Mid-Atlantic Koi Magazine November/December 2013

Mid~Atlantic KoiThe Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club November/December 2013

Page 2 Mid-Atlantic Koi November/December 2013

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

Advertising Editor, Philip Gray (516) 486-5163 [email protected]

Meeting/Events Editor, Joyce Spears (856) 832-4922 [email protected]

FAST Ads Editor, Philip Gray (516) 486-5163 [email protected]

Billing and Collections, Floyd Broussard

(703) 491-4921 [email protected]

Mid-Atlantic Koi Deadlinesfor articles, meeting announcements and ads

Jan/Feb Issue Deadline: December 15Available Online: January 15

March Issue Deadline: February 1Available Online: March 1

The Membership Magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club

Volume 27, Number 5 November/December 2013

Photo taken byCarolyn Weisewhile on aprivate pondtour in theAtlanta area.

President’s Message . . . . . . . .4

From the Editor’s Desk . . . . . .6

MAKC Health Hotline Volunteers . . . . . . . . .6

Sunshine Column . . . . . . . . .26

Treasurer’s Report . . . . . . . . .29

F..A..S..T Ads . . . . . . . . . . . . .30

Ad Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

—MAKC News

Beginner’s Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

MAKC Corporate Members . . . . . . . . . . .7

Algae– Those Other Plants in Our Pond . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Tom Ross, KHA, California

Fall Pond Plant Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Kris Hildebrandt, Illinois

New Pond Syndrome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper

The Case for Multi Chamber Filtration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Ben Plonski; Laguna Koi Ponds

Friendship Award South Carolina Koi Show . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Pond Sitter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper

Pains and Perils of Potassium Permanganate . . . . . . . . . .24

Myron J. Kebus, DVM

Saugerties Chapters Last OutdoorMeeting of 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

RoseMarie Ehrich, New York

In Memoriam Floyd Broussard . . . . . . .28

On the Road to a Koi Event . . . . . . . . . . .29

Picture to Share . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

MAKC Membership Application . . . . .33

Holiday Wish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34

Mid~Atlantic Koi

—Upcoming Event

Saugerties Chapter Meeting . . . . . . .29

Remember toRenew YourMembership

Don’t Wait – Do it Today.

Renewal form you can print out is on page 33.

November/December 2013 Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 3

Production: Cindy Graham, NextUp Creations

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

MAKC Executive Committee

President

Philip Gray (516) 486-5163 [email protected]

Cell (516) 967-4966

Vice-President

Bernie Szer (516) 241-4655 [email protected]

Secretary

Dinah Bwint (610) 287-9178 [email protected]

Treasurer

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

Central Chapter Vice-President

Looking for a Volunteer

Long Island Chapter Vice-President

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

North Chapter Vice-President

Dan Bitcon (973) 699-2186 [email protected]

Saugerties (NY) Chapter Vice-President

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

South Chapter Vice-President

Chuk Nixon (301) 717-7702 [email protected]

Standing Committees

Membership

Barry Hixson (610) 262-5184 [email protected]

AKCA Representative

Philip Gray (516) 486-3807 [email protected]

MAKC Sales

Ruth & Gene Rice (304) 725-2333 [email protected]

MAKC Notice Group Manager

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

WebMaster

Wayne Orchard (828) 693-3851 [email protected]

Japanese Cultural Coordinator

Floyd Broussard (703) 491-4921 [email protected]

Execut ive Board Adv isor y Committee

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

Betty Roemer (828) 697-2692 [email protected]

Art Lembke (410) 867-0270 [email protected]

Mike Riordan (732) 747-6089 [email protected]

Gene Rice (304) 725-2333 [email protected]

Eric Wilson (613) 421-7890 [email protected]

Ellie Cooper (610) 865-1163 [email protected]

Japanese Cultural Adv iser

Misa Sitterly (703) 490-0770 [email protected]

Mid-Atlantic Koi is the magazine of the Mid-Atlantic Koi Club.Material is selected for its interest to Koi keepers. MAKC acceptsno responsibility for accuracy of content. Reproduction ofuncopyrighted articles is permitted as long as this magazine is credited as the source.

Hello All,

The winter holidays are approaching, atime to celebrate all that we should bethankful for in our lives. I want to person-ally thank all my fellow club members forthe successes and opportunities we haveenjoyed this past year and I look forward to all of our future events and endeavors in 2014.

I am honored to serve as the president ofthis outstanding club and I look forward tothe holiday time of year, wishing all ahealthy and happy holiday season.

I want to strongly encourage all membersto sincerely consider Volunteering for anavailable position. A club is made up of itsmembers, and each member along withtheir respective opinions and skills onlystrengthens us. Please contact Bruce Levine,(516) 477-1823 or email: [email protected]

See you soon,

Philip [email protected]


President’s Messageby Philip Gray

[email protected]

Is your pond ready for winter?


Question

A number of members have asked about cleaningand shutting down their ponds.

Answer

The most important thing is to go into winterwith a clean pond. Now is the time to put somekind of a net over the pond to keep leaves out.Start with the cleaning. If your pond has abottom drain the steps are easy. Change 50% ofthe water and remove any leaves that get throughthe net cover.

If your pond does not have a bottom drain, thenchange 50% of the water by pumping water fromthe bottom of the pond (the dirtiest water).Clean any debris from the bottom.

In both cases replace water adding declor first.

When shutting down the pond don’t forget toclean the filter, doing it now makes for an easierstartup in spring.

To keep the water from freezing over this winter,hang an air stone from an empty water bottleabout 9 in. from the surface.

If you live in an area with many trees, build aframe over the pond and cover with clear plastic.This keeps your pond clean and also reduces thewind chill over winter. The clear plastic lets lightin to grow algae (fish graze on it).

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

Wanted – Your Questions

Please email your questions [email protected].

We look forward to hearing from you!

Don’t forget, if you can change 10% of the wateronce a month over winter, the fish will be health-ier next spring.

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

www.kloubeckoi.com


Hi, Koi friends,

Looking back on the year, a lot has happened. I waslooking at the covers and the articles we used inMAKC magazines for 2013. We've gotten somegood questions from beginners and I loved thepictures to share. I personally have enjoyed severalKoi shows (Central Florida Koi Show, Atlanta Koi,South Carolina Koi show, and the Tri-State ZNAShow), which always brings me together with oldand new friends in the hobby. Every person I meetat these events has something new to enrich my life.Each one has an experience that I need to hear. Iwas privileged to visit Philip Gray’s pond and visit awhile with his beautiful fish. I was also taken on apond tour in Atlanta to see two private propertieswith gorgeous grounds and Koi ponds. And then,when I think back to the days when it seemed I wastaking a very big risk to pay $30 for a fish, my firstKoi, I have to laugh now. This year I will not tell youhow much I spent on Koi, but I continue to improvethe quality of Koi in my pond (like the gorgeousshiro utsiri and goshiki, both added this year.)

I want to thank Cindy Graham for all the work shedoes in getting this magazine together. There is noway this could happen without her. Over the yearswe have had our ads managers, chapter VP’s, FastAds coordinator, and so many others retire, and thisyear, we have been left without a webmaster. But Iam sure we have somebody in the club who can dojust the basic web tasks, so I am hopeful. Thanks forAnthony Vitale for stepping up as Treasurer thisyear, too. I enjoy seeing the pictures and hearingstories about the happenings at the Chaptermeetings. I wish I could attend. I miss meetingssince moving to Florida. We have much to begrateful for as we go into 2014.

Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, and Happy(safe) Holidays everyone!

Carolyn

From the Editor’s Deskby Carolyn [email protected] MAKC Health

Hotline VolunteersTom Burton Middletown, NJ 732-671-7045

Jan & Bill Fogle Wayne, PA 610-687-3105

Floyd Broussard Woodbridge, VA 703-491-4921

Terri Janas Ashburn, VA 703-729-2988

Jeff Nicholson Odenton, MD 301-912-1928

All members have microscopes and 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 callback.

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

www.pentairaes.com


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

Interested in Interested in becoming a becoming a

Corporate Member?Corporate Member?

Reasonable one time fee for theReasonable one time fee for theyear year –– includes a includes a

Business Card size ad in all issuesBusiness Card size ad in all issuesin this section and in this section and

on the MAKC website. on the MAKC website.

Contact Barry Hixson at

610-262-5184 or [email protected]

www.mazuri.com

Quality Koi Company

Nisei Koi Farm

[email protected]

www.qualitykoi.com

East Coast – Patio Ponds, LTD301-874-8440West Coast – Laguna Koi Ponds949-494-5107

www.MatalaUSA.com

www.beadfilters.com

www.hikariusa.com/mk

www.kodamakoifarm.com

www.matalausa.com

www.mazuri.com

www.qualitykoi.com

Those “Other” Plants in Our Ponds – Algae!

In the springtime and through out summer theplants in and around our ponds grow andbloom. Some are welcome and add beauty; thenthere are various types of algae which hide ourfish and clog up filters and plumbing.

Each year our ponds go through a cycle based onthe seasons. Part of that cycle is when floatingalgae causes the water to turn murky, even solidgreen. This is also common when starting a newpond. Then there are several types of algae thatgrow on the rocks in the waterfall and on thesides of the pond, of these the dreaded stringalgae (also known as blanket weed) is the mostbothersome.

Green water is caused by phytoplankton, which isa group of microscopic plants. In nature theseare the source of beneficial nutrients needed byfish, such as essential fatty acids. The water in

mud ponds in Japan is usually quite green, as thiskeeps the fish healthy and hides them from pred-ators. Unfortunately, it also hides them from us!This makes it hard to see health problems thatare common in springtime, like parasite infestations and sores.

String algae is tough stuff, and can be a realproblem. It is hard to remove and seems to stickto anything – even plastic and rubber liner. It canform a foot thick blanket on the sides of thepond, and is generally too tough for the fish toeat. The other types (black, green, brown andeven white) that grow on surfaces are usuallyshort and not a concern.

It takes three things to grow algae –

• sunlight,

• nutrients,

• and a tiny bit of algae to start things going.

It is nearly impossible to keep algae “spores” out,so the first way to control it is to shade the pond.Unfortunately this is not practical in many yards,and a pond can grow algae even in the shade.Nutrients are always being produced by the fishand filter bacteria, so it is very difficult to elimi-nate these from the pond.


Algae– Those OtherPlants in Our Pond

by Tom Ross, KHA, California

So most ponders do their best to control algae byadding UV, chemicals and/or treatments. UVlighting when adequately sized will clear greenwater but can be slow to help if the water isparticularly thick and murky – the light can’treach all the algae. It seems more effective atkeeping clear water clear, and of course does notkill the string algae on your waterfall.

Algae-Fix is an effective and popular chemicaltreatment but is toxic at higher doses. Most of ususe various plant extracts instead, as these are

less potentially harmful. The way these work isthat when plants decompose they releaseenzymes that inhibit new growth – think of thisas a sort of defense mechanism. So the “oldschool” way was to put a bale of barley straw or abundle of cut bamboo into the pond and let itdecay. There are now various powdered andliquid preparations that do the same. I have hadgood results from Clarity-Max Plus, but like the

String AlgaeString algae, also known as pond scum,

blanket algae and pond moss, is a fila-

mentous algae floating on the surface of

ponds. It bonds with other filamentous

algae to create strings and lime green

mats that can take over pond surfaces. It

can also grow in pond waterfalls, shallow

streams, on the sides of ponds with the

most sunlight, and on rocks. Barley straw

is one known way to keep this kind of

algae from invading your pond as it

releases a chemical that controls the

growth of algae. It works as a preventative

method for such algae; it will not be

effective on existing algae. Existing algae

can be dealt with manually and by

keeping the pH level of your pond

under control.


other “natural” treatments it can take severalweeks to work. Another well known product is Algae-Off (granules).

Hydrogen Peroxide household (3%) solution willremove string algae from your waterfall. Turn offthe pump and let the algae dry out a bit, thenspray it on liberally. It will not harm the fish andthe algae will turn light green and decay. Andonce your treatments begin to soften up thestringy stuff, the fish can eat it – ending the cyclefor that year.

CAUTION: when using any commercial productin your pond it is wise to use less than theprescribed dose.

Reprinted from the Inland Koi Connection

String Algae

As the weather gets cooler we all lookto the pond and see what needs tobe done for the fall. We pull out thetropical plants and lilies to eitherdispose of or put in the greenhouse

for the winter. We cut back the plants as theystart to die back for the winter to reduce the bio-load of the pond.

At this point I usually start to make notes in myGardening Journal about what did well this yearand what did not perform as expected. I alwayshave a few surprises.

I will also split those plants, like iris, that need tobe split in the fall now. Normally I can find awilling friend to take in my excess plant splits orswap them with other pond owners for splits ofsomething I may not have.

Other plants will wait until the spring to get split,like the Zebra Reed or the Water Willow. Thoseplants have root systems that actually grow veryslowly throughout the winter months as long asthey are not frozen.

This is the time of year when I pull out my strawberry pot trickle towers and remove themfrom thepond. I willalso pull outall the annualflowers that Ihave planteddirectly in thepond,streambed ortrickletowers.


Fall Pond Plant Care by Kris Hildebrandt, Illinois

In zone 5 we usually receiveour first frost around mid-October, which signals thatit’s time to start to clean upour ponds for the winterahead. After the clean up youget to sit back and enjoy thoselast Lotus and hardy Waterlilyblooms.

Plants that will remain livelythroughout the fall until ahard freeze are: Watercress,Creeping Jenny, Zebra Reed,Mare’s Tail, red-stemmedDwarf Parrot Feather andAquatic Mint just to name afew. These plants will provideinterest as well as still usingup any available nutrients inthe pond water.

This is a time I like to prunemy iris back until the leafstalks are 6-8˝ above thewater level. They really makesome neat ice sculptures inthe winter and add somewinter interest.

reprinted from the Midwest Pond &Koi Society Newsletter


Now that you have your new pondfinally completed and stocked withfish, why does the water look soterrible? It could be New PondSyndrome.

That sounds like technical term for somethingspecific (and easily fixed). Actually it is a blanketterm for a whole host of issues about your pond,to include fish ilinesses.The poor water qualityassociated with a new pond has been called NewPond Syndrome. It is very common to fill a newpond and test the water, then add the fish. Theproblems with the water quality actually beginafter the fish have been added to the pond.

Think about all the inert materials the pondsystem is made of such as plastics and concrete.

New Pond Syndromeby Ken Austin, Certified Koi Keeper - Koi Organisation International

Think of the initial water fill that was probablychemically treated so that it is safe to drink. Thatinert and sterile environment needs to be trans-formed into a biological system that you andyour fish will continuously pollute, yet it mustremain a safe and healthy habitat for the fish.

The term New Pond Syndrome applies to thetime period when a recently built pond is makingthat transformation. The same problem canoccur with rebuilt, converted or retrofitted ponds where significant amounts of newmaterial are used.

A mature healthy pond will have mature bacteriacolonies that can convert all the ammonia thefish can produce. This in turn limits the nutri-tion available for algae. It is the planktonic algae


(tiny single cell plants) that cloud the water. Inthe new pond that bacteria is not present andammonia and nitrites will accumulate. Theammonia and nitrites are nutrition for algae andcan cause an abundance of algae called an algae bloom.

Building a great pond with substantial filtrationand closely monitoring water quality willminimize the extent and consequences of NewPond Syndrome. Also become familiar with theway a new filter will have both ammonia andnitrites cycle up to high levels and then cycledown to below measurable levels as the bacteriabecome established. Monitor this cycling ofammonia and nitrite levels to be assured thatyour new filter is fully established.

Do not overload a new pond with fish and avoidthe temptation to put expensive fish in a newpond during the first year. There is a need for afew fish (one per 500 gallons) to provideammonia for bacteria in the filter. After the firstyear the pond will have established a coat ofalgae on its wetted surfaces and most of thechemical imbalance issues will have disappeared.


Thank you to Russell Watergardens & Koi forthe pictures in this article.

www.russellwatergardens.com

www.aquaticnutrition.com

www.pentairaes.com


www.qualitykoi.com

www.beadfilters.com

The Case for Multi Chamber FiltrationThe Benefits of Multiple Chamber Pond Filtration.

by Ben Plonski; Laguna Koi Ponds

www.lagunakoi.com

Ponds are like people; no two are everalike. Each one has a unique set ofvariables or characteristics, which setthem apart from others. Creatingbalance in our ponds means

establishing a stable filter system and a consistentmaintenance program, which will run alongsmoothly without a lot of trouble. Creating pondstability is within the realm of preventive care. Itis taking the long view on things and not justdemanding instant results. It requires patienceand persistence. A proper filter system will helpcreate a basic stress free environment where theorganisms involved are in harmony with oneanother.

Water stability is the prerequisite to balance.Stable water conditions promote good waterquality. Stable pond conditions determine howlong it will take for Mother Nature to reach astate of dynamic equilibrium. The microorgan-isms, plankton, algae and plants and fish dependon a stable water chemistry in order to functionproperly without constant disruption. Mostorganisms in the pond are quite capable of func-tioning outside of perfect preconceived notions.What they are not good at is change. Endlesschange within the water affects all organismsnegatively, not just the fish. The fish depend onthese multitude of organisms to condition thewater. Constant change within the pond chem-istry and environment creates antagonism. Thegood bugs are out of balance with the bad bugs.

The fish are usually the ones to pay for thisantagonistic environment. A proper multiplechamber filter will encourage and support waterquality and stability.

What does water stability have to do with water quality?

As I mentioned, stable water conditions promotegood water quality. A lot of what we call goodwater quality is created by the action of bacteriaand micro algae decomposing the fish’s wasteproducts. The filter system not only filters thewater as it passes through, it stabilizes the entirewater ecosystem within the pond. The filter isinteractive with the soup of “Living Water”. Themicroorganisms require stability to flourish. Inunstable ponds, microorganisms and fish areinhibited by chemical and physical changes. Theymust adjust to changes and this takes time. Theorganisms are not flourishing simply because alltheir energy is going into adapting. Thus, ourfish are swimming in a soup where naturalmicrobial balances are out of check. We can saythat the biological stability is upset. With aproper system, biological stability keeps bad bugsin check. Happy balanced Living Water acts as anatural probiotic. Probiotic bacteria is nothingnew. In nature it is called bio-diversity. Naturalponds have such a tremendous diversity oforganisms that no one pathogenic organism cantake over. It is only when we put our Koi intocrowded unstable conditions that they breakdown and the pathogens can take over. A largemultiple chamber filter will encourage microbio-logical diversity and biological stability.


We are making the transition from sterilethinking to stable living thinking. We have seenthat what we do to the water, we also do to thefish. Our goal is to achieve maximum waterquality by controlling stability within the system.The bottom line is to be flexible; understand theprinciples; develop your experience and adjustyour decisions based on daily observations. Eachpond will have to achieve stability in it’s ownway. Now we will discuss correct techniques andpond systems, which are conducive to stabilityand lead us to good Living Water Quality

FILTER SYSTEMSMost pond filters are simply too small. Size doesmatter! How do you expect to achieve stabilitywith a biofilter that requires weekly cleaning?

When a biofilter is too small for the waste load ofthe pond you will be cleaning it too frequently.The good bacteria will be washed away toofrequently.

Try these filter sizes:A water garden filter gallons should be 2% to

5% the volume of the pond. 1% to 3% asmedia.

An ornamental Koi/plant pond filter gallonsshould be 5% or greater depending on fishload. 3% as media.

A full fledged Koi display pond filter gallonsshould be 10% to 20% the volume of thepond. 6% to 8% as media.


Sample Multi-Chamber Filtration System

Includes Vortex Chamber,Brush Chamber,

and Biological Chamber

When you install a prefilter ahead of the biofilteryou just made a quantum leap in achieving stableLiving Water Quality. A good prefilter preventssolids from reaching the pump and biofilter. Nowyou can clean the prefilter without disturbing thebiofilter bacteria. The biofilter bacteria are veryslow growing and are easily lost in vigorousfrequent cleaning. A good filter system wouldrequire weekly cleaning of a prefilter andcleaning the biofilter once or twice a year! This isthe difference between filtration and waterpurification. This is a very important concept tounderstand. Filtration is the removal of solidsfrom the water. Purification is the conditioningof the water by the action of bacteria, microor-ganisms, algae and plants. As the water flowsthrough the biofilter it is in contact with largenumbers of bacteria. These bacteria not onlyconsume ammonia and nitrite but recycle all theother dissolved organic and inorganic wastes likephosphates and carbon based molecules and leftover small solids which past through the prefilter.These bacteria grow on and in between themedia, layer upon layer in a bacterial matrix thatbecomes a little universe all it’s own. This stablepopulation of bugs requires good oxygen flowand stable conditions to flourish. These bugs maytake 6 months to a year or more to fully establish.Frequent “disruptive cleaning” of the filter mediawashes away stable colonies of bacteria. Largefilters will bounce back more easily than smallones. Ponds in very cold climates will rely onmany aquatic plants for biofiltration since thebacteria often freeze in the winter and a biofilteris restarted every year.

Some of the bacteria in the bio-filter and gravelbottoms consume high quantities of phospho-rous. In fact, given stable conditions, some ofthese phosphate eating bacteria can actually growfaster than algae. They are capable of digestingenough phosphate that the algae just starves.This is how a pond clears itself of green water or

hair algae when the system is given time andstability. Frequent “disruptive cleaning” of theBio-filter or gravel bottom is antagonistic tostability. This is one reason why ponds go greenafter a vigorous filter cleaning. Improper filtra-tion is also the reason ponds need big U/V steril-izers. A proper filter size and design greatlyreduces the need for a U/V.

Disruptive Cleaning and Disease.Most fish ponds have a higher level of nitroge-nous waste than would be found in nature. Wekeep too many Koi and we feed very concen-trated, protein rich Koi pellets. This means thatour filters and water tend to have a high count ofproteolytic bacteria, which consumes thesewastes. These proteolytic bacteria are growing invery high concentrations in the biofilter or gravelbottom. These bugs do not belong in the pondwater on the fish.

When we clean a biofilter or clean a gravelbottom, we potentially release these proteolyticbacteria into the pond. These bacteria are morethan happy to continue feeding on proteinaceousmaterial, only this time it is your Koi’s skin. Thisis one good cause of ulcer disease. Many times Ihave seen Koi in great shape until the biofilterwas cleaned. This is one reason why a properfilter design is important. A good filter designcleans easily without excessive disruption. Agood design lets go of the dirt with minimalimpact to the bacteria. A good design does notrelease toxic filter by-products or proteolyticbacteria back onto the fish.

I remember a pond, which looked very good, andthe Koi were healthy. However, the biofilter hadnot been deep cleaned for over one year.Furthermore, it had not been completely takenapart for over 5 years. This bio chamber had agood settling tank ahead of it but we stillassumed it would be very dirty. Too our surprise


it was not dirty at all. The interesting part wasafter we “cleaned” it and turned the filter backon. All the Koi huddled in the opposite corner asfar away from the filter as possible for over oneweek. Fortunately, the Koi remained healthy, butthis does show that we released some veryuncomfortable chemicals or bacteria, whichreally bothered the Koi. Had this filter been full of black anaerobic sludge, I cringe at thethought of what may have occurred.

The Case for Multi-Chambered Filters.Multichamber filter systems are more stable thana “one tank does it all” approach. You can cleanone of the chambers at a time and thereby notdisturb the entire system. When you clean indi-vidual chambers you are less likely to flush loosewaste and bad bacteria back onto the fish.Chambers toward the end of the system can liter-ally stay clean. A 3 chamber system is more stablethan a 2 chamber system. The filter systems inand of the more serious hobbyists, utilize 4 ormore chambers. I have seen systems with up to13 chambers, which were highly successful. Thebacteria in these systems can grow in peace andtruly stabilize. Water quality producedby multi-chambered filters is the best.The best water quality is achievedwhen your filter is gravity fed and thepump is at the end of the system. I have said it a thousand times, “keepthe solids out of your pump”. Youinstantly pollute your water when thefish waste goes through the pump.This creates an endless list of potentialproblems including hole disease andalgae problems. In my experience, theadvantages of a large, gravity fed,multi-chambered non-pressurizedfilter put them at the top of the list ofchoices available today.

A well designed multichambered filter can besuccessful with many different types of media.Various filter media are available which are veryeasy to clean of dirt without dislodging muchbacteria. Japanese mat in a honey comb configu-ration does not trap the dirt within the media.Suspended solids are removed either throughsettling or other prefilter tank. This keeps the dirtout of the Japanese mat and it remains aerobic.Other media choices include ribbon types,brushes and the new Kaldness KI. The newMatala filter mats are unique in that they cantrap dirt but easily let go of the dirt withoutlosing too much bacteria. The 4 various densitiesof Matala can be arranged sequentially so as totrap dirt in the prefilter section and function as ahighly aerobic media in the biofilter section.

MaintenanceEstablish a consistent maintenance program topromote stability and ease back pain. The designof the pond should revolve around ease of main-tenance. If you set up your filter so it can beeasily backwashed, you are more likely to do itreligiously. What I see all too frequently is a


Size the filtration to fit your pond and the fish load.

pond, which goes from one extreme to another,too dirty, too clean, too dirty, too clean. Lettingthe pond turn to garbage and then completelycleaning everything will never get you to thebalanced pond you were hoping for. Alas, manypond and filter designs limit us to this kind ofcleaning. Get the right filter design and you willbe in charge.

Water Changes and Filter Cleaning.Proper water changes are extremely valuable inmaintaining stability. Tap water is totally differ-ent from your ponds water in pH, alkalinity,temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen; it issterile and contains chloramines. Make smallwater changes frequently. 10% water changesspread out more frequently are better than bigwater changes done infrequently. Don’t make bigwater changes unless absolutely necessary. Someemergency situations may indeed demand a largedilution. Toxic chemicals like pesticides or paintwould require an immediate 70% to 100% waterchange to save the fish. A high ammonia ornitrite level would be better controlled with 10%to 20% daily water changes and corrective filtra-tion principles.

Crowded Koi ponds or show Koi displays mayneed 25% to 65% monthly water changes. Becareful of chloramines. Water gardens do notrequire large monthly water changes.

We have seen that creating a stable balancedpond is a lot more than just producing goodnumbers. We have learned that to take care of thefish we must take care of the Living Water.

ConclusionThe quality of Living water is determined by thehealth of the microorganisms in a dynamic equi-librium with the filter system. The stability of thepond, chemically and physically, determines the


health of these microorganisms. Water stability is an end product of planning and proper filterdesign. Water stability takes time and patience. It requires staying within limits. Maintainingstability requires a filter system that can becleaned without disrupting the pond.

We have seen that a proper filter system requiresa good prefilter to keep the dirt from reachingthe biological chambers. A proper filter shouldbe as large as you can fit. A proper filter systemshould consist of multiple chambers to promotestability. Two to three chambers is good; three ormore chambers is even better. Each pond willacquire it’s own unique state of balance. Beflexible. Observe your pond water conditions andyour fish every day. You are aqua-culturists. Youmust learn to culture stable Living Water. A goodmultiple chamber filter system is critical in establishing this stability.

http://www.microbelift.com

www.longislandfishhospital.com


MAKC Friendship AwardSouth Carolina Koi Show

Asagi 22 – 24˝ owned by Rich Eitel

Carolyn Weise presentingthe MAKC Friendship

Award to Rich Eitel.

Award was donated by Dick andBetty Roemer.


o you now have the opportunity to takethat long deserved vacation. You andthe family will be out of town for oneor two weeks. You can take the dog tothe kennel and stop the mail and paper

delivery, but what do you do about the pond?Keep in mind we are talking about being awayfrom home for a long duration. You know fromexperience, that your pond can go for a day ortwo without even the basic maintenance taskslike adding water or emptying the skimmerbasket. If you will be gone longer than that, youshould have someone visit your pond daily totake care of it – a pond sitter.

Selecting a Pond SitterThe pond sitter should be someone you trust andsomeone you would welcome into your home.This could be a family member, friend orneighbor. They do not have to be experiencedpond keepers, but they should be able to followwritten instructions. Arrangements can also bemade with a pond maintenance company.

Preparation and InstructionJust as when you ask someone to take on anyresponsibilit, you will want your pond sitter to besuccessful at that task. So, make sure they areprepared. Write down all specific things you want

them to do; when each item on the list must bedone; and detailed instructions on how to doeach item.

Make sure the instructions are appropriate forthe season (e.g. summer vs. winter). Have theperson come visit your pond before you leave, soyou can discuss and demonstrate each item onthe list. Show them where the circuit breakers,fish food and chemicals are. If these items are inthe house or garage that will be locked while youare gone, make sure the pond sitter has a key.

You should also prepare your pond sitter to dealwith the unexpected. They seldom happen, butpower outages and equipment failures do occur.Fish have been known to jump out of theirponds for unexplained reasons. There is also theunlikely, but possible threat of predators, vandalsand thieves.

This may make pond sitting sound like too muchresponsibility, but it does not need to be. Yourmembership in MAKC provides you with avaluable resource for this situation. Any fellowMAKC member may be able to help your pondsitter in an emergency.

Make sure your pond sitter has the phonenumber of someone in town they can call for help.

Pond and Equipment ConditionYour pond sitter has a much better chance ofbeing successful if your pond and equipment isin tip-top shape before you leave. Fix any knownproblems. Your pond sitter should not have to


deal with problems like water leaks or circuitbreakers that keep tripping.

Make sure automatic fill valves and automaticfeeders are in good working order. Avoid addingany new fish or plants just prior to leaving onvacation. Make sure all your fish look and acthealthy prior to you leaving.

Have a great vacation.


Murphy’s Law - anything that can gowrong will go wrong

when you are not there

Those look yummy!

Can I have one or two mommy?

www.kodamakoifarm.com


Reprinted from the September 2004 issue of our newsletter; andwith permission of Water Gardening, July/August 2003, where thisarticle first appeared. Dr. Kebus, DVM, is currently Wisconsin’sState Fish Epidemiologist, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture.In 1993, his was the first fish only private veterinary practice in the Mid-west. His focus is commercial and ornamental fish and biosecurity.

Potassium permanganate (PP) is achemical that’s used to treat fishillnesses and diseases. Although highlyeffective, it’s also highly toxic. A littlebit can go much too far very quickly.

Experienced pond owners have stood by inshocked helplessness as an inadvertent overdosequickly killed their entire pond of Koi andgoldfish in a matter of moments. If you use it, doso sparingly and wisely. If you’re not experiencedat handling toxic chemicals, you probablyshouldn’t use it at all. In short, PP is much like awild beast—if you keep it, you have to know howto use it wisely to do it well.

The Nature of the BeastPP is an oxidizing agent; it works by changingthe chemical nature of organic material, breakingit down into carbon dioxide, bicarbonates, water,and manganese dioxide, which are then washedout of your pond with the filter waste.Professionals in fish culture have used PP formany years, and it is still most widely used onlarge farm ponds. Most use PP to treat a varietyof fish diseases and illnesses.

The Bite of the BeastAlthough PP has its benefits, it also has manydrawbacks. These can be serious, even fatal, forKoi and goldfish. And there are side effects thatcan hurt the fish owner, too.

Taming the Beast: The Pains and Perils of Potassium Permanganate

by Myron J. Kebus, DVM

PP is entirely non-selective. In other words, it canaffect plants, animals, parasites and other livingcells on our fish, regardless of what we want it todo. Say you’ve treated the pond to destroy theparasite that’s infected the gills of your favoriteKoi. If the dosage is just a little too high (anotherserious problem we’ll discuss in a moment), itwill kill not only the parasite but the gills of yourfish as well. It won’t stop with just the bad thingsin your pond, but will go on to attack goodthings, too – like your fish, your tadpoles, andyour snails.

Another problem with PP is that it is fast-acting.By the time you realize that you’ve put too muchin the pond, it may be too late. The fish may bewounded, possibly fatally, by the overdose.Removing them from the pond to fresh watermight not save them. Doing a water change willbe even less effective.

Taming the BeastThe biggest problem with PP is dosage. Just alittle too much can kill every fish in your pond ina matter of moments. This means you absolutely,positively must use precisely the amountrequired—and not a milligram more. To find theproper dosage, you have to take into account alot more than the amount of water in your pond.

As a general rule, an effective treatment dose isusually two parts per million, or two mg of PPper Liter of water. This may sound simple, but it’snot always easy to determine how many litersyou have in your pond. You need exact numbers,not ballpark figures. This takes a lot of time andpractice. A seemingly small margin of error canhave an enormous effect on our fish.

Obviously a more precise method is in order.Collect several jars of water and treat each withthe equivalent of zero, one, two, three, four, andup to twelve mg per liter (parts per million).After 15 minutes, the jar that has the lowestconcentration of PP, but still has a pink cast, is

the dose to use. This takes more time and effort,but not using it puts you at great risk of over-treating your pond.

Besides the tricky business of finding the rightdosage based on water volume, PP poses otherchallenges. Remember that PP works by breakingdown organic material in the pond, such asleaves, uneaten fish food, fish feces, and the like.If there is a lot of organic material in your pond,the PP will probably be used up reacting to thatrather than the organism for which you weretreating in the first place. Use too little PP,though, and it will be ineffective against theforeign organism plaguing your fish. Obviously,PP should never be used in a pond that needs tobe cleaned of dead leaves or uneaten fish food.[Ed.’s note: or with an under gravel filter.]

PP can react with other chemicals in the pond,making it even more lethal to our Koi andgoldfish. Don’t use it with formalin or high saltlevels. If the pH in the pond is high, PP is evenmore toxic and can cause irreparable damage,especially to gills. This means you have to beespecially careful if using PP in pondwater that isnaturally high in pH.

As an oxidizing agent, PP won’t stop with yourwater and your fish. It can oxidize you, too,burning your eyes and skin and damaging yourrespiratory tract. For those reasons, always wearrubber gloves, a dust mask, and old clothes. Useextreme caution when handling PP and treat itwith the respect it deserves.

In terms of alternative uses for PP, some claimthat it can boost oxygen levels in the pond.Frankly, this just isn’t so. In fact, PP is more likelyto decrease the oxygen level and kill algae, since itbreaks down organic material and in so doingreduces the level of oxygen in the water. PP canbe an effective disinfectant for equipment, butdamages certain materials; rubber and naturalfibers deteriorate very quickly when they comeinto contact with water that has been mixed with PP.

The Art of Taming PPUsing PP is more than a science – it’s an art.Professionals use PP for the same reasons ashobbyists, but they have a lot more knowledgeabout its chemistry and a lot more experiencewith its use. As much as home pondkeepers maycare for their fish, most will never have theexpertise of a professional – expertise that iscrucial to successful PP treatment. I’ve neverbeen convinced enough to recommend it toclients.

In my experience, I’ve found that the problemswere greater than the benefits. Whether you’re aprofessional or a hobbyist, always be extremelycareful using PP, and make sure to err on the sideof caution. In other words, leave the lions to thelion tamers.


Reprinted from the Washington Koi and Water Garden Society.Material is selected for its interest to Koi keepers and watergardeners. The Washington Koi and Water Garden Societyaccepts no responsibility for content. Reproduction is permittedprovided that this newsletter is credited as the source. Allmaterial that is submitted to this newsletter becomes theproperty of this newsletter. You may reach the editor at : WK &WGS, P. O. Box 148, Bothell, WA 98041 or by e-mail at [email protected].


Carolyn Weise has Dupuytren's Contracture andosteo-arthritis in her finger joints, both of whichare painful. She is under doctor's care right now.They have given her cortisone shots so far and wehope they work.

Know someone to list in our Sunshine Column -Email Carolyn Weise, [email protected]

Sunshine Column

KOISHIby Mamoru Kodama -Learn about JapaneseKoi Breeding, Farmsand the Breeders. Readthe history of Koi vari-eties and great insightsto Koi in Japan.

ABC’s of Ponds – Have a friendinterested in building a pond?Are you a beginner? Thisbeautifully illustrated hardcover book is packed withpond & water feature fundamentals plus many littleknown secrets to successfulpond keeping!

The RISE MethodWant to learn how to makeyour pond projects look morenatural? Written by Rick Bartel,international acclaimed pond builder.

Books Available on Amazon.com

Special Offer

only $10+ shipping

Need to Change Youremail or Home Address?Have Questions about your Membership Status?

Contact: Barry Hixson5465 Towanda Dr.Bethlehem, PA 18017610-262-5184 or [email protected]

Renew Your MAKC Membership by printing out page 33 and mailing it to Barry.

amazon.com

Saugerties Chapters Last Outdoor Meeting of 2013by RoseMarie Ehrich, New York

On Sunday, October 20, theSaugerties Chapter gatheredtogether at the home and Koi pond of Jack Paparo.

We welcomed to our meeting a possible newmember. We assured him that joining MAKC,and attending chapter meetings would be therecommended way to learn how to provide thebest environment for your precious Koi.

Herb answered questions, and then there wasmuch discussion among the members regardingbottom drains, algae, string algae and variousplant materials.

Jack was a wonderful host and provided refresh-ments that were enjoyed by all. This meeting atJack’s home is the last outdoors meeting of the2013 season.

Herb provided three unique pond/Koi relateditems for raffle. He raised a total of $38 whichwill be mailed to MAKC treasurer.

Just as the sun went down and the wind startedto whip around, the meeting was adjourned.

Our next meeting will be held on November 17at Inquiring Minds Bookstore, and the topic will be Pond Lighting.



Dear Friends,

After a prolonged and courageous battle with cancer, MAKC member Floyd Broussard passed away at homeon October 24, 2013. Thank you for thecountless hugs, messages and words ofcomfort our family has received duringthis vigil. We have truly appreciated eachand every kind word and gesture.

A Celebration of a Life memorial service was held at 12pm onSunday, October 27, 2013. Location: Miller Funeral Home and Crematory, 3200 Golansky Blvd., Woodbridge, VA 22192.

The celebration was continued, immediately following theservice, with a gathering of family & friends for a buffetluncheon on site.

Fondly,Carolyn Broussard

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mesothelioma ResearchFoundation of America, mesorfa.org.

In MemoriamFloyd Broussard


Balance as of August 31, 2013 $17,511.57

Income:Total Income $0.00

Expenses:Printing/Publication 800.00Total Expenses $800.00


Outstanding Item:

Accounts Receivable Tri-State Koi Club 500.00

Book Balance $17,211.57

Reserve Account/Prepaid Memberships

Interest Income .18


Club Total Balance $23,620.96

Treasurer’s ReportSubmitted by Anthony Vitale, New York

On the Roadto a Koi Event

Send your meeting and eventinformation to Joyce Spears

856-832-4922 or [email protected].

Deadline December 15th for the Jan/Feb 2014 issue.

2014March 1–2Koi Club of San Digeo 27th Koi ShowSan Digeo, CaliforniaCheck club’s website for updates - www.koiclubofsandiego.org (new web address)

March 7–9Central Florida Koi Show 2014Orlando, Floridawww.cfks.org

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. We hope tosee more of you visiting shows, attending clubmeetings, and volunteering to help at Koi eventsthis year. It is amazing how much you can learnby helping. Take advantage of being an MAKCmember and participate in the club events. Seeyou soon at a Koi event.

M A KC E v e n t

Saugerties Chapter Meeting

Sunday, November 17Inquiring Minds BookstoreSaugerties, New York

Topic - Pond Lighting

Contact Herb Ehrich for additional information(845) 247-7105 · [email protected]


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

MAKC Member Needs Your Help

Non-fish-eating cats, won't hurt your pondfish! - LOVING CATS NEED GOOD HOMES.Passing of spouse forces me to find homes forboth inside and outside cats. All neutered.Phone 973-390-6490 with what you are lookingfor and we can match you with your new best friend.

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 Ellietoday 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 – November/December

CLOSING POND/Woodbridge, VA. 25 Koi needa new home. Most are 24 to 30˝, 2 are 32˝.Contact Carolyn Broussard @ 703 491-4921 orfor apt to view.

HOUSE FOR SALE.519 Claremont Dr.Flat Rock, NC 28731

• Price: $599,000• Beds: 3 Bed• Baths: 3 Full, 2 Half Bath• House Size: 4,067 Sq Ft• Lot Size: 1.1 Acres• Year Built: 1994

http://www.wncrmls.com/wnc/maildoc/sd_Q8u1QO20130923150730.html

Contact Patricia Shub, [email protected] orphone 950-298-4600

QUALITY SHOW KOI. Show quality Koi for sale. Need to thin out my pond [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 wine

F..A..S..T.. Ads Policy & DeadlinesF..A..S..T.. Ads are available FREE to MAKCmembers only; no commercial ads. Ads arelimited to 10 items and must include name,phone number, town and state. Deadline isthe 1st of each month.

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

Philip Gray • [email protected]


Aquaculture Bead

Filter Specialists . . . . . . .7, 14

Aquatic Nutrition –

Blackwater Gold–N . . . . . . .13

Books on Amazon . . . . . . . . .20

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

Kloubec Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . .5

Kodama Koi Farm . . . . . . .7, 23

Long Island Fish Hospital . . .19

Matala USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Mazuri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

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

Nisei Koi Farm . . . . . . . . . .7, 14

Pentair Aquatic

Eco-Systems, Inc. . . . . . . . .13

Quality Koi Company . . . .7, 14

Mid-Atlantic KoiAd Index

Advertise in

Mid-Atlantic Koi!

Ad Rates from $15/issue* for

a business card ad to $300/issue*

for a full page color ad.

Reach your target audience of Koi keepers

& water gardeners each month and leave

your competition in the dust!!

Contact Philip Gray at 516-486-5163 (leave message) or e-mail:

[email protected] request information on our advertiser

packages and/or a copy of our ad rate sheet.

*With an annual 10 issue contract.

country 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 CENTRAL CHAPTER VICE-PRESIDENT. Schedule 4 to 12 meetings per year.This includes making sure that the meetingannouncement is submitted to the magazine andthe MAKC website. Plenty of advice and supportare available. Your "compensation" .... knowingthat you have given back to MAKC and yourfellow members. Please don't wait for someoneelse to step forward! MAKC is a membershiporganization. If more than one person is interested, you can share the fun! E-mail Philip Gray at [email protected] or call 516-486-5163.

MAKC WEBMASTER- Needed immediately.Update club website one to two times a month onaverage. Please E-mail Philip Gray [email protected] or call 516-486-5163.

To become a member or renew is easy.

Fill out the form on page 33,mail it in - and violia you

are a member!


A Picture to Share

This is a 24" Butterfly (Longfin Koi)in my pond.

Photo shared by MAKC MemberJeff Hahn.

Have a picture to share? Send your photos to the Editor, Carolyn Weise [email protected].


MAKC Membership Application

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

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

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

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

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

PLEASE PRINT (You may omit any information that may be sensitive such as unlisted phone numbers or email

accounts.) LAST NAME ________________________ FIRST NAME(S) _________________________(If Applicable) CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP NAME: ______________________________________ ADDRESS ______________________________ CITY__________________ STATE _____ ZIP______TELEPHONE ______________________ E-MAIL ________________________________ OCCUPATION(S)______________________ Do you have a pond?____ Dimensions____________ Gallons________ Type filter________________Do you keep Koi or Goldfish?__________ Type______________ Size___________ How Many?______Are there any Koi related problems you need help with?_________ If so, what kind?_____________________________________________________________________________________________Do you have special talents, knowledge or interest you would be willing to share with us? _________If so, what kind? __________________________________________________________________Would you be willing to have a Koi Club meeting at your home? _______________________________SIGNATURE ____________________________ DATE ____________ AMOUNT PAID ___________

Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec

$42.50 $40 $37.50 $35 $32.50 $30 $27.50 $25 $22.50 $20 $17.50 $15


Photo by Michael Henderson

W i s h i n g a w a r m a n d j o y o u sh o l i d a y s t h i s y e a r .

www.hikariusa.com/mk

Documents

Mid-Atlantic Koi Magazine November/December 2013