Mid~Atlantic Koi The Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club November/December 2014 Mid~Atlantic Koi The Membership Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club Volume 28, Number 5 November/December 2014 —Upcoming Events Beginner’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Long Island Chapter Meeting . . . . . .32 Saugerties Chapter Meeting . . . . . . .32 —MAKC News MAKC Corporate Members . . . . . . . . . .7 Designing a Pond with Maintenance in Mind . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Ken Austin, Koi Organisation International President’s Message . . . . . . . .4 From the Editor’s Desk . . . . .6 Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . .33 MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers . . . . . . . .33 Sunshine Column . . . . . . . . .33 F..A..S..T Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Pond Lighting for All Budget . . . . . . . .10 Fall Pond Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Jan Goldfield, Greater Louisville Koi and Goldfish Society Control Valve Maintenance and Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Don Harrawood, SKAPA - KHA MAKC Drawing - April 2015 . . . . . . . .16 Mid-Atlantic Koi Deadlines for articles, meeting announcements and ads Jan/Feb Issue Deadline: December 15 Available Online: January 15 March Issue Deadline: Available Online: February 1 March 1 Water Chemistry? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Ed Keene (DCAS) Sakai Fish Farm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Courtesy of Hikari USA Pump Problems (nobody told me about) . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Carolyn Weise, Florida What is a Settling Chamber? . . . . . . . .27 Courtesy of Simi Koi Saddle River on a Saturday . . . . . . . . . .30 Happy Koi Holidays Photo by Joann Mead Herb Ehrich, New York On the Road to a Koi Event . . . . . . . . . .32 Koi’s Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Picture to Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 MAKC Membership Application . . . . .37 Page 2 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 MAKC Executive Committee President 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 Looking for a Volunteer Remember to Renew Your Membership 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-President Looking for a Volunteer Standing Committees Richard Douglass Membership (845) 723-4373 [email protected] MAKC Sales Looking for a Volunteer MAKC Notice Group Manager Michael Snyder Sarah Johnson (301) 762-2059 [email protected] WebMaster (732) 567-6678 [email protected] Don’t Wait – Do it Today. Executive Board Advisor y C ommittee Joe Zuritsky (215) 575-4001 Eric Wilson [email protected] (443) 203-6486 [email protected] Renewal form you can print out is on page 37. 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. November/December 2014 Mid-Atlantic Koi Magazine Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 Advertising Editor, Joann Mead (845) 389-5712 [email protected] [email protected] Meeting/Events Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 [email protected] FAST Ads Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 [email protected] 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 [email protected] he trees have shed their last leaves and snow is on the ground already for some of our members. The Holidays are fast approaching and it is the time for families and friends to gather together and reflect on our blessings of the past year. T The saga of the trailer continues: in order for it to be registered in NYS the Club has to own a truck to pull the trailer due to its size. At this time the Club does not have the funds to purchase a truck. If you or someone you know would be interested in donating a vehicle that can pull the trailer please have them contact me. The Club has status 503 (C) (3) so the donation is tax deductible. The trailer was previously registered in Virginia, which does not have that type of restriction. We have been approached by a Canadian Koi club interested in joining the MAKC. The Executive Board has requested some paperwork from the Club and our Club accountant is looking into the possibility of any tax implications for MAKC. Our Club insurance policy from the AKCA would cover a Canadian MAKC Chapter. worth of product so far. I am expecting a check in the amount of $5,600.00 in the next few weeks. The remaining balance of $6,745.00 is uncollectable. Ads were running in the magazine without many vendors’ knowledge. I have been talking to our vendors and many have expressed the opinion that the industry has been hit hard by the economic downturn in the past few years. We will be reviewing our current ad rates for the online magazine in the coming months. There have been a few requests asking to reinstate the discount for a pre-paid membership of four years for $100.00, which is a savings of $20.00. We are going to reinstate this discount. Remember, I am always open to suggestions, even complaints, because this is your Club and I want to make it something you enjoy participating in. Joann The Club has been receiving many inquiries asking if we are going to host a show in 2015. At this point in time we are not in the position to host a show. However, the Club has offered its services in helping the Tri-State ZNA with their show in 2015. Regarding the ad accounts for the MAKC magazine there is $17,845.00 of outstanding receivables on the books since January 2013. We have collected $4,000.00 in cash and $1,500.00 Page 4 Mid-Atlantic Koi MAKC Contest See Page 16 for Details November/December 2014 Beginner’s Corner In Memoriam Ask a question and we will get you an answer. Douglas G. Drennan II Question Last month you discussed pond shutdown. What about the plants? MAKC members wish to offer their condolences to the wife and family of a long-standing advertiser and strong supporter of the Aquaculture industry, Douglas Graham Drennan II, who left us this past July. Prayers for the family. Mr. Douglas Graham Drennan II, 52, died Sunday, July 20, 2014. Mr. Drennan was a life-long resident of New Orleans. Answer Plants are pretty simple: First Hardy Lilies Hardy Lilies should be cut back to the crowns and lowered to the bottom of the pond. If you have large Koi put some hardware wire over the top of the pots. (Remember to remove it early in spring.) Tropical Lilies Tropical lilies are very hard and complicated to keep over winter. Remove from pond in fall when dead. In 1995, he founded Aquaculture Systems Technologies, LLC. Until the time of his death, he served as Managing Member and President of Aquaculture Systems Technologies, LLC and as General Manager of Aquaculture Supply, LLC Tropical Plants Taro, Canna and Umbrella Palm will die if left in the pond over winter in most cold regions. These can be taken indoors and kept in a sunny window. Water Lettuce and Water Hyacinth will die even if you bring them inside. But you can try if you have the space and a sun lamp. Well if all else fails spring could bring the challenge of finding new and intriguing plants. Note: This column offers suggestions only; the ultimate care of your pond and fish is up to you. Marginals Hardy varieties can be left in place. Most grasses don’t have to be cut back. Iris should be cut back to about a foot high. Other marginals can be cut back to the crown. November/December 2014 Wanted – Your Questions Please email your questions to [email protected]. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 5 From the Editor’s Desk by Carolyn Weise [email protected] ’d like to wish you all Happy Holidays (and I do not mean that in the generic sense but want to include everything we will experience during this combined issue time frame!) I In some areas, winter has already shown its face, but in others, we are ready for her. My old friend, Jan Goldfield has shared her Fall Pond Care knowledge with you in this issue. Rather than focus on buying and judging fish this time, I picked articles that focus on the maintenance of good healthy water and thus, healthy fish. Sure, I threw in some of my experience with recent pumps, but all is running well today. Lisa Burns of Backyard Getaway (here in Florida) is also a friend of mine. She has shared some good articles with you. This one is on pond lighting that will help determine which you should choose for your own pond next spring, should you decide to upgrade. Then we have Ken Austin’s excellent pond design article. If we design the pond with maintenance rather than “art” in mind, life can be much more enjoyable and much less work. All the information published in the magazine is important and will be valuable to somebody. If you have something to share, please do. Thank you to Cindy Graham who has worked very hard behind the scenes to get this publication out, on time, every month for us. Without Cindy, there would be no magazine. And thanks to Jo Mead and Herb Ehrich for their tireless efforts in bringing back the excitement of the club’s outside engagements! I look forward to more of that. Have a good Thanksgiving, Christmas, and all the rest! See you next year. Yours in Koi! Carolyn I’d like to personally and publicly thank Don Harrawood for his Control Valve Maintenance & Repair article. I have struggled for a couple of years with this exact issue and nobody had been able to figure out the problem. This is the very reason I love being a member of a club! Page 6 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 MAKC Corporate Members Quality Koi Company Nisei Koi Farm 856-299-7564 [email protected] www.qualitykoi.com www.mazuri.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. Contact Joann Mead at 845-389-5712 or [email protected] November/December 2014 Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 7 Designing a Pond with Maintenance in Mind by Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper Koi Organisation International eeping your pond in the best condition to ensure that it remains a healthy habitat for the fish is one of the responsibilities pond owners take on the day they decide to build a pond. A small system, heavily stocked with fish and plants, will require more work than a large lightly stocked system, but all ponds need some kind of maintenance. K Water quality management is a key issue and there are problems to be addressed at different times of the year. During design and construction, consider the following solutions to the problems listed below and then future maintenance tasks will be easier. Filter pads or other media clogged with solids: • Provide easy access to filter chambers, a washhose and a means to easily dispose of wastewater; or Page 8 Mid-Atlantic Koi • Select filtration equipment that does not have pads or other media that must be cleaned by physically handling it. Accumulation of solids on the bottom of pond: • Properly design and locate waterfalls, jets, water returns, bottom drains with aeration domes, skimmers, and streams (anything that aids circulation of the pond water). • Design shape of the pond without complex shapes that include peninsulas, coves or any tortuous contours that will create interference with the circulation pattern. • Eliminate rocks and plants so that the pond can be completely filtered and cleaned. • For smooth bottom ponds, a cleaning robot can be used. Pump not working: • Provide multiple pumps to circulate water thus ensuring some circulation even if one pump stops. November/December 2014 • Provide easy access to pumps. • Provide easy means to disconnect pumps for maintenance. Accumulation of leaves and other plant debris: • Avoid building pond in close proximity to trees or bushes. • Provide easy access around pond so a net can be installed over it in autumn when leaves start to fall. (Note: prevent net from sagging into water). • Trim and remove dead vegetation in or near pond as often as needed. Monitoring fish health and manage over stocking: • Create a zone of open water in the pond where Koi can be easily viewed (this may also be the area where Koi are typically fed). • Provide access around the pond so that nets and seines can be easily used to capture fish. • Provide an area at the water's edge where fish can be easily bowled. Application of chemicals or medications: • Have access to a hospital tank for the treatment of sick fish. • Provide means to bypass the bioconverter, yet still provide aeration to pond water during water treatments. • Have specific and accurate knowledge of pond volume. Overgrown or excessive amounts of pond plants: • Do not put any plants in the pond. • Keep plants in containers that can easily be removed so plants can be thinned and trimmed. • Thin and trim potted pond plants at least once or twice per year. This would include dividing a fibrous root mass and only replanting a small portion of it. November/December 2014 Water change outs: • Provide piping and conveniently located valves necessary to bring in source water and dispose of wastewater. • Add water to the system (w/o draining first) and allow the excess to overflow to some acceptable location. High water temperatures (with subsequent low dissolved oxygen levels): • Provide multi-speed pumps or multiple pumps so that the flow to the waterfall or other aeration device can be increased • Provide additional aeration devices (e.g. spray bars, venturis, fountains, etc.) that can be turned on when needed • Provide shade structures or shade cloths over pond. • Refrigeration units known as chillers can be used to reduce pond water temperature. Green water: • Properly size the bioconverter and have an appropriate flow rate through the bioconverter for the amount of fish food put into the pond each day (at least 60 gpm for each pound of food per day). • Include a properly sized UV unit, plumbed after the filter, if needed. • Provide a raised lip at the edge of the pond to prevent runoff from surrounding areas getting into pond. • Locate the pond such that any fertilizer or pesticide applied to the adjacent landscaping (even from the neighbor's yard) does not get into pond. • Provide shade over the pond, particularly in the lower latitudes where ponds are exposed to numerous hours of intense sunlight each day. • Ensure that the shape of the pond does not create any stagnant areas where there is poor water circulation. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 9 Pond L ighting for All Budgets by Lisa Burns, Backyard Getaway Photos by Bart Boewe, Owner of Moonlit Gallery Outdoor Lighting ond lighting has come a long way in the past few years. We've gone from having only submersible halogen lights to having the choice of halogen, LED & Fiber Optic. There are low voltage lights & solar lights, submersed lights, external lights, floating lights, spotlights, pinpoint lights & even rope lights. All make great additions to your pond viewing pleasure. purchased singly or in sets and with or without a transformer or photocell. For a small pond these are great. You can purchase a small kit with three 10w lights, timer & photocell for around $60. Halogen bulbs do not last long so you will have to reach into the water to change the bulb, be careful to make sure the light cap is on securely otherwise water will enter the light & blow the bulb again. With all these choices it makes it difficult to know what would work best in your pond. What you decide to use will depend on what you are trying to achieve, if you are Eco-conscious & of course, how much you want to invest. Here is a comparison of some of the most popular choices. LED P Halogen Lights These are the most economical lights as far as initial purchase. They are available in a variety of wattage sizes including 10w, 20w, 50w up to 150w, are low voltage, can be simple white light or add a colored lens for special effect, can be Page 10 Mid-Atlantic Koi Newer technology that can be used submersed or external. Place them under a waterfall or in a tree pointing down at the falls. Most companies offer only white light but some, like Alpine, offer color & color changing LED. They also come in a variety of wattage sizes and are available with or without transformers. The upside is that the bulb will not only last longer it will use less wattage when compared to the halogen. For example a 1.5watt LED is comparable to a 10W Halogen and a 3watt LED is expected to last approximately 50,000 hours while the 20w Halogen last November/December 2014 only 2000 hours. LED is a bit more expensive than the halogen for initial purchase but will cost less to run & maintain. Solar These are great if you don't have electric available near your pond. You can find small decorative floating lights or elaborate systems with separate solar panels. Fiber Optic This is the grand daddy of pond lighting. What makes this light source unique is that it uses one single light bulb (halogen or halide) in a box that sits outside the pond making it easy to change the bulb. Up to sixteen separate fiber optic light cables are bundled together at one end into a common fitting and placed in front of the light source. Light shines into the end of the fiber optic cables, travels through the cables, and out the other end, illuminating whatever the designer November/December 2014 wishes to light up. Light fixtures as small as a pen cap attached to the end of the cables can be placed underwater, next to the water, in between rocks, or almost anywhere in or out of the pond. No heat or electricity travels through the fibers, making fiber safe for many environments. A color wheel can be placed between the light source and the fiber to create single or changing colored light. Of course this is also the most expensive option with small 4 light kits starting around $750.00 but boy is it beautiful. Author: Lisa Burns, Backyard Getaway, our website is backyardgetaway.net. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 11 Fall Pond Care Courtesy of Jan Goldfield Greater Louisville Koi and Goldfish Society pecial fall pond care is necessary when our plants and fish begin going dormant in cooler weather. When temperatures start dropping and we know that Indian Summer is just around the corner, our pond requires that we slow down or stop many things we did daily or weekly in the hot summer. S Water Lilies Our water lilies’ pads are getting smaller and they are blooming less and less. Water lilies respond to temperatures and length of daylight. Stop feeding your lilies in the fall and allow them to go into dormancy. If you stimulate growth now, you could lose the lily when winter freezes hit your part of the country. Lower them to the bottom of Page 12 Mid-Atlantic Koi the pond if they are not there already. They will over winter better there where the water is warmer. If they are hardy lilies, they will be fine in freezes. If they are tropical special care is needed to keep them through the winter. Bog Plants If your bog plants are tropical you can bring them in the house and hope they will survive. Many of them, like taro, callas and cyperus do not require being in water and will do well in soil or sand. Bring them in the house, keep them in medium light and they should do fine. If your plants are hardy, just cut them back to make sure none of the emergent vegetation freezes, dies and fouls the pond. The hardy bog plants will come back in the spring bigger and better. November/December 2014 slowing down as temperatures drop. When metabolisms slow, digestion slows as well. If you feed the fish too much, they cannot digest it and may die. When the temperatures drop to 50 degrees F, stop feeding completely. Predators Your floating plants are getting smaller and smaller, so cruising herons and egrets can see your fish more easily. To protect your fish make places for them to hide. You can buy “castles” commercially or you can turn some clay ponds on their sides. Another good hiding place is a large flat rock placed on top of a couple of chunky rocks makes a great spot for fish to get away from hungry birds. See the heron waiting for his lunch? Remove Japanese Iris and Lobelia cardinalis and plant it in the ground if it freezes where you live. Mulch it up good and they should survive nicely and be ready to put back in the pond in the spring. Remove canna rhizomes from their pots. Store them in a pot in peat in a basement. Keep the peat damp. Submerged Plants If your pond is below the freeze line in your part of the country, your submerged plants should do just fine. If not and your pond freezes solid, bring them in the house right before the freeze and keep them in an aquarium with aquarium lighting. Fish Feeding If you feed your fish, when the temperatures start to drop below 60 degrees F, ease up on the feeding. Feed no more than two or three times weekly. Fish are cold blooded animals whose body temperatures are the same as ambient temperatures, therefore their metabolisms are November/December 2014 Leaf netting will keep the predators away as well as keep debris out of the pond. Cleaning It’s time to get all the falling leaves, debris, sticks, dead and decomposing organic material and fish poop off the bottom, in the waterfall cracks and sides. You can do a total cleanout, use a pond vac or a siphon if you can. No matter how you do it, the pond has to be clean and it sure is easier to do it now than the night before a hard freeze. If you have a skimmer, it will not remove the leaves. It is made to remove the occasional leaf, not a tree full. You can cover your pond with leaf netting. You can buy it at most nurseries or make it from nylon net available in most big box stores. I have known some folks to pound stakes around their ponds and cover the entire pond with visqueen, making a pond greenhouse. This will add at least 10 degrees to the temperature inside your greenhouse. Putting lights under there will add even more heat and keep leaves and other debris out of the water. Just make sure air can get in and out. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 13 Control Valve Maintenance and Repair by Don Harrawood, SKAPA - KHA n atmosphere of wind and blowing sand can result in contamination of filter control valves. When control valves become excessively hard to turn from position to position, this means the valve mechanism is contaminated with sand or other forms of debris. A If this condition is not corrected, continual use may result in worn parts or broken handles. With a little effort, these valves can be disassembled, cleaned, lubricated and reassembled at little cost. If parts need to be replaced due to wear or breakage, larger costs may occur. November/December 2014 To minimize contamination of these valves, it is recommended that the pond owner cover the valve with a shower cap, plastic bag, or some other item in order to prevent sand from blowing into the valve cavity. If it is found that when running in the filter position, water is also coming out of the waste line, this indicates that the filter seal is torn, out of place, or has debris (rocks) under the seal. This repair generally requires that the seal assembly be replaced. If any of the above conditions are present, have the pond service person to make the repairs. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 15 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 16 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 It's as easy as A B C . . . Pond Basic Concepts . . . Water Chemistry? by Ed Keene (DCAS) Adapted for Ponds by Carolyn Weise hould I care about water chemistry? Good question and the answer is a big yes!! The reason is that in nature water contains all kinds of stuff - impurities, buffers, iron, manganese, nutrients, phosphates, salt, etc. The exact contents of the water and the percentage of each will vary greatly depending upon what city, state, or country you are in. The fish you maintain will require specific water chemistry and, as a hobbyist, it becomes your duty to provide it. S To maintain fish in any type of water chemistry which is different from their natural environment will lead to stress and the possible death of your fish. Most good fish books will indicate the best water chemistry range for any given fish you are contemplating keeping. Koi have an optimum water temperature range of 60-77°F November/December 2014 and prefer pH between 7.0 and 8.6 but this is not to say they can’t live outside these ranges. They will obviously do best within these ranges. So what happens when my faucet water does not match what the fish require? Another good question. There are a couple of avenues of approach we can take as a hobbyist. The easiest would be to simply keep fish whose water chemistry requirements match that of the water coming out of our faucets. However, the fish you really desire to keep might not fit into those criteria. Now you are facing avenue number two. This avenue is more involved, but not too difficult, even for the beginner. Basically, you have to change the chemistry of your water to match the optimal requirements of the fish you will be keeping. The bottom line here is that water Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 17 chemistry is extremely important to the health of the fish and you must know a little about it. So without any further ado, let's look deeper into water chemistry. You do not need to know all the details about water chemistry, however, as a fish hobbyist, you should definitely know about pH, buffers, and water hardness. pH pH is a measure of the 'power of hydrogen' or the water acidity or alkalinity. The pH scale ranges from 1 (extremely acid) through 7 (considered neutral) to 14 (extremely alkaline). Ocean water normally has a pH of approximately 8.3 while fresh water pH ranges from 5.0 to 8.0, depending upon where in this world you are located. Water having a pH under 7.0 is considered to be acidic while water with a pH over 7.0 is considered alkaline. Most good fish books will tell you the required pH range for any particular type of fish. The center of the specified range would be its ‘optimal’ pH. The major portion of pond fish can be maintained in a pH which is between 6.5 and 9.0. If your faucet water is within that range, there is a wide selection of pond fish available to you without having to make major pH changes to your water. If you need to make a major change to the pH level, either up or down, there are relatively easy ways to accomplish this. First a word of caution when changing the pH value. Changing the pH level too rapidly will stress out the fish, if not kill them. pH level changes need to done slowly and in no more than .5 step intervals. Increasing the pH level is done the same way - no more than .5 change per day and once reached, maintain it 12 hours before making the next change. The closer you can get the pH to the optimal pH requirement of the fish, the better. There are several ways to adjust the pH. The easiest way is by the use of additives which you Page 18 Mid-Atlantic Koi can purchase at your local fish store. Several brands of additives are available which will lower or raise the pH. These are not multi-purpose additives. They either do one or the other. Another way to reduce the pH is to use a C02 (carbon dioxide) injection system. These systems are widely used in aquariums with live plants as it stimulates the plant growth. When the C02 dissolves in the water, it creates carbonic acid which in turn lowers the pH. However, as soon as the C02 leaves the water, the pH will rise again. Therefore, if a C02 system is used to lower the pH, there must be a continuous supply. C02 systems are extremely expensive and not worth the cost if you only use it to lower the pH. A less expensive way of lowering the pH is by adding acetic acid (vinegar). Unless you know what you are doing, I would not suggest you try this method directly in the pond. Too much acid at one time will virtually burn up your fish. For anyone using this method, I'd suggest you add the acid to water in a bucket first, and when properly mixed, add the water to the pond. An additional way to increase the pH value is by using buffers. Buffers can be purchased in most fish stores. When dissolved in water, they raise the pH value by virtue of actually raising what is known as the carbonate hardness (KH). Some buffers will raise both the pH and KH while others will raise only the KH. Another term you should be familiar with is 'buffering capacity', also known as 'buffering action'. Buffering capacity is the ability of the water to maintain its pH value as acids are added. If the water has ample buffering capacity, the buffering capacity can absorb and neutralize the added acid in the water without significantly changing the pH. Think of buffers as a type of vacuum cleaner. Buffers suck up any acids in the water and at the same time change the pH very little. Just like a vacuum cleaner, buffers get full and cannot suck up anything else. If the buffers have used up their buffering capacity, acid will build up and the pH will drop as the water turns acidic. In this case, November/December 2014 it is time to perform a water change and add more buffer. General Hardness General hardness (GH) refers to the amount of dissolved magnesium and calcium ions in the water. When fish are said to prefer 'soft' or 'hard' water, it is GH that is being referred to, not the KH. Many people often confuse soft water with a low pH and consider them to be one-and-thesame. They are not the same thing, however generally you cannot change one without it affecting the other. In fact, GH falls into the same category. Any modification to GH, KH, or pH will invariably affect the other two. GH water test kits are available to measure the degrees hardness (dH) and/or parts per million (ppm). Some test kits will measure one or the other while some measure both. Although different measurements, dH and ppm are synonymous. When water is softened, magnesium and calcium ions are removed from the water and, when hardened, just the opposite occurs. If you want to raise the GH and KH naturally, you can add some sea shells, oyster shells, coral or limestone. If you crush them to fine chips, put them inside of a filter bag of some type, and place them inside your filter, they will work best with water flowing over them. In turn, if you need to raise the KH without raising the GH, add a small amount of common baking soda. A 3/4 teaspoon full of baking soda will raise the KH approximately 4 dH per 10 gallons of water. If you need to lower the GH, or soften the water, the easiest way is by using peat moss which is commonly just referred to as peat. Peat is available in most fish stores. Although you can purchase peat at your local garden center, I would suggest you not do that unless you know exactly what you are doing. The garden center November/December 2014 variety generally contains additives of some type which will prove catastrophic to your fish. What you purchase in the fish store does not contain any harmful additives, although you will pay more for it. If you want to keep the peat out of site, put it inside of a filter bag of some type, and place it inside your filter. Peat works best if water is flowing over it. One drawback many hobbyists have against using peat is that it may, and in most cases will, turn your water a tea color -sometimes darker than others. The good news is that there is a way to beat the tea coloration. I put a highly absorbent charcoal filter pad, which is available in most good fish stores, inside of my filter. The water flowing through my filter, passes through the peat, then through the charcoal (or activated carbon) before it returns to the main pond. The charcoal captures all of the tea discoloration and the pond water remains crystal clear. The charcoal cannot be washed out so I'd suggest you replace it at the same time you clean your filter. A much more effective way to lower the GH is by the use of 'reverse osmosis' (R/O) water. You can purchase a reverse osmosis unit at a good fish store, but be prepared to spend several hundred dollars to get a fairly decent model - keep in mind I did not say one of the best models. In addition to lowering or softening the water, a R/O unit will also purify the water. In Conclusion There are many sources of information if you want to learn more about water chemistry. Most good fish books talk about it to some degree while other books are dedicated solely to the subject. We have only scratched the surface here you have only been given an insight into the subject. The insight I have given you, however, will prove to be an important beginning if you need to change the water chemistry in your pond. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 19 Introducing Sakai Fish Farm Courtesy of Hikari USA ontinuing our conversations with leading Japanese Koi breeders this time we visited Sakai Fish Farm, the largest producer of high quality Koi in Japan and the breeder of five of the last 10 All Japan Koi Show Champions. We interviewed Mr. Kentaro Sakai to get his thoughts on their very technical approach to Koi breeding. C About Sakai Fish Farm History The farm began growing “Magoi” around 1897 in Hiroshima which they have helped develop in to the one of the two largest Koi breeding regions in Japan. Their Nishikigoi breeding started in 1955. Today, “Gosanke” varieties are their main focus, but a large variety of other types of Koi are also grown in about 90 ponds covering five cho (+/-12.25 acres) areas for young Koi, 80 ponds 10t Baby Koi Indoor Koi Pond Page 20 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 covering thirty cho (+/- 73.5 acres) areas for twoto five-year-old Koi and 14 indoor ponds. Equipment As one of the most technologically advanced Koi farms in Japan, they introduced the heated indoor pond, construction of artificial field ponds, the use of modern and never-used farming equipment and the study of fish health conditions in cooperation with specialized facilities to develop novel treatment procedures. They are synonymous with high level Nishikigoi breeding around the world. Automatic Feeding Machine Their farm primarily uses river water requiring their fresh water supply and water circulation processes be equipped with filtration and disinfection devices that offer optimal water quality conditions. Most of these processes have been developed exclusively in-house. Furthermore, their indoor ponds are equipped with automatic feeding machines, high-level oxygen generating equipment, high-volume aeration equipment, temperature/pH monitors, UV sterilization and a number of other unique procedures to maintain ultimate water quality. All the technical data collected through these various processes is a key to their cultivation of prize winning Koi. (1) Automatic feeding machine (2) Oxygen generator (3) Pond water temperature recording station River water filtration/ disinfection facility River Water --> Sand Strainer--> Sedimentation Settler --> 1st Sand Filtration Tank--> 2nd Sand Filtration Tank --> UV Sterilizer = 300 tons of river water is treated daily. The Production Style of Sakai Fish Farm Q: What is your breeding policy? We are keenly focused on the appearance of our November/December 2014 Oxygen Generator fish and their chances of winning a major Koi show. We feel there are five principal requirements: state-ofthe-art equipment, high quality water, good Koi parents, data used to improve results and the use of a high quality diet. Q: Could you give us more specific breeding methods? Pond Water Temperature Recording Station Breeding Koi in a cement pond with centralized control and clear pond water is easier than in a field pond. Cement Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 21 Water Quality Control House pond breeding can be compared to training camp for top athletes, where promising players are able to achieve improved results by getting in shape. Keeping the fish in a cement pond helps us control the timing of a Koi's optimal condition based on its Koi show schedule. On the contrary, if we want to grow out two or three year old young Koi using a field pond, enables us to get the rapid growth we desire. We choose the best method according to the purpose and the age of the Koi. Merits of Cement Pond Breeding * Direct observation of the Koi enables us to control their physical condition and adjust the amount of food to obtain the growth we require. * The Koi are not subject to the weather condition impact. * The Koi suffer fewer accidents than those kept in the field pond. The ideal body conformation and dignified appearance of this Koi is a Sakai signature. 70-ton Grand Champion Pond Page 22 Mid-Atlantic Koi It won the grand championship at the 42nd All Japan Combined Nishikigoi Show in 2011 (Size 90bu), fed Saki-Hikari®. November/December 2014 “Deep Red™” worked extremely well to enhance the “Hi” while Saki-Hikari® “Pure White™” helped develop a very nice “Shiroji”. Using SakiHikari® we now fully realize the importance diet can play. This 70-ton pond is used to finish Koi we intend to enter in the All Japan Koi Show annually. The 70-ton water volume and additional length is our minimum requirement to make the Koi work out properly. The long and narrow pond enables us to easily use a scoop net. It is equipped with an independent filtration system so that we can adjust the water quality as necessary. Brief Advice About How to Grow Beautiful Koi In this 10-ton pond, the 28th All Japan Young Show's Grand Champion, a 63 Bu Kohaku, was finished. It achieved three consecutive wins, a first in show history. Kyorin's Saki-Hikari® November/December 2014 * Choose Koi with a quality bloodline. Most champion-grade Koi are of prestigious lineages. Purchase those Koi, such as Sakaibred Koi, through reliable Koi dealers. * Focus on water quality. Regular measurement of water temperature and pH helps identify any change in water quality. Quality water is a key to bringing out the full potential of a Koi. * Choose a diet that is proven to be of high quality. Your Koi should eat the food aggressively, we suggest the Sakai's brand and Kyorin's Saki-Hikari®, these are the diets we use and know produce an outstanding result. Remember, no matter how good all the other breeding conditions are, poor quality food can spoil the growth of your Koi and eliminate their chances of winning a show. We feel the importance of diet comprises 30 to 40 percent of the ultimate grow out success. * Decide the amount of food based on the weight of your fish. Consider water temperature and condition as well as the condition of your Koi to develop the ideal amount. Don't impulsively change the type or amount of food, as this also impacts the result. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 23 Pump Problems (nobody told me about) by Carolyn Weise, Florida ’ve had a pond, one place or another, for nearly 30 years. But until recently I have never experienced the amount of pond pump maintenance that has been required. What I’ve had to do with this one is not normal, nor should it be anticipated in a Koi pond. I bought a very good pump or would have had to replace it long ago, perhaps many times in the past 2 years. But here’s the tale of woe: I As they say, always expect the unexpected. It’s Murphy’s Law. I still didn’t think they were talking about my Koi pond. But from the initial installation, every small thing that can go wrong, pretty much has gone wrong. I prepared for hurricanes, flooding, power outages, extreme heat, and a host of predators that have called this home a long time before I did. What I did not expect was a “different” way of constructing ponds, since the water table is almost equal to the road surface and seems to shift from season to season. The workers didn’t gauge the level of the pond in relation to the depth of the filtration system, as far as I can figure, so the pump continues to lose prime when backwashed and nothing seems to circumvent this. It’s a frustrating situation. Many calls to the filtration Manufacturer have not helped. Combining numerous visits from the installer and having the manufacturer on the phone simultaneously, and still nothing has been resolved. Reconfiguring the filtration on the pond end only served to created many cracks in the pond walls. Yes, it’s Murphy’s Law, alive and well… Page 24 Mid-Atlantic Koi Once we had the cracks, even though they were very small cracks, a small amount of water escaped from each, daily. When you have a multitude of tiny cracks leaking tiny amounts of water daily, it can amount to something noticeable by the end of the week, eventually. And eventually I did notice. I also noticed that the cracks were spreading, growing, and becoming longer. What was about 12˝ was now almost the 4´ side of the pond, from top to bottom. This was not in the plans. But being a good pinch hitter, I got the pond fixed! November/December 2014 The heavy weight of a revised “bakki” system on top, which had weighed the side down and caused these cracks, was removed and the pond relined with liquid EPDM (at great cost!) And this doesn’t even come close to the labor involved in moving 8 very large (24-36˝ Koi) from their pond into my swimming pool, and back, with only one fatality. Well, here comes the PUMP PROBLEM! I thought we were finished. I thought all the problems were fixed… NOPE. Not yet. The liquid liner started bubbling up off the bottom within SIX WEEKS after it was applied. Whether the fish were picking at it or not, pieces began going into the bottom drains. From there, some pieces went through the pre-pump strainer, into the IMPELLER. It doesn’t take too much to stop up the impeller. Oh, it runs a long time like that, but it does take a toll on the pump. All it takes is a quick POWER OUTAGE to stop the November/December 2014 Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 25 pump and I have no filtration… again! Every time that happens, it costs me $75 for the man at the pump place to fix (clean) the impeller and put it back together again. Every time it happens, I have to have someone take the pump apart for me. Every time this happens, the water in my bead filter goes septic in about 4 hours. And every time it happens, I have to be on hand when the system is turned back on again so the fish are not subjected to the septic (hydrogen sulfide and filthy water) being pumped back into the pond. Fish are killed this way. The last time I took the pump in, it needed new bearings. Next time, it will probably need a whole new pump. Well, the pump was all right except for the liquid EPDM. How do you rate pumps for EPDM lining capture?? And, now I’m wondering if it wouldn’t have been cheaper and easier to just build a whole new pond. Do you think I should ask Mr. Murphy? Page 26 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 What is a Settling Chamber? Courtesy of Simi Koi http://www.simikoi.com/subcat365.html any new hobbyists have a bit of trouble understanding the settling chamber without actually seeing one in action. Basically a settling chamber (often referred to as an SC) is like a skimmer, except instead of water flowing from the top of the Koi pond, it flows from the bottom. An SC is purely a mechanical filter designed to remove solids before the water is sent to the biological filter. The reason for this is the bio filter will be far more effective if it doesn't have to deal with all the solid waste. M The SC is placed near the Koi pond and is an in ground container or tank of some shape. Most will be a cone or cylinder shape and use a vortex motion to aid in the settling. Water flows from the bottom of the Koi pond, through a bottom drain, into the SC. The solid waste from the Koi pond flows gently into the SC and settles at the bottom of the tank. A pump then pulls the cleaner water from the top of the SC and sends it to the bio filter. Usually a valve is placed at the bottom of the SC so you can simply open in and drain away the settled waste. However some settling chambers are buried flush with the ground and instead of a valve, a sump pump, or solids handling pump is used to clean out the SC. The design of the SC can take many shapes. The most effective is the cone shape. This design has the water entering in at an angle so the water can spin in the tank. This increases the settling effect. But a cone shape is not required. Some settling chambers can take the form of a second smaller November/December 2014 pond connected by the underground pipe. When digging your own pond style settling chamber, be sure to make it deep and as close to a cone shape as possible to increase efficiency. This second pond can also be filled with floating plants that will help consume the Koi waste creating additional filtration. However this second "settling pond" will need to be cleaned frequently since it is removing the majority of the solids from the larger Koi pond. So keep this in mind when designing it. One thing to keep in mind with a settling chamber is flow rate. If the water flows through the SC too quickly, then the waste from the Koi pond will not have time to settle out and it will simply pass right though the pump. The efficiency of the SC is all about dwell time. The longer the water dwells in the tank, the better the settling. As a general rule the SC needs to be 10% of the flow rate. So if you have a 4000 GPH pump, then your SC needs to be at least 400 gallons. That's a pretty big tank! Many times, on larger Koi ponds, all of the water does not flow through a single SC. Instead several lines are created, each with their own pump. For example the bottom drain flows into a smaller SC and a smaller pump sends it to a filter. Then a separate pump is used in the skimmer and sends it to another filter. Having separate feeds like this allows you to use smaller pumps and smaller sized equipment, and when you add up the flow of all the pumps, you have enough circulation for the size of the Koi pond. Another way to get around the giant settling chamber and still be effective is to use a Microscreen. There are several versions of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 27 microscreen on the market today. Basically the water passes through a fine stainless steel mesh, usually 250 or 500 microns. The screen will quickly clog so various self cleaning systems have been developed. The most popular is the spray bar. The screen is designed like a round drum. (imagine a 5 gallon bucket and the walls of the bucket are the mesh. Water is pulled through a pipe in the middle of the drum. The pipe comes up through the bottom center of the drum and it spins on this pipe. Water after the pump is sent back to the center of the drum through small spray bars that constantly turn and spray the mesh clean. Using a self cleaning microscreen such as this can greatly increase the efficiency of a settling chamber. You can send much higher volumes of water through a smaller tank and the microscreen will prevent debris from passing through to the pump and filter. Page 28 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 Wishing you Happy Holidays and May All Your Big Koi Dreams for the Next Year Come True. Photo taken at Dainichi Koi Farm From MAKC Staff November/December 2014 Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 29 Saddle River on a Saturday by Herb Ehrich, New York he Tri-State ZNA Third Annual Koi Show was held on Saturday, July 12, 2014 at Kodama Koi Farm in Saddle River, New Jersey. T It was a beautiful day to take the drive down the New York Thruway and over to our neighboring state, to view the beautiful Koi on display. Everyone I spoke to was friendly and well informed, offering suggestions and advice. In particular, Jim Reilly and Bill Story offered to help the MAKC with our Page 30 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 shows. Jim is a well known Koi judge and Bill is an experienced photographer and very knowledgeable in benching. November/December 2014 Many thanks to Duc Nguyen and Taro Kodama for their hospitality towards me and MAKC. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 31 On the Road to a Koi Event Planning for Next Year March 7-8, 2015 Koi Club of San Diego 28th Koi Show San Diego, held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds www.koiclubofsandiego.org March 13-15 Central Florida Koi Show Held at the International Palms Resort & Conference Center on International Drive, Orlando, FL. http://cfks.org/ May 22-14 Greater Louisville Koi & Goldfish Society Annual Show Memorial Day Weekend www.louisvillekoiclub.com/annual_show.html June 26-28 Midwest Pond & Koi Society Koi and Goldfish Show & Tradeshow Held at the Darien Sportsplex. See our website for upcoming events http://www.mpks.org/ M A KC Eve nt s Long Island Chapter Holiday Party Sunday, December 7 Noon Milleridge Inn 585 North Broadway, Jericho, NY 11753 Phone: 516.931.2201 The Holiday Party is set. We will meet at the Millerridge Inn for their Holiday Brunch. Feel free to call Bruce at cell 516-477-1823 or email [email protected] Saugerties Chapter Meetings Sunday, November 16 Held at Bernie & Kathy Carroll Saugerties, New York Contact Herb Ehrich for further information about upcoming meetings [email protected] Future meeting December 14. Meeting are held at 3 pm - 5 p.m. Have an upcoming Koi event, please send the information to [email protected]. 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 32 Mid-Atlantic Koi All places of meeting will be determined Contact Herb for further information [email protected] Send your meeting and event information to Carolyn Weise [email protected] Deadline December 15th for the January/February 2015 issue. November/December 2014 Treasurer’s Report Sunshine Column Submitted by Anthony Vitale, New York Balance as of June 30, 2014 $13,958.33 Income: Memberships Sponsorships Total Income 607.85 4,500.00 $5,107.85 Expenses: Printing/Publication Trailer Tires Host Fees (July) Trailer Repair Total Expenses 1,600.00 800.00 196.82 425.81 $3,022.63 Balance as of October 30, 2014 $16,043.55 Reserve Account/Prepaid Memberships Savings Bank Account 6,325.57 Balance $6,325.57 Club Total Balance As if October 31, 2014 $22,369.12 October Club Raffle On Sunday, October 19, 2014 at the Saugerties Chapter meeting we raffled off, a 2.2 pound bag of Kodama Koi Wheat Germ food, a $28.00 value! Kodama Koi Farm has been a long time support of the MAKC. They have been serving the international Koi community for over 40 years. So how does one enter this raffle? You just have to be a member in good standing! November/December 2014 Happy Holidays & Stay Well Send submissions for our Sunshine Column to Carolyn Weise, Editor [email protected] MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers Tom Burton Middletown, NJ 732-671-7045 Jan & Bill Fogle Wayne, PA 610-687-3105 Terri Janas Ashburn, VA 703-729-2988 Jeff Nicholson Odenton, MD 301-912-1928 All members have microscopes and health books. In the event of a recorded message, please suggest a time when you're home to receive a return call or when you'd like to call back. Please remember that advice is given based on your input–the ultimate responsibility and treatment must remain with you. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 33 F..A..S..T.. Ads – November/December Disclaimer: MAKC and its officers assume no responsibility for claims of advertisers or the quality/serviceability of goods offered. MAKC Member Needs Your Help 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). 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 [email protected]. Mailing address: Roger Klocke, 4805 Meadow Creek Dr., Fargo, ND 58104. WANTED KOI. Foster Home. Large natural pond. Happy to accept your overgrown or unwanted “children.” Call Rich Menashe in Metuchen, NJ, 732-767-0720. 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 [email protected] Page 34 Mid-Atlantic Koi KOI STORE EMPLOYEE. Looking for a knowledgeable Koi and pond hobbyist. Part-time, competitive pay. Outstanding employee discounts! Call John at Blue Ribbon Koi Products. 703-753-7566. MAKC CENTRAL CHAPTER VICEPRESIDENT. Schedule 4 to 12 meetings per year. This includes making sure that the meeting announcement is submitted to the magazine and the MAKC website. Plenty of advice and support are available. Your "compensation" .... knowing that you have given back to MAKC and your fellow members. Please don't wait for someone else to step forward! MAKC is a membership organization. If more than one person is interested, you can share the fun! E-mail Joann Mead at [email protected] or call 845-389-5712. November/December 2014 Koi’s Age ow old is your Koi in Japanese? Here are the first five years with some phonetic pronunciation help. H Mid-Atlantic Koi Ad Index Tosai (toe’sigh) 1-year-old Koi Hikari . . . . . . . . . 8, Back Cover Nisei Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . 8, 28 Nisai (knee’ sigh) 2-year-old Koi Kodama Koi Farm . . . . . . 8, 26 Pentair Aquatic Sansai (sahn’ sigh) 3-year-old Koi Yonsai (yoo-hn’ sigh) 4-year-old Koi Long Island Fish Hospital . . 28 Eco-Systems, Inc. . . . . . 8, 14 Matala USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Quality Koi Company . . . 8, 28 Microbe-Lift . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Total Koi Food . . . . . . . . . .8, 11 Gosai (go’sigh) 5-year-old Koi Advertise in Mid-Atlantic Koi! www.makc.com 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!! Join or Renew Your Membership Submit Your MAKC Membership Form by printing out page 37 and mailing it in. Do it today, it only takes a couple of minutes. November/December 2014 Contact Joann Mead at 845-389-5712 (leave message) or e-mail: [email protected] to request information on our advertiser packages and/or a copy of our ad rate sheet. *With an annual 10 issue contract. Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 35 Picture to Share – Page 36 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2014 November/December 2014 Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 37
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