Mid-Atlantic Koi Magazine April 2015

Mid~AtlanticMid~Atlantic KoiThe Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club April 2015

Mid-Atlantic Koi Deadlinesfor Articles, Meeting Announcements and Ads

May Issue Deadline: April 1Available Online: May 1

June Issue Deadline: May 1Available Online: June 1

The Membership Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club

Volume 28, Number 8 April 2015

Omosako KoiFarm

Photo Providedby

Hikari USA

President’s Message . . . . . . . .4From the Editor’s Desk . . . . .6Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . .38MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers . . . . . . . .39Sunshine Column . . . . . . . . .41F..A..S..T Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .42Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43

—MAKC News

Mid~Atlantic Koi

—Upcoming Events

Saugerties Chapter Meetings . . . . . .38

Beginner’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

MAKC Corporate Members . . . . . . . . . .8

Introducing Omosako Koi Farm . . . . . .9Courtesy of Hikari USA

My Fish Aren’t Eating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Carolyn Weise, Florida

Koi Anatomy – Part 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16Spike Cover , California

The Math Behind The Chemicals . . . . .20Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper

My New Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Carolyn Weise, Florida

Pond Filtration Upgrade . . . . . . . . . . . .24Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper

Information About Koi . . . . . . . . . . . . .26Don Harrawood, Texas

Stress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Rupert Bridges, Tetra

MAKC Drawing - April 2015 . . . . . . . .30

Single Tail Fish Comet Goldfish . . . . .31American Goldfish Association

Koi Keeper Forms - Koi Health Record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35Koi Identification Record . . . . . . . . .36Koi 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

http://www.koimarket.com/

meeting dates for theChapters. The newlydesigned website willhave an eventscalendar which will listthe date, time and cityof the Chaptermeetings. The streetaddress of the meetingwill not publish.MAKC members arewelcome to attend anyChapter’s meeting. Ifyou wish to attendanother Chapter’smeeting please contactthe Chapter VicePresident.

We will be voting forthe 2015-2016Executive Board inJune 2015. If you

would consider running for one of the (President,Vice-President, Secretary, and Treasurer)Executive club positions, please give your nameto your Chapter VP by May 15, 2015 so we canget you onto the ballot. MAKC always welcomesenthusiastic leadership!

Joann


P r e s i d e n t ’ s M e s s a g eby Joann Mead

[email protected]

Iwould like to personally thank Sara Johnson, MAKC Webmaster, forredesigning the website for the benefit ofMAKC community. With this tremendousredesign the Club will have the ability to

have an online store and a secure shopping cartto sell MAKC merchandise. Check out the newsite at www.makc.com

On Sunday March 1, 2015, the Club held aSpecial Meeting at Quality Koi in Carneys Point,NJ to vote on Bylaw changes. The ballot passedwith the 2/3 majority as required by the ClubBylaws. There were no dissenting votes casted.

Spring is around the corner after a brutal winterand in the coming weeks we will be publishing

MAKC ContestSee Page 30for Details

Hopefully when you read this, winter will be gone and it will feel like spring.


Production: Cindy Graham, NextUp Creations

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

MAKC Executive CommitteePresident

Joann Mead (845) 389-5712 [email protected]

Vice-President

Herb Ehrich (845) 247-7105 [email protected]

Secretary

Looking for a Volunteer

Treasurer

Anthony Vitale (516) 420-0740 [email protected]

Central Chapter Vice-President

Bruce Damme (302) 598-8431 [email protected]

Long Island Chapter Vice-President

Bruce Levine (516) 735-2644 [email protected]

Saugerties (NY) Chapter Vice-President

Herb Ehrich (845) 247-7105 [email protected]

South Chapter Vice-PresidentAlan Mickelson (301) 332-7042 [email protected]

S t a n d i n g C o m m i t t e e sMembership

Richard Douglass (845) 723-4373 [email protected]

MAKC Sales

Looking for a Volunteer

MAKC Notice Group Manager

Michael Snyder (301) 762-2059 [email protected]

WebMasterSarah Johnson (732) 567-6678 [email protected]

E x e c u t i v e B o a r d A d v i s o r y C o m m i t t e e

Joe Zuritsky (215) 575-4001 [email protected]

Eric Wilson (443) 203-6486 [email protected]

Mid-Atlantic Koi is the magazine of theMid-Atlantic Koi Club. Material isselected for its interest to Koi keepers.MAKC accepts no responsibility foraccuracy of content. Reproduction ofuncopyrighted articles is permitted aslong as this magazine is credited as the source.

Mid-Atlantic Koi MagazineEditor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 [email protected]

Advertising Editor, Joann Mead (845) 389-5712 [email protected]

Meeting/Events Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 [email protected]

FAST Ads Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 [email protected]

Remember toRenew YourMembership

Don’t Wait – Do it Today.

Renewal form you can print out is on page 45.

www.makc.com

What does it take to keep our Koiin good condition? For onething, a reasonably stress-freeenvironment will provide ahealthy place for Koi to not

just live a couple of months or years, but toactually thrive; to live out their lives. Koi arelong-lived fish and grow to good size (averagingover 30˝ if properly housed).

This issue addresses some of the basics of Koikeeping that not only produce pretty fish, buthealthy ones. Koi don’t actually die from diseaseor parasites. They succumb todisease and/or parasites when theyare under too much stress. Stresskills our fish.

I’d like to thank Ken Austin, Don Harrawood, Rupert Bridges,Spike Cover and the organizationsfrom which they are affiliated forcontributing to this issue of Mid-Atlantic Koi.

We are members of AKCA andhave recently joined Koi Keepers ofAmerica. MAK exchanges impor-tant information with sister clubsacross the US to bring you the bestup-to-date information.

We’d like to have more memberpond stories and photos from you.Send me whatever you have[[email protected]] and get itinto the magazine. We’d like to

hear how you weathered the winter, what kind offiltration system you have, how you got intokeeping Koi, what you’ve learned from being aclub member (so far), any technical knowledgeyou have and would like to share with us, or ifyou have been visited by predators lately… If youare good at making up puzzles, we can use that,too. Whatever it is, we would love to hear about it.

Yours in Koi!Carolyn


From the Editor’s Deskby Carolyn [email protected]

Wanted – Your Questions

Please email your questions [email protected].


Look in the August 2013 issue for “Dr. Wayne’sKoi Cube Recipe” to start the year off right. Enjoy spring.

Don’t forget to ask questions so I can find theanswers for you in following issues.

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

Remember any questions you have are welcome,Just send them in to the editor.

Okay, no questions yet. So let’s talk.It’s almost time to start thinkingabout the spring startup of ourponds. Boy will that be a welcomechange from this winter. There is

snow and ice on and around my ponds. I guessyou have something similar going on at your ponds.

Getting rid of the piles of snow is theproblem. Watch when it melts itdoesn’t all run into the pond. Someof the runoff won’t hurt but a lotcould wash unwanted material in thepond. This could raise the level ofstress on the fish. Bad thing in springthere will be enough stress withoutadding to it.

Speaking of stress on the fish, doingsmall water changes in the winter is agreat stress reliever for them. This is agood time to do one. Remember theylive in the bottom of the pond whereall the junk settles and collects. Try totake the water from the bottom.(Don’t forget the Dechlor.)

This is April. This month is time todo 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 whenthe water warms up to 50 deg. with the wheatgerm food. Then when it gets to 60 deg. then use the high protein food.

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


M A K C C o r p o r a t e M e m b e r s

Interested in becoming aInterested in becoming aCorporate Member?Corporate Member?

Reasonable one time fee for the year Reasonable one time fee for the year –– includes aincludes aBusiness Card size ad in all issues in this section andBusiness Card size ad in all issues in this section and

on the MAKC website. on the MAKC website.

Contact Joann Mead at 845-389-5712 or

[email protected]

Quality Koi Company

Nisei Koi Farm

[email protected]

www.qualitykoi.com

www.mazuri.com

www.koimarket.com

www.pentairaes.com

www.qualitykoi.com

www.mazuri.com

www.kodamakoifarm.com

www.hikariusa.com

www.shokoi.com


Continuing our conversationswith leading Japanese Koibreeders this time we visitedOmosako Koi Farm, tospend time talking with

Mr. Takashi Omosako, the president of Omosako Koi Farm and Mr. Takayoshi Omosako who has worked hard to establish the Shiro-Utsuri's unshakable position in theGosanke varieties.

About Omosako Koi FarmHistoryLocated in Hiroshima, one of two largestKoi breeding regions in Japan, the 55-year old farm is famous for OmosakoShiro-Utsuri.

There are two breeding teams on thefarm: one led by President Omosakowhich mainly cultivates Omosako Shiro-Utsuri using six spawnings annually andthe other led by Mr. Takayoshi Omosakowhich cultivates Omosako Showa usingtwo spawning each year. The annual totalof 40,000 Shiro-Utsuri accounts for 90%of their total cultivation. All Koi aregrown out in 40 ponds located in sevenindoor houses.

President Omosako’s ObjectivesDuring Shiro-Utsuri Cultivation

According to President Omosako, theultimate goal of their cultivation processis growing Shiro-Utsuri which havesuperior qualities when compared to

Introducing Omosako Koi FarmCourtesy of Hikari USA

Inside the newly built grow out house (construction completed in 2010)

A 60-ton pond full of Shiro-Utsuri looks likea Sumie monochrome work of art.


variety that possesses both the grand physique ofthe famous Dainichi Showa and the lustroussumi markings of the Omosako Shiro-Utsuri.During our visit we were unable to take our eyesoff their beautiful Showa. (Page 11.)

Phantasmagoric Sumi Markings ofShiro-Utsuri

Here is an excellent example of the dynamicchanges the sumi undergoes as the 65Bu Shiro-Utsuri that won the mature championship in the38th All Japan Koi Show in 2007 ages. (Pictureson page 12.)

other Gosanke varieties. The primary objective is to beat other Gosanke varieties at the majorKoi shows.

They work diligently to improve the darkness ofthe sumi markings and luster of the pure whitebackground so as to highlight the sumi.

President Omosako says, "Our Shiro-Utsuri'squality must be approved by all of the judges in aKoi contest. There are no other factors other thanbeautiful white skin and bold black sumi onShiro-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 attractsour farmers."

The quality, physical beauty and breedingquantity of the Omosako Shiro-Utsuri, originatesfrom the “Tatsuma Utsuri” lineage. The jumboShiro-Utsuri, “Musashi,” 92 cm in length,“Panda,” 90 cm, and “Godzilla,” 92 cm, wereborn one after another.

In 2010, a descendant, “Zebra,” bettered the longcherished record by reaching 57cm at the age oftwo and 70cm at when it turned three. With thisongoing evolution the Omosako Shiro-Utsurihas entered another new stage.

President Omosako's Most ImpressiveShiro-Utsuri

Nicknamed “Musashi,” President Omosakoconsiders this offspring the ideal Shiro-Utsuri inquality and size. The fish won the 85Bu KokugyoPrize in the 36th All Japan Koi Show. Today it hasreached 92cm in length, and has been spawningas a Koi parent since its impressive victory.

The Omosako Showa for Which Mr. Takayoshi Omosako

Focuses His EffortsAfter a five year training period at the DainichiKoi Farm in Niigata, Mr. Takayoshi Omosako isnow working diligently to produce a new Showa

The 36th All Japan Koi Show, Kokugyo Prize,85 Bu Shiro-Utsuri

Omosako says, "This is unique example of thechanges of the sumi. Not all the Shiro-Utsuri'ssumi develops like this, but there is usually a highpossibility of desirable sumi with age. The attrac-

tiveness of tategoi usually is true to their poten-tial." Through his words, we could feel thisfarmer's strong intention and realize the truecharm of the Omosako Shiro-Utsuri.


The 41st All Japan Koi Show, Gigantic Champion, 90 Bu Showa Sanshoku


Two Years Old Three Years Old

Four Years Old Five Years Old

Year to Year Dynamic Changes of One Utsuri

Q: How can amateur Koi lovers truly enjoykeeping Shiro-Utsuri?

In order to enjoy the phantasmagorical sumimarkings, amateur Koi lovers should understandthe types of sumi markings and that sumi willchange according to breeding environment aswell as the lineage. If possible, keep several Shiro-Utsuri with differing types of sumi markings,such as already fixed sumi markings, latebloomer, and those similar to the Showa variety,and examine which type of sumi markings aremost adaptable to your breeding environment. Itis often said that the sumi is influenced by thehardness of water. The harder it is, the more thesumi tends to appear. The Japanese water isalways soft. It would be very interesting to keepShiro-Utsuri in some foreign countries where thewater is harder.

How to Grow Koi Large, and the Importance of Diet

Q: What is the most important factor to growlarger Koi?

I pay careful attention to our Koi to be sure theyare growing at a healthy rate while maintaining adesirable body shape. As you know, the dark and

lustrous sumiand the beauti-ful white back-ground are theprimaryrequirementsfor the idealShiro-Utsuri,but the valuerapidly dropswhen it loses itsshape.

To maintain the Koi’s value, three things areequally important, the lineage of the Koi, itsbreeding environment and the diet it’s offered.

We carefully select fine food that makes our Koigrow large while maintaining the desired shape.

Q: Do you have any particular preference forKoi food?

We feed our Koi exclusively the Hikari® Koi diets.We use a sinking type food in our mud pondsand a floating type in our cement ponds. Ofcourse, we use the Saki-Hikari® series too andnow we feed our Koi Saki-Hikari® “PureWhite™” for the purpose of intensifying theirwhite skin as the Koi shows approach. We feel wehad very good results at the 42nd All Japan KoiShow; Best in Utsurimono Prize, 70 Bu SakuraPrize and 15 Bu, 35 Bu, 40 Bu, Kokugyo Prizes.We are also thinking about using Kyorin’sgrowth food. We feel it will certainly meet your expectations. !


The 42nd All Japan Koi Show,Best in Utsurimono Prize (Size 90 Bu)

Left Mr. Takashi Omosako, Right Takayoshi Omosako

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 them-

selves?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 chemicalsthat 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?

My Fish Aren’t Eatingby Carolyn Weise, Florida

You know fish don’t like loud noisesaround their pond, so if somebody ishammering in the house behind you itcould be upsetting them.

Fish also “feel” with their lateral line, sothey can sense any reverberations within the

pond. This is their best defense against predators,almost like sonar that tell the fish how closeanother fish is to them. Digging in the yard cansend ripples through the pond that fish sense.

Why else wouldn’t they be eating? Maybe youchanged the food and they don’t like it? Each fishis an individual with individual tastes. Maybeone fish just doesn’t like the new food. Or maybehe 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 sidesand bottom of the pond, trying to scratch anitch? Who would want to eat with bugs biting them??

Perhaps he has a stomach infection that he can’ttell you about. Does he look bloated at all?Maybe he’s a she and is egg-bound, unable toreabsorb the season’s undistributed eggs?

You say you live in ALASKA???

In that case, your fish won’t eat because it’s TOOCOLD. Feeding stops at 50°F. !


www.pentairaes.com

Anatomy is defined as themorphologic structure of anorganism. Morphology is defined asthe science concerned with theconfiguration or the structure of

animals and plants.

Koi Anatomy – Part 1by Spike Cover , California

External Anatomy:

FormKoi have what is known as a fusiform shapedbody (tapering toward each end) as seen in thediagram above from Living Jewels (reproducedwith the kind permission of the authors, RonnieWatt and Servaas de Kock).

Fins – Koi have 3 single fins and two setsof paired fins.

The caudal or tail fin is primarily used forforward swimming especially fast swimming.The dorsal (top) fin is used for stabilization


This article is supplemental to the “Anatomy of Koi”section of Chapter One of Advanced Koi Care, byNicholas Saint-Erne, DVM. This book is availablethrough the AKCA Bookstore.

during forward motion. The largest leading raybecomes very stiff, sharp and thorn-like as theKoi grows older.

The anal fin, like the dorsal, is used for stabiliza-tion. Also, the largest leading ray becomes verystiff, sharp and thorn-like as the Koi grows older.

The pectoral fins are paired and are used fornumerous functions including: steering duringforward motion, slow swimming both forwardand backward, breaking and to counteract the jet effect of the water being forced out of theopercular openings.

The pelvic (or ventral) fins are also paired andserve to control pitch and roll and to counter lift.

The fins are thin and well vascularized, whichmakes them vulnerable to damage. It is also easyto see or detect changes and damage to the fins.Therefore, diseases are often first detected in thefins, which can appear to be damaged, torn, orhemorrhaging.

Cuticle The skin and scales arecovered by the cuticle, a non-cellular mucus coating. Morecommonly known as theslime coat, the cuticle of theKoi is a thin layer of mucusthat contains many protec-tive substances includingantibodies, lysozyme (anenzyme that is destructive tocell walls of certain bacteria),and C-reactive protein (aprotein that may have someantibacterial properties). Thecuticle is the Koi’s first lineof defense against water-borne irritants and parasitesand it assists the skin withdrag reduction for betterlocomotion.

Skin The cellular layers of the skin consists of anepidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The epidermis (outermost cellular layer) is very thin, usually only 6 to 8 cells thick and containsunicellular mucous glands with a network ofvery small capillaries. The dermis (middle layer)contains the scales, the scale forming cells,pigment, blood vessels, and nerves. The hypoder-mis is a vascularized fatty layer between theepidermis 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 aswordtail (tropical livebearer) but with theexception of the outline shape of the scales(which are shown later in this section), is verysimilar to carp (Koi) and is reproduced with thekind permission of Tetra Press from the book,Aquariology, The Science of Fish HealthManagement – Master Volume, edited by John Gratzek and Janice Matthews.


ScalesAll Koi scales are of the cycloid type and mostKoi have scales over most of their bodies but lackscales on the head. These Koi scaled Koi arereferred to as wagoi in Japanese.

Some Koi have scales only along the dorsal lineand the lateral line; these are called Germanscaled Koi (Doitsu, in Japanese). Some Koi/carpare scale-less and are referred to as leatherKoi/carp. Other Koi/carp have a heavy scalesappearing almost randomly and are referred to asarmored scaled Koi/carp.

Scales are thin flexible plates with a layered struc-ture that grow from the dermis. Note that sincethe scales are produced in the dermal layer,removing a scale creates an ulcer, or hole in theskin, which can be a potential area for pathogensto enter the body. The scales grow essentiallyfrom the center outward. The actual origin ofgrowth is in the center of the scale and is seen in

the scale below (courtesy of Mark Whalen): NoteScales are normally flat, however the picture ofthe scale below had been off the fish and driedfor one to two years prior to scanning.


A detailed look at the growth rings as seen through a microscope at 100x

(Courtesy of Brett Rowley)

Note: the age of a Koi cannot be determinedby simply counting the rings on a scale

(as can be done with a tree from a cross sections of the trunk).

There is a tremendous amout of overlapping inscales and there can be up to six or seven layersin some spots (small dark areas). About 20% ofmost scales are exposed to the exterior, i.e., theportion 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 frombeneath the scale and is seen as ‘fukurin.’Varieties such as ogon and asagi typically displayfukurin especially on the shoulder area. Itappears 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 whilethe darker or yellowish areas are the scales. !


Reading this onissuu.com

Please help support themagazine by joining MAKC

today. The MAKC MembershipForm can be found on page 45

Do it today, it only takes a couple of minutes.

www.microbelift.com

It is not uncommon for a pond keeper tomake use of chemicals to solve a waterquality or fish health problem. Thisrequires the accurate measurement of bothwater and chemical and the correct

selection of a chemical-to-water ratio, called thedose (or dosage). Even for commerciallyprepared formulas, the label instructions may saysomething like one cup per thousand gallons ofpond water. For such prepared chemicalsolutions, the dose has already been calculatedfor you, but it still means you will have to knowfairly accurately know many gallons (or liters) ofwater are in your pond.

Chemical solution doses are expressed as weightratios, either parts per million (PPM) ormilligrams per liter (mg/l). Those are just twodifferent ways of saying the same thing.

One pound of chemical in a million pounds ofwater is a 1 PPM dose.

One milligram of chemical in one liter of water isa 1 mg/l dose.

Since a liter of water weighs one kilogram (or amillion milligrams), those weight ratios (one to amillion) are the same in both cases.

When preparing a chemical solution, bear inmind that a specified dose assumes the chemicalyou add to the water is high purity. For examplePotassium Permanganate is sold in variousgrades from commercial grade which can be aslow as 60% purity to reagent grade which is99%+ purity. The commercial grade is cheaper,but it may take 67% more of that grade ofchemical to create the same chemical-to-water

The Math Behind The Chemicalsby Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper

Koi Organisation International

ratio. The commercial grade is OK to use, as longas you make adjustments for the lower purity.

For example it would take 1.67 pounds of 60%pure Potassium Permanganate in a millionpounds of water to create a 1 PPM (or 1 mg/l) dose.

The use of weight ratios factors out any densityvariance in the chemical. For example a cup ofrock salt weighs less than a cup of table salt. That’sbecause the small particle size of the table saltallows the particles to pack close together with lessvoid space, so more salt will fit into the same one


cup volume. However, a pound of rock salt weighsexactly the same as a pound of table salt.

Since most of the chemical doses a pond keeperwill use are measured in grams or milligrams, itis worthwhile to include a gram scale in yourpond keeping tool kit.

As mentioned above, selecting the correct dose touse is part of the chemical treatment process. Forany chemical, a safe dose has been determined bytoxicity testing and is available at various sources.

Seek out the assistance of someone with experi-ence if you are unsure how to select the correctdose and prepare the chemical solution.

Of course, the water part of the chemical-to-water ratio is going to be the amount of water inyour pond. The table here will aid in determiningthe total amount of chemical to use foryour pond. !


PPM or mg/lGrams to add to

each 1000 gallonsof 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

www.kodamakoifarm.com

My New Pumpby Carolyn Weise, Florida

The first 5-6 weeks, it just sat in my pump housewaiting for the pool guy to be well enough toinstall it. He has cancer and was undergoingchemo and radiation treatments. Nobody knewif he was even going to make it through. I toldmyself, a friend is more important than a fish…

Slowly, ever so slowly, my friend rallied and hegained 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. Outwith the old; in with the new. Luckily my old


Iwas afraid of the big expense but knew itwas imminent. My pump had gonethrough the wringer and any brief poweroutage was enough to stop the entirefiltration–due to the pump. Pieces of

“liquid rubber” sloughing off the sides of thepond continued for months, until the pump wasready to die.

It was then I read about Pentair Aquatic Eco-Systems, Inc introducing its new Sparus pump.I didn’t look at the price. I knew it was morethan I could afford. But my fish are important to me. I simply knew I had to have that… And voila! I had it.

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, whatis this going to cost me?” The water had neverbeen cleaner. I called Pentair AES. They saidthey’d love to take credit for it, but it’s probablybecause the weather is cooling off. Okay, makessense to me, I guess. Whatever it is, I like it andmy fish like it. But there was a lot of watermovement and lots of filtration going on.

Soon I got cold-feet and asked him to turn thepump down a bit. I thought it must be runningup the electric at that rate and since my pond isenclosed (in the screened lanai) it shouldn’t needsuch heavy filtration. He put it down to 45 gpm.That was toward the end of November.

Then, mid-December, I decided to find out howmy electric compared to last year. Considering inFlorida the A/C is the primary cost throughoutsummer, I went all the way back to this time lastyear. I called LCEC. I found out the last bill,November 7 through December 6, 2014 (a 30-day cycle) my usage was 1,487 kW, costing me$185.62. Last year at that time, from November 5through December 6, 2013 (a 31-day cycle) myusage was 1,704 kW and I paid $214.00. That is aBIG difference!

It will be difficult to estimate the cost differentialin the next billing cycle due to added spotlightson Christmas displays added this year which I’msure will offset the saving of lowering GPM onthe pump from 75 to 45. But there was a lot ofwater movement and now the mini poweroutages don't interfere with filtration anymore.

I’ve been able to backwash the filter withoutlosing prime. That’s something that bedeviledme all last year with the old pump. I am so happyI could cry. The new pump is doing a great job-what a blessing. !


Now that you have had your pondfor a while you may be thinkingabout upgrading the filtrationsystem. It is most likely that yourpond pump pushes water into

your filter (a pump into system). There are veryfew "pump out of ' systems built these days.

Just so there is no confusion, a pump in theskimmer that pushes water back to the pond isNOT a "pump out of ' system. That is because nomatter how big your skimmer is, it just does notconstitute a filter.

If you are the proud owner of a pond in whichwater is pumped out of the filter and back to thepond, you may already have the makings of avery good filter system. Since you are the rareexception, your situation will not be covered inthis article, but stay tuned for future articles.

This article is also not intended to address thechallenges of those who have chosen to disman-tle their existing pond and start all over, but youshould consider many of the ideas Iisted below.

There are many good reasons for upgradingyour pond filtration:

• Current filter is a lot of work to clean (at leastit is more trouble than you want to dealwith).

• Current filter may be less than what the pondneeds because you have so many fish orthey have gotten so big and they eat a lot.

• Algae is a problem in your pond and you haveheard that better filtration reduces algae.

Pond Filtration Upgradeby Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper

Koi Organisation International

• You are making your pond system bigger andthis is a good opportunity to improve thefilter.

• You have been told by experts that your ponddoes not have enough filtration.

• Your existing filter equipment is visiblyprominent and you wish it could beconcealed.

• You just want to make your pond a betterhabitat for your fish.

The current design of your pond is probablyone of the following, or some combinationthereof:

• 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 pressurizedfilter outside of your pond.

If your pond currently does not have a filter, allof the options described below are available toyou. The same can be said for those of you with asubmerged pump and filter system. They can bereplaced with larger units, but you should alsoconsider some of the options listed below.

Some of your filtration upgrade options are:

• Move more water - replace your pump with alarger pump or add another pump. Themore water you move through your filterevery day, the better the water quality

• A submerged pump can be replaced with asurface pump. You will find they cost less to


run, last longer and are not an electrocu-tion hazard to your fish.

• Pump water from the bottom of the pondinstead of the skimmer. Retro-drains can beinstalled so that the particulates that settleon the bottom of the pond can be pulledout into the filter.

• Replace your filter media in your water falltype filter- lava rock is not only very heavy,but has low level of surface area for bacteriacolonization. Consider using PVC orpolypropylene ribbon, which has five timesthe surface area of lava rock and a fractionof the weight.

• Add a pressurized filter - This may requireadding a pump that puts up higher headpressure, but there are several options avail-able. The primary benefits of pressurizedfilters are they are easy to clean and theycan be put just about anywhere, so they areeasy to conceal. At the lower price range($300 -$500), the media in pressurizedfilters is sponge or sponge/plastic media

combinations. The sponges eventually needto be removed and hand washed and thesefilters typically have very low pressureratings, so they may not provide a high rateof flow for your water fall. The mid-pricedrange ($500 - $600) pressurized filters aresmall capacity filters with various types ofplastic media. They may be affordable toyou but you need to make sure they are nottoo small for your pond volume. The pres-surized filters at the upper end of the pricerange ($600 and up) use beads or plasticmedia and the latest ones on the marketcome with such features as automatic back wash. !


Do you have a picture to share? Please send themto the Editor, Carolyn Weise.

[email protected]

www.qualitykoi.com

Did you ever notice that when one ofyour Koi spooks, they all do? This isbecause Koi have a very keen sense ofwater motion. Koi have what is

known as the “lateral line.”

The lateral line is a line of scales from head to taillocated midway along each side of the fish. Holesin these scales lead to a canal beneath the surfacethat contains a mucus substance. Watermovement in any direction striking the sides ofthe fish will cause the mucus in the canal tovibrate. These vibrations stimulate the cells thatare linked to the nerve system and provide one ofthe most effective perceptions for survival knownas “flight reaction.” It should be noted that inscaleless Koi there may not be any scales alongthe lateral line. These fish have the holes in theskin along the lateral line that perform the same function.

Koi can smell and taste? Koi have an acute senseof smell and taste. They are the primary senses inlocating food in a natural environment, evenmore so than by their eye sight. If a substancedissolves in water, it has the potential of beingdetected by smell.

There are little flaps on each side of a Koi’s nosejust in front of their eyes? These are organs,called nares, and are used for smell. The cavitiescan be thought of as “U” tubes in which waterenters through the front and exits through therear as the Koi swims.

Just behind the forward opening of the cavity is aflap of skin that directs the water into theforward opening and out the rear opening of the

Information About Koiby Don Harrawood, Texas

nare when the fish is in motion. This flap of skinis most noticeable on butterfly Koi.

Taste buds are numerous on and around the lips,mouth, and tips of the barbels. Koi have two setsof barbels (whiskers), one on each side of theupper 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, andthe loss can be a potential area for pathogens toenter their body and produce an ulcer. Howevernot all scale loss is a problem.

The scale is produced by the dermis (deep skinlayer) and protrudes through the epidermis. It iscovered by a protective layer of mucus. A scalecan easily be dislodged and lost. By definition theloss of a scale creates an ulcer. However, a healthyfish will produce a new scale and the ulcer will bemended quickly without causing a problem.

Think of it as the cut or scrape you get on yourskin from time to time which also creates anulcer by definition. If you are healthy and have afully functioning immune system, the injury willheal just fine. It is part of living.

Massive scale loss, poor water quality, lowtemperatures, and other stresses can contributeto illnesses in a Koi. But healthy Koi in cleanwater will produce new scales easily. Low watertemperatures will delay recovery, (because theirimmune system slows during cold temperatures)but even that is not a problem unless otherfactors are at work.


What Determines a “Quality” Koi? Somebreeders sell Koi in three or four different cate-gories; these categories are pond run, selects,premium, and show quality. Other breeders sellKoi in only two classifications, these arepremium and show quality. Everything that doesnot meet this breeder’s standards is destroyed,resulting in about a 10 percent yield. The variousclassifications are determined through a constantculling process, done at regular intervals, whereeach Koi is inspected for quality features and forfuture possibilities.

Young Koi are very difficult for the layman todetermine whether it will be a good or badchoice, since the pattern and color on young Koichange with age, maybe several times. As Koigrow older, their physical shape, pattern andcoloration tend to become more predictable. Koi judges look for definite characteristics whenjudging the Koi for quality. Some of these characteristics are:

• Body Shape and Conformation – A fullydeveloped female will possess a fuller,rounded body than the male. The male willhave a slender and tapered body.

• Color – The quality of the color in a Koi isimportant. The colors should be verybright and distinct with well defined sepa-ration lines between colors.

• Pattern – The color patterns should be wellbalanced across the body of the Koi.

• Fins – The fins should be well balanced witheach other, with no splits or tears. No tearsor splits in the tail.

• Scars – Needless to say, scars on the body as aresult of ulcers or physical injury can takeaway from a Koi’s value. Other defects, suchas crooked mouth, crooked spine, andmissing scales are also negatives.

Quality Koi generally come from quality breederswho are very selective in their breeding process;however, in general a “Quality Koi” is one thatmeets the buyer/owner’s approval. A Koi’s true

value is determined by the amount that a buyer iswilling to pay.

The gills are organs that are used to excreteammonia and carbon dioxide from a fish’s body,while allowing oxygen exchange from the waterinto their blood stream. Gill structure is of a verythin membrane which allows gases to flow intoand out of the blood. Because of the thinness ofthe membrane, gills are easily harmed by physicalcontact and by chemicals in the water.

The swim bladders are the major organs forbuoyancy. They are composed of two bladders,the front bladder and the rear bladder. The rearbladder remains relatively constant in pressure tomaintain the body in neutral buoyancy. Thefront bladder is very elastic and has a connectingtube to their gut. Koi are able to add or releasegas through the tube to the front bladder,allowing them to move vertically in the waterwith or without swimming. !


MAKC’s website has been updated. Have you

taken a look yet?

www.makc.com

http://bit.ly/ABCPonds

www.makc.com

Reprinted from Koi Carp Magazine

Understanding how stress affects fish isone of the underlying principals ofgood Koi keeping. We’re all familiarwith the concept of stress, and most ofus experience it from time to time.

However, it’s often not appreciated how real thephysiological effects of stress are, and how it candirectly affect the health and condition of our fish. Inthis article we look at what stress is, how it alters thephysiology of your fish, and what can be done tominimize its effects.

What is Stress? There are many textbook definitions of stress, butone fairly concise one is: “The response of the cell, ororganism, to any demand placed on it such that itcauses an extension of a physiological state beyondthe normal resting state” (Iwama, Afonso, Vijayan,2006). In other words, stress involves the fish adjust-ing its physiology to cope with an adverse situation.

A more easily understood notion is the “fight orflight” response. In the wild, if faced with danger, afish has two options – fight off� the threat or swimaway from it. Either way, it is beneficial for theirmuscles to be working above their normal rate, tomaximum the chances of survival. The physiologicalchanges that are needed to release this additionalenergy are what characterizes the stress response.

In the wild, stress is generally positive, as it increaseschances of survival. In a pond this is not usually thecase, as the fish can’t escape the danger, and so thereis no opportunity to recover from this advancedphysiological state. Eventually, when exposed toprolonged stress, the condition and health of the fishwill suffer.

Stressby Rupert Bridges, Tetra

The Stress Response When a fish perceives danger, a series of events takeplace to prepare it for action. The stress response canbe divided into three steps – primary, secondary, and tertiary.

Primary response - During the primary response,the fish identifies the danger using its sensorysystems, triggering a series of nervous and hormonalevents. This is under the control of a part of the braincalled the hypothalamus. Firstly, hormones calledcatecholamines, which include adrenalin, are releasedfrom the chromaffin tissue in the head part of thekidney. This is under nervous control, so happensquite rapidly (within minutes). At the same time, thehypothalamus initiates the release of adrenocorti-cotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the brain’s pitu-itary gland, which causes the interrenal tissue in thekidney to release corticosteroid hormones, includingcortisol. These take longer to be released, but remainin circulation for much longer than adrenalin.

Secondary response - The second stage of the stressresponse is characterized by changes to the chemistryand make-up of the blood. For example, bloodglucose levels increase to provide the muscles andother tissues with additional energy. The oxygencontent of the blood is also increased, through anincrease in the quantity of oxygen-carrying red bloodcells, and dilation of the gills. Additional oxygen andglucose allow increased work to be done, enabling thefish to escape any danger.

Tertiary response - The tertiary response refers tochanges to the whole animal. For example, if the fishfails to adapt to the thing that is stressing it, or can’tescape and recover, its general health and conditionwill be compromised. For example, energy reserveswill be diverted away from growth, reproduction, andother useful things, in order to sustain its heightenedlevel of activity. In addition, the immune system maybe compromised, increasing the risk of disease.


Negative Effect of StressFish have evolved the stress response in order toincrease their chances of survival in the wild. Briefperiods of stress (acute stress) are usually recoveredfrom quickly, with no lasting effect . However, if afish is exposed to long periods of stress (chronicstress), its body will eventually be unable to cope, andthis is when problems occur.

Diversion of energy away from growth, reproduction,and the immune system, will result in poor generalcondition, and an increased likelihood of infection.In addition, the hormones released during the stressresponse can directly suppress the immune system,reducing the number of certain white blood cells andother important substances. A further effect of stressis to disrupt the body’s internal salt balance. Whilstallowing the fish to obtain more oxygen, dilation ofthe gills also enables important salts to leak out of thefish, and excess water to enter. The fish must use a lotof energy to prevent its bodily fluids becoming toodiluted, and eventually it will be unable to cope andbecome extremely unwell. These negative effects ofstress are the reason why it so often results in fishhealth problems and disease.

Causes of stressThings that cause stress are referred to as “stressors,”and these may be biological, chemical, or physical.Biological stressors may include interactions withother fish, such as territorial disputes. Physical onesinclude handling, netting, transportation, and waterchanges. Chemical ones include any water qualityproblems. This is why water quality is so important,as in addition to directly harming the fish, failure tomaintain it will stress them and leave them open toinfection.

Stress can be additive; in other words multiple stres-sors have a greater effect than one on its own. This isimportant for managing Koi health, as we want tomake sure we don’t expose them to too many stress-ful events at any one time. So, for example, if you’vejust brought a new fish home and added it to yourpond, don’t then decide to do a major clean-out thenext day.

Dealing with StressStress cannot be totally avoided, and is a natural partof a Koi’s life. However, frequent or prolonged stressshould be prevented to ensure long-term health andwelfare. Fundamental to this is identifying possiblesources of stress and managing them correctly.Amongst other things, this means providing the rightwater quality, a sufficient volume of water for thenumber of fish being kept, a good quality diet, andavoiding frequent handling or physical disturbance.

However, when stress does occur, for example duringtransport or pond maintenance, there are somethings that can be done to mitigate its effects. These include:

• Providing plentiful oxygen, to meet the fish’sadditional requirements.

• Not feeding fish for 2-3 days before and after the event, to reduce waste production andoxygen demand.

• Avoiding stressful events during very warmweather, 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 aswater conditioners that contain certainpolymers and B-vitamins.

If you understand the concept of stress, and canidentify particular stressors, you can better managethe health of your Koi and reduce the chances ofexperiencing disease problems. If your fish dodevelop a problem, it is important to look back at the history and set-up of the pond to determine ifthere 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



Win a Free MAKC Membership for the 2015/2016 Year!

So how do you enter to win a free MAKC membership for the2015/2016 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:

MAKCPO Box 91

Ulster Park, NY 12487

There is NO limit to thenumber of entries you cansubmit! Entries must be

postmarked by April 5, 2015 in order to be eligible.

The drawing will be held onSunday, April 19, 2015.

Comet Goldfish

• The Comet is a single-tail long-bodiedgoldfish, and is the fish most people thinkof when the word goldfish is mentioned tothem. The fish possesses a streamlined bodyshape, and can grow to become from twelveto twenty inches in length. Comets aregraceful fish, and swim easily through thewater.

• The comet comes in a variety of colors,including orange, yellow, white, olive ordrab green, yellow-brown, and black. If thecomet appears in a calico coloring, it is clas-

sified as a long-finned Shubunkin, ratherthan as a comet.

• The identifying characteristic of this varietyof goldfish is the long, flowing fins whichoccur in the dorsal, caudal, pectoral andventral fins. The caudal fin is often thelength of the body, and in well-developedspecimens, may be double the length of thebody.

• The tail, in addition to being long, shouldalso possess a prominent forking, so thatapproximately 80% of the tail is forked inappearance. In the best specimens, the tipsof the tail are almost clear, which produces


Single Tail FishComet Goldfish

www.hikariusa.com


a beautiful effect against the backgroundcolor of the fish and fins. The dorsal finshould be carried erect, and should be asdeep as the body, or slightly deeper. There isa single ventral fin, which should be consis-tent with the length of the remaining fins.

• Scalation should be regular and even, andscales should not be missing.

• Since this is a metallic fish, the sheen of thefish is important, and coloration takes onadded significance and should be a deepuniform color, throughout.

Red and White Comet Goldfish


!

American Goldfish Association2014 Goldfish StandardsVariety Name: CometDorsal Fin: Y/N, YTail Type: SingleSpecial Characteristic: Finnage

Description Points

Body Style 20

Coloration 20

Deportment and Condition 20

Finnage 20

Special Characteristics (Finage) 20

Total 100




Beginning Balance Dec, 31, 2014 $18,281.31

IncomeHost Fee Refund $46.82Total Income $46.82

ExpensesPrinting/Publications $800.00Total Expenses $800.00

Ending Balance January 31, 2015 $17,528.13

Saving Balance $6,325.57

Club Total BalanceAs if January 31, 2015 $23,853.37

Submitted by Anthony Vitale, New York

❖

Treasurer’s Report

May 23-24Greater Louisville Koi & Goldfish Society20th Annual ShowMemorial Day Weekendwww.louisvillekoiclub.com/annual_show.html

June 19 – June 21PNKCA Convention(Pacific Northwest Koi Clubs Association)31st Annual Convention and Pond TourandKoi Organisation International1st Ever Wet Lab and Get TogetherHeld at the Red Lion River InnSpokane, WashingtonHosted by Inland Empire Water Garden & KoiSociety. Updated information see our websitewww.pnkca.com

June 26-28Midwest Pond & Koi Society Koi and Gold-fish Show & TradeshowHeld at the Darien Sportsplex.http://www.mpks.org/

July 10-12Tri-State ZNA Koi Show/Anniversary EventHeld at Kodama Koi Garden Kodama in Saddle River, New Jersey.http://tristateznakoi.com/

September 11-13ZNA Potomac Koi ShowHeld at Meadowlark Gardens, Virginia; for

On the Road to a Koi Event

information see our website - http://www.znapotomac.org/show.htm

Have an upcoming Koi event, please send theinformation to [email protected]. We will beglad to include it in future articles.

Don’t forget your own MAKC Club has eventscoming up that can be found in our digitalmagazine or at www.makc.com. We always needvolunteers for meetings and shows. It is amazinghow much you can learn by helping. Takeadvantage of being an MAKC member andparticipate in the club events.

See you soon at a Koi event. ❖


MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers

Tom Burton Middletown, NJ 732-671-7045Jan & Bill Fogle Wayne, PA 610-687-3105Terri Janas Ashburn, VA 703-729-2988 Jeff Nicholson Odenton, MD 301-912-1928

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

Please remember that advice is given basedon your input–the ultimate responsibilityand treatment must remain with you.

Send your meeting and event information to Carolyn Weise

[email protected] April 3rd for the

May 2015 issue.

M A K C M e e t i n g s a n d E v e n t sSaugerties Chapter Meetings

Sunday, April 193:00 pm

Future meetingsMay 17, June 14, July 19, August 16, Sept 20, Oct18, Nov 15, and Dec 13.

Dec 13, 2015 is our annual Christmas SocialEvent at the home of Herb & RoseMarie Ehrich.

Contact Herb Ehrich for further informationabout upcoming meetings - email Herb [email protected] ❖

Chapter Vice Presidents

Central Chapter Bruce Damme [email protected]

Long Island ChapterBruce Levine [email protected]

Saugerties ChapterHerb [email protected]

South ChapterAlan Mickelson [email protected]

Check our website for the mostcurrent MAKC Meeting

announcements.www.makc.com


Wintertime can be a relaxingtime for pond owners. I have astream that re-circulates froma bottom drain and skimmer,which I close down for the

winter so I do not super cool the water. In thefall, I net the pond and streambed and try tokeep the leaves from getting into the water. Somealways do and I will get out as many as I can witha net and try to have as clean a pond bottom aspossible. In the fall as the water cools the fishhave stopped eating and start swimming slower. I then remove the nets that caught the fall leavesand trim back any plants. The fish just go to thebottom and into a state of torpor. Well this yearhas been different. This has been one of thecoldest winters we have had here in the HudsonValley of New York State. I haven’t seen any of

The Joys of Winter Koi Keeping in the North Eastby Paul Tomasko, Saugerties Chapter

my fish for the last 3 months. The pond iscovered 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 thebottom of debris and to clean the surface bydirecting the water flow with the current that thereturns created. They would run at the same timemy stream did so my fish could get exercise byswimming against the flow. They will come upand play in the force of water that the jetprovided. Sometimes I would throw food intothe flow, and watch them frolic and chase andthen come back only to be pushed back by thewater’s force. I say all this because these jets servea valuable purpose during the winter.


When it starts to get cold I turn the jets towardsthe surface and cause a ripple of moving water. I had tried a trough heater in the past and foundI did not want to use 1500 Watts of electricity.Also several times the heater got pushed out ofthe water by the ice and sat on top of an iceclosed pond, doing nothing but using electricity.When I redid my pond, I buried pipes for theJacuzzi jets but they were not something I coulddrain easily, however they came into use as asource of keeping a hole in the ice.

One year, early on, I tilted the jet too high andhad a dome of water coming up. It all seemedfine until it started to form an igloo, which I hadto keep open by chipping it lightly pretty muchevery day. I was also super cooling the water.After that lesson I decided to just let the flowskim the surface. That seemed to work the best,but last year was also a cold one and the pondclosed up several times. I know you are neversupposed to bang on the ice to try and break it.The force of the blows can give the fish a concus-sion. It is best to use a pan of hot water, but thisice was at least 4 or 5 inches thick. I got out mycircular saw and my sawzall and was able to getthrough. I had to work my way back to the jet invery cold water and turn it up more to thesurface to get more agitation without causing adome to form. After two or three tries, I finallyfound the right angle and it worked for the restof the winter.

This year the angle seems to be right, but we havehad some of the coldest nights since I have livedhere. We have been here since 1986, and neverhave seen -10.5 temperatures. That is withoutwind chill. It has been below zero many nightsand -5 or -6 a few of those nights. I am able tokeep an eye on the pond from my dining roomand can see the hole or lack thereof. When I see itclosing I walk through the snow and lightly chipaway the ice with my wood splitting maul. Nopounding, just gentle chipping and I can get agood 6´ x 2´ hole opened. !


Is anyone celebrating a Birthday? WeddingAnniversary? New baby in the family? Newfish directly from a Japanese Koi Farm?? Isanyone in the Hospital? Contact Carolyn.

Send submissions for our Sunshine Column to -Carolyn Weise, Editor [email protected] ❖

Sunshine Column

www.makc.com

www.makc.com

Disclaimer: MAKC and its officers assume noresponsibility for claims of advertisers or thequality/serviceability of goods offered.

F O R S A L E

Remember any MAKC member can list theirKoi, pond, or related items for sale here in yourmagazine at no charge. Please contact Joanntoday if you have something for sale.

BAMBOO. Winter hardy and tropical forindoors. Thinning collection. Reasonable prices.Call Ron Altman, NY 718-442-1673 (Office) or908-658-3055 (H).

F..A..S..T.. Ads – April

F..A..S..T.. Ads Policy & Deadlines

F..A..S..T.. Ads are available FREE toMAKC members only; no commercialads. Ads are limited to 10 items andmust include name, phone number,town and state. Deadline is the 1st ofeach month.

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

Joann Mead [email protected]

W A N T E D

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 750,000gallon pond and will adopt any unwanted KOI.Call Joseph Pollock in Virginia at 540-788-9222.

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

KOI BITO MAGAZINES – in good condition.Send list with asking price, or call Roger Klocke701-491-2803, E-mail at [email protected] 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. Outstandingemployee discounts! Call John at Blue RibbonKoi Products. 703-753-7566.

MAKC SECRETARY AND MAKC SALESPOSITIONS – are open; please contact clubpresident Joann Mead for more information onhow you can fill one of these positions. Joann Mead 845-389-5713 or [email protected]. !


ABC Pond Book . . . . . . . . . .27

Hikari . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8, 32

Kodama Koi Farm . . . . . . 8, 21

Koi Market . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3, 8

Matala USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Microbe-Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Nisei Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . 8, 25

Pentair Aquatic

Eco-Systems, Inc. . . . . . 8, 15

Quality Koi Company . . . 8, 25

Total Koi Food . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

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our ad rate sheet.

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Do it today, it only takes a couple of minutes.


Next issue learn about the Goldfishvariety the Shubunkin.


Photo by Carolyn Weise.

Do you have a picture toshare? Please send them tothe Editor, Carolyn Weise.

[email protected]

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