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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
jo_mead@earthlink.net
Vice-President
Herb Ehrich
(845) 247-7105
koiking15@yahoo.com
Secretary
Looking for a Volunteer
Treasurer
Anthony Vitale
(516) 420-0740
nyssba96@aol.com
Central Chapter Vice-President
Looking for a Volunteer
Remember to
Renew Your
Membership
Long Island Chapter Vice-President
Bruce Levine
(516) 735-2644
bruce@li-koi.com
Saugerties (NY) Chapter Vice-President
Herb Ehrich
(845) 247-7105
koiking15@yahoo.com
South Chapter Vice-President
Looking for a Volunteer
Standing Committees
Richard Douglass
Membership
(845) 723-4373
pvsherow@gmail.com
MAKC Sales
Looking for a Volunteer
MAKC Notice Group Manager
Michael Snyder
Sarah Johnson
(301) 762-2059 makc@imsnyder.com
WebMaster
(732) 567-6678
sarranna@yahoo.com
Don’t Wait – Do it Today.
Executive Board
Advisor y C ommittee
Joe Zuritsky (215) 575-4001
Eric Wilson
jzuritsky@parkwaycorp.com
(443) 203-6486
wilseric@comcast.net
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
makcmag@makc.com
jo_mead@earthlink.net
Meeting/Events Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 makcmag@makc.com
FAST Ads Editor, Carolyn Weise (239) 573-6650 x105 makcmag@makc.com
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 3
P r e s i d e n t ’s M e s s a g e
by Joann Mead
Suggestions4MAKC@gmail.com
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
makcmag@makc.com.
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 5
From the Editor’s Desk
by Carolyn Weise
makcmag@makc.com
’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
info@qualitykoi.com
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
jo_mead@earthlink.net
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 kuba1953@aol.com 
Saugerties Chapter Meetings
Sunday, November 16
Held at Bernie & Kathy Carroll
Saugerties, New York
Contact Herb Ehrich for further information
about upcoming meetings koiking15@yahoo.com
Future meeting December 14.
Meeting are held at 3 pm - 5 p.m.
Have an upcoming Koi event, please send the
information to makcmag@makc.com. We will be
glad to include it in future articles.
Don’t forget your own MAKC Club has events
coming up that can be found in our digital
magazine or at www.makc.com. We always need
volunteers for meetings and shows. It is amazing
how much you can learn by helping. Take
advantage of being an MAKC member and
participate in the club events.
See you soon at a Koi event. 
Page 32 Mid-Atlantic Koi
All places of meeting will be determined
Contact Herb for further information
koiking15@yahoo.com 
Send your meeting and event
information to Carolyn Weise
makcmag@makc.com
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 makcmag@makc.com 
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 rklockejr@aol.com.
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
jo_mead@earthlink.net
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 jo_mead@earthlink.net 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:
jo_mead@earthlink.net
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
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November/December 2014
November/December 2014
Mid-Atlantic Koi Page 37