Volume 35, Number 08, August 2019

Visit us on the web at: www.sckoi.com

Club Meetings: The club typically meets on the third Tuesday of each month except November, December, and February

and during the summer when we have socials in lieu of meetings. At our events we get acquainted with

members and guests, address pond issues, and enjoy refreshments and discussions on Koi and water

garden related topics. Our website lists the latest updates for meetings, socials, and events.

Summertime Fun

What a great summer season we have had with our

three pond socials. Thank you to all our hosts -- Bob

and Karina, Don and Pura, and Doug and Barb. The

special BBQ fundraiser August 18th was “Smokin” where

we had a delicious delightful time enjoying Doug’s award

winning BBQ and fixins along with their wonderful

hospitality. We already are looking forward to next

summers BBQ.

Thanks to all who supported the fundraiser which helps

us provide quality programing and events year round.

Reminder: Membership Drive Ends Sept 17 - Join or Renew. See page 5 for information.

Upcoming Events

Sep 3 Board Meeting, 7:30 PM, Stearns Residence, San Jose

Aug 31 Moon Festival, Japanese Friendship Garden 6:30 PM to 8 PM (see flyer back page) Sept 17 General Meeting, 7:30 PM, Willow Glen Library Meeting Room

Sep 28-29 Central California Koi Society 41st Annual Koi Show, next to Shinzen Friendship

Garden, Fresno www.cencalkoi.com Oct 22 General Meeting, 7:30 PM, Willow Glen Library Meeting Room

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Presidents Corner Hope everyone is enjoying these last days of summer. It was great to see

all of you out at the pond socials this summer. What a fun time we had. I can’t wait until next summer!

The BBQ fundraiser hosted by Barb and Doug August 18th was so much fun

and the food was amazing -- best brisket, pulled pork, and Barb’s Peach Cobbler for dessert was a special treat.

Coming up is our next general meeting September 17 where we are back in the Willow Glen library. There is also the Moon Festival August 31st at the Japanese Friendship Gardens, 6 – 8

PM if you are interested. Aderyn, the high school student that we have been working with, will be at the ponds that evening and would appreciate us stopping in and saying hello.

See you at the next club event,

Mel Bretzke

Did You Know? Feeding Your Algae -- Goldfish and Koi do not have stomachs -- they have conveyor belts from

their mouths to their vents - in one end and out the other. The warmer the water, the faster it goes. Their open mouths do not mean they are starving -- it is a conditioned response. Are you

feeding your Koi? Or are you feeding your algae? Source: Microbe-Lift Newsletter, August 2019

Koi Type of the Month – Yamabuki Ogon

Yamabuki (YAH-mah-BOO-kee) Ogon are usually referred to simply as Yamabuki. The Yamabuki is a solid, metallic yellow-colored koi and is part of a single-colored metallic koi class, the Hikarimuji. As with other Ogon koi, a clean, unblemished head and body are important. It is imperative for Yamabuki to have perfect, uninterrupted scalation with no irregularities or blemishes.

Yamabuki can vary in tones of yellow, from a light, vibrant yellow to a darker, more solid marigold-like color. Ideally Yamabuki should have solid white fins, and may or may not have patches of yellow starting at the base of the pectoral fins and spreading out across part of each fin. A Yamabuki can range from a light marigold to a lustrous gold, and in some instances the yellow becomes deeper as the koi ages.

Yamabuki are the gold bullion of koi ponds. The reflective golden coloration represents wealth and prosperity in Japanese culture. The Yamabuki’s understated elegance comes from the metallic yellow that contrasts its multi-hued pond mates, making it highly visible and instantly recognizable in any body of water.

Source: Wikipedia, AKCA.org, nextdaykoi.com

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Toxic Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria) Yes, it is toxic to pets – be aware!

Recently there have been reports of toxic algae that is poisonous

to cats and dogs in our region. The level of toxicity is generally moderate to severe. Beware in nature areas and areas with aquatic activity.

Blue-green algae often occur in stagnant ponds or dugouts with

elevated nutrient levels, forming large colonies that appear as

scum on or just below the water surface. The problem?

Cyanobacteria. Live cyanobacteria is green and turns blue after it

dies and dries on the surface or shoreline.

Cyanobacteria (also known as blue-green algae) are microscopic bacteria found in freshwater lakes, streams, ponds and brackish

water ecosystems. They can produce toxins that affect people, livestock and pets that swim in and drink from the algae-contaminated water. Blue-green algae grow and colonize to form “blooms” that give the water

a blue-green appearance or a “pea soup” like color. It also looks like blue or green paint on the surface of the water. Because the algae float, they may be blown by the wind into thick,

concentrated mats near the shore, thus making them easily accessible to livestock, pets and people. Algal concentrations vary throughout the year, but are most abundant during periods of hot weather in mid- to late-summer months and are most likely to be found in nutrient-rich

water. While most blue-green algae blooms do not produce toxins, it is not possible to determine the presence of toxins without testing. Thus, all blooms should be considered

potentially toxic. Very small exposures, such a few mouthfuls of algae-contaminated water, may result in fatal poisoning.

Dogs that enjoy swimming and playing in lakes and ponds may be exposed to blue-green algae. Clinical signs of poisoning are dependent on the toxin involved. Microcystins can result

in liver damage or failure. Signs of liver injury include vomiting, diarrhea, blood in stool or black, tarry stool, weakness, pale mucous membranes, jaundice, seizures, disorientation,

coma, and shock. Aggressive, immediate treatment is necessary to help treat this quick-acting, potentially fatal poison!

Anatoxins result in neurotoxicity evidenced by excessive secretions (e.g., salivation, lacrimation, etc.), neurologic signs (including muscle tremors, muscle rigidity, paralysis, etc.),

blue discoloration of the skin and mucous membranes, and difficulty breathing. Death follows within minutes to hours of exposure as a result of respiratory paralysis. Treatment includes anti-seizure medication, oxygen, and aggressive care by your veterinarian. Unfortunately,

there is no antidote for the toxins produced by blue-green algae. Immediate veterinary care is imperative. If you suspect your dog was exposed to blue-green algae, contact Pet Poison

Helpline immediately for guidance.

Emergency Instructions

Did your dog or cat just eat something poisonous? Call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline

at 855-764-7661 for help immediately! The sooner a dog poisoning or cat poisoning is diagnosed, the easier, less expensive, and safer it is for your pet to get treated!

24/7 ANIMAL POISON CONTROL CENTER: (855) 764-7661

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Hot Weather Pond Tips By Ray Jordan, Texas Koi and Fancy Goldfish Society

I have had several phone calls recently about pond problems that were directly related to our summer heat. It is the “Dog Days of Summer” already and the heat can be a real

problem for you, your pond, and your fish. So what are some of the things you need to know and can do to help your pond and it’s inhabitants thrive during the summer?

1. The biggest hazard to your fish in the warmer months is low oxygen levels. Air breathing creatures like us live in an oxygen rich environment that is about 21% oxygen. However the

amount of oxygen dissolved in water is so small it is measured in parts per million. At 90 degrees Fahrenheit only about 7.0 parts per million of dissolved oxygen can be

maintained in fresh water. It would take a lot of aeration to get your ponds oxygen to near saturation levels. 7.0 ppm is about 50,000 times less oxygen than found in the air we breathe. At elevations above sea level the amount of

oxygen would be even less. There is really very little cushion when you consider that koi and

goldfish become stressed at oxygen levels of 4.0 ppm and start dying at 3.0 ppm. Hopefully, this gives you some appreciation of how important

aeration is to your fish. Also, remember that the beneficial bacteria that live in your filter are

dependent on the amount of oxygen in the water to thrive and do their job of converting

ammonia to nitrites and nitrates by utilizing the dissolved oxygen in your pond as well. Therefore low oxygen levels would suppress the “good”

bacteria and let ammonia levels increase to potentially dangerous levels.

Finally, the aquatic submerged plants like algae in your pond are both beneficial and detrimental to oxygen levels. During the day green plants produce oxygen. However, at night,

these same plants consume oxygen and compete with your fish for the limited supply of oxygen in the water. This is why fish kills usually happen in the early morning hours. For this

reason you should measure your oxygen levels in the early morning. Sadly, I have had several calls already this year where pond owners have had fish die because of low oxygen levels. As you can guess these fish kills are cascades of events that can finally

result in a disaster. A combination of warmer water, faster plant growth, and a growing biomass of fish finally cause the oxygen level to drop to the point where fish are stressed

enough to get sick or start dying. OK! Now you know the problems of low oxygen levels. So how do you measure your pond’s

oxygen level and correct it if needed. The easiest method is to buy an oxygen test kit. Be sure to get one for fresh water. You fill a test tube with pond water to a predetermined level and

then add a reagent and match the color to a chart. You also, need to know your pond’s water temperature to determine how “saturated” your pond is with oxygen. The goal is to approach the saturation point at a given water temperature. Also, you should place additional air stones

in your pond during the hottest summer months. If your current air pump does not allow you to add more air stones consider buying another air pump to allow you to add more air stones

for the hottest summer months. Remember, if your electricity goes off for some reason during

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the hottest summer months you will have much less time before the oxygen is depleted from

your water if the oxygen level was not at maximum saturation already. How much aeration should you have in a healthy moderately stocked koi pond? I would

suggest at minimum 80 liters per minute per 3,000 gallons of water. This can be supplied in a variety of ways. Use air stones positioned in your pond, waterfall area or filters. Some type of

koi pond filter also requires aeration and this counts towards your total as well. It is almost impossible to supply too much aeration to a koi pond in warmer months.

2. You need to do what you can to keep your pond water temperature from getting above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. You can assume your fish are stressed if your water temperature goes

over 90 degrees or your pond temperature changes by more than +/- 5 degrees during the day. Find a way to shade your pond from the hottest part of the afternoon sun. Plant a tall

hedge on the west side of your pond or place some tall pot plants to help provide some relief. Consider building an arbor over your pond or a trellis to help provide some shade. If you have water lilies try to get about 50% - 60% of the water surface covered. Increase your water

circulation. Also, if you have an outside filter system for your pond try to create some shade for it as well. Perhaps you could build a trellis or plant a hedge that could act not only as a

sunscreen but also hide the filter from view for the rest of the year. If you have a waterfall or fountain increase the water flows if you can.

If your fountain can be adjusted try for a fine mist type effect. Maybe this is the time to consider getting a larger water pump. This will promote evaporation which will have an

additional cooling effect. Another method to cool the area around your pond is to use one of the “mist-er” products you might have noticed at some restaurants and amusement parks. We have one that we bought at Home Depot for about $13. You hook the mist-er to a garden hose

and it has several tiny outlets that create a very fine almost fog like mist that can cool the immediate area by up to twenty degrees. This mist-er could be placed on a timer to come on

for an hour or so every afternoon in the hottest part of the day. A side benefit to this is you can be more comfortable and able to enjoy your pond on even the hottest afternoons. Several years ago we went on a summer pond tour in Florida and every backyard

used these misters to cool the area. The amount of water they use is very minimal. Perhaps a few gallons an hour at most.

3. Reduce the amount of food you feed and also reduce feedings to only once or twice a day. Try to feed in the morning or late evening when the water temperature is lower. Remember

optimum water temperature for koi and goldfish is between 70 and 78F degrees. Once your water temperature goes above that level over feeding your fish can cause additional problems

with ammonia levels and oxygen depletion. 4. Warmer water temperatures and stressed fish can also mean increased susceptibility to

parasites. Anchor worms and fish lice can be seen without a microscope but flukes and other microscopic fish parasites cannot. There is an article in this newsletter that deals with parasite

detection and control. Learn how to scrape your fish and look for parasites with a microscope. I hope that this article will help you have a problem free summer. I guess the heat is the price

we pay for our wonderful snow free winters. As far as I know no one has ever had to shovel sunshine.

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2019 Club Business The board meeting was held August 6th. The board discussed plans for the August BBQ Fundraiser, membership drive progress, support for local municipal garden ponds Hakone and Japanese Friendship Garden, and other club business. Our next general meetings are

scheduled for September 18 and October 22nd. Eve Bretzke has assumed the position of club secretary as Diane Stelma vacated the board position in June. We are forming a nomination

committee for the 2020 year.

Monthly Club Report to Associated Koi Clubs of America (AKCA)

The club hosted along with members three great pond social events this summer where we

had good turn out and lots of fun enjoying our hobby and visiting various ponds in our area. Club members continue to assist with local koi projects in our area such as Hakone Gardens in

Saratoga, CA with improving their water quality and working with the San Jose Japanese Friendship Gardens as they get their ponds back online from destructive flooding in February 2017 and prepare for future improvements to the public space around the ponds .

NOTE: The above report will be added to AKCA board Minutes and will be posted on AKCA website http://www.akca.org and click on Koi Clubs. Prepared by Eve Bretzke

2019-2020 Membership Drive – Renew or Join Today

Club dues are $40.00 per year per household. Our group hosts quality events to our membership, friends, and the community at large.

Guests are welcome to attend their first meeting or two free, afterwards we ask that if repeat guests would like to attend events more often that they become

supporting members by paying dues which provide support for our ongoing activities. Support Santa Clara Valley Koi and Water Garden club by becoming a

member of the club.

Sponsorships Available for 2019/2020! Rates include an advertisement in the monthly club newsletter, website, and other publications

for the calendar year. Thank you to all our sponsors for your ongoing support of our club and

its activities. Membership - $40 per year (July 1 – June 30).

Program Sponsorship Rates Per Year

Business Card $35

Quarter Page $95

Half Page $125

Full Page $250

Check out our latest sponsor, Hikari! Thank you!

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Our Sponsors Please support our sponsors who provide valuable products and services to our membership. While we love our sponsors SCVKWG does not endorse any business, service, or product.

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Our Sponsors Please support our sponsors who provide valuable products and services to our membership. While we love our sponsors SCVKWG does not endorse any business, service, or product.