to do your spring cleanup. Start with a 30%
or 50% water change and get your filters going
again. (Don’t forget the Declor.)
You can look forward to feeding the fish when
the water warms up to 45 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.
C
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
Page 12 Mid-Atlantic Koi
April 2015
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 Hikar® 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.
A
External Anatomy:
Form
Koi have what is known as a fusiform shaped
body (tapering toward each end) as seen in the
diagram below 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
Page 16 Mid-Atlantic Koi
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.
A detailed look at the growth rings as seen
through a microscope appears like the following at 100x (courtesy of Brett Rowley)
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).
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.
I
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 below 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.
I
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 in place.
Boy, did it pump water!! My fish were
practically ecstatic.
He had set it on 75gph. 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 45gph.
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 GPH on
the pump from 75 to 45, but I’ve already got
my answers.
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 and 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 every
built these days.
N
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.
Page 24 Mid-Atlantic Koi
• 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
April 2015
surface pump. You will find they cost less to
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
April 2015
filters is sponge or sponge/plastic media
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.
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 thinnest 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. !
www.makc.com
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.
Page 28 Mid-Atlantic Koi
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.
Page 30 Mid-Atlantic Koi
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
!
Page 34 Mid-Atlantic Koi
April 2015
April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 35
Page 36 Mid-Atlantic Koi
April 2015
April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 37
On the Road
to a Koi Event
Treasurer’s Report
Submitted by
Anthony Vitale, New York
Beginning Balance Dec, 31, 2014
May 22-14
Greater Louisville Koi & Goldfish Society
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 ❖
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
Herb Ehrich
845-247-7105
koiking15@yahoo.com
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
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
waters 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 ❖
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.
Reach your target audience of Koi
keepers & water gardeners each month
and leave your competition in the dust!!
Contact Joann Mead at
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to request information on our advertiser
packages and/or a copy of
our ad rate sheet.
*With an annual 10 issue contract.
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
Page 44 Mid-Atlantic Koi
April 2015
April 2015
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 45