mid atlantic pond life - Mid Atlantic Koi Club

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Mid Atlantic Pond Life
Issue No. 5, Aug. 2016
2016
MID ATLANTIC POND LIFE
The MAKC Newsletter
Published by The Hudson Valley Koi and Water Garden Club
The Necessity of Quarantine
By Paul Tomasko
What seemed to be an inspiring story of quick action and
devoted teamwork in June turned into a harrowing experience in early July. Just a few weeks after about a dozen
rescue fish had been saved in extremis from an ammonia-laden holding tank, it was learned that the fish were
contaminated with flukes and costia.
In the June issue of Pond Life
I described how a spawning
had taken place in a quarantine tank and how the ammonia had risen to dangerous
levels. I gave the warning in
July about not placing a fish
that looked “perfectly
healthy” in a pond unless it
was checked. Well I panicked
and did not heed my own advice and as a result contaminated seven ponds.
I was on crutches and having
a hard time getting around,
but I should have called on
club members to help me set
up another tank and clean
filters and keep the fish still
in quarantine. Instead we
made the decision to move
them out and into other
ponds.
This created a situation that
used a lot of Proform C and
Prazi to correct. I also treat-
ed my pond and one other with
Potassium Permanganate. It
took three doses of Proform
and one dose of Prazi and over
a week of treatments to correct. In the process three fish
did not make it.
At our last chapter meeting Jo
Mead our President (and chief
medical examiner) discussed
this and made everyone aware
of the need to quarantine. One
of the good things that came
out of this is we now know the
size of all members’ ponds and
have an Excel sheet with gallons and dosages. We also are
creating a medicine cabinet for
the club so there will not a panic and the need to drive hours,
as Jo did, to get meds or to
wait until they can be shipped.
Some lessons are learned the
hard way. Hopefully this is one
that I won't forget.
In light of recent fish health
issues, Jo Mead will try to
arrange to have Hudson Valley
chapter members’ fish checked
for parasites if requested. You
can reach Jo at (845) 389-5712
or [email protected].
In This Issue
This month’s issue focuses on ways
to keep fish healthy and how to be
prepared in the event of health issues. You’ll find useful information
on:
• The need to quarantine
• How to keep a medicine
cabinet for your fish
• Euthanasia
• Hot weather and aeration
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Mid Atlantic Pond Life
Issue No. 5, August 2016
Keep a Medicine Cabinet for your Fish
by Jennifer Hauer
When a problem or illness occur (generally on
a Sunday or holiday) it’s good to have some
basics on hand to avoid tragedy. First, if you
are going to have Koi you really must invest in
a quarantine tank. A 300 gallon stock tank
available at Agway makes a good one. The bottom plug can be fitted with a valve to allow for
discharging large amounts of water quickly for
water changes. You will need a filter and a
small compressor and aeration tube or stone. I
use a biobate filter with a small submersible
pump, generally a mag 3, which pumps 5.8
gpm so that the total number of gallons in the
tank is filtered every hour. Of course if you
have the space and finances for a larger Q-tank
that’s great; the larger body of water the more
stable the water chemistry. New fish should
ALWAYS be quarantined before introducing
them into your pond and the tank should be
heated to ensure that they do not have khv, a
deadly, contagious virus. When I quarantine I
treat for protozoan parasites as well as flukes
and examine the fish for external macroscopic
bugs such as anchorworm and fish lice.
Testing & Treating: What to have on hand
Every pond keeper should have test kits to
monitor water paramaters. Remember: clear
water does not mean healthy water! You should
be able to test for ph, total alkalinity, Nitrate,
Nitrite and Ammonia.
Salt: Salt will knock back some parasites but
many are resistant. It will increase the slime
coat of your fish, which is the first line of defense. It also helps to balance osmotic pressure in fish with open wounds. It replaces electrolytes in water and can be used to curb nitrite absorption. Salt must be non-iodized and
not have yps or minerals. Never put salt in your
skimmer or filter intake. One pound per hundred gallons will protect koi and goldfish for a
couple of weeks but water changes are better.
Please remember that salt decreases oxygen
so be prepared to add aeration. Salt should be
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added over a three day span to bring the concentration up to 0.3%
Dechlorinator: Chlorine is toxic to fish; it causes
irreversible gill damage. ALWAYS have more
dechlor on hand than you need; Doc Johnson says
three times as much. Prime by Seachem removes
chlorine, chloramine and detoxifies Ammonia, Nitrite, and Nitrate. 500 mls costs about $10 and is
available at Petsmart. It treats 5,000 gallons. It
can also be purchased in 2 and 4 liter sizes
through PentairAES.com [(877)347-4788], a great
catalog for everything aquatic with very nice techs
ready to help with all sorts of advice.
Baking soda/Oyster shell: These are buffers that
can be used to help with crashes and keep ph balanced.
Hydrogen peroxide-3%: Available at pharmacies,
Hydrogen peroxide can be used to increase dissolved oxygen in an emergency. ALWAYS apply to
water AWAY from fish as undiluted gill damage
can occur. Get it in a squirt bottle and you can
spray under the water surface -- ½ cup per 100
gallons or about 60 squirts. During a dissolved
oxygen emergency, fish will leave the surface and
start acting normally within an hour of application.
Nets: I personally use black soft nylon nets that
are round shallow and wide this allows easy horizontal movement in the water, with minimal drag
and are less visable to the fish. I also have a koi
sock that is indispensable once the fish is in the
large net. Fish bags as well as large Tupperware
tubs with lids that snap shut are really great to
have on hand. Remember even really sick fish
Jump and the last thing we want is a fish flapping
around on the ground injuring itself.
Proform C: Used for protozoan parasites, Proform
C is a very effective 3-day treatment with water
changes. Keep from extreme heat or freezing.
Praziquantel: This is for flukes and tapeworms; it
is very, very safe. Get the powdered form.
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Mid Atlantic Pond Life
Issue No. 5, August 2016
Koi Medicine Cabinet (cont.)
Praziquantel stays in the pond for seven days
with no need for water changes.
Tricaine-s: This is for anesthetizing or if necessary euthanizing fish. Oil of clove can also be
used but takes longer and is smellier. These
are the only humane options! [editor’s note:
see Jo Mead’s article in this issue].
Express IDI: An effective and economical
treatment for anchorworms and fish lice.
These are the basics to have on hand that will
cover most koi health or water quality issues.
Water quality is paramount; once parasites are
eliminated many wounds heal remarkably
quickly as long as water is healthy. For ulcers
or bacterial infections that are more serious or
that have not been covered please contact our
president Jo Mead; she will facilitate getting
the help you need.
My quick list of supplies to keep on hand in
case of pond or mechanical failure
Rescue tape: This is a self fusing, permanent seal,
waterproof airtight tape. It insulates up to 8,000v,
is heat resistant to 500 degree F and has 950 psi
tensile strength. You stretch it and wrap … great
stuff.
Various pvc pipe fittings and spare pipe, the diameter, of course, of your filter skimmer etc. Also
pvc cleaner, glue, and a hacksaw.
A variety of clamps and hose adapters
Many of our members are quite knowledgeable
about equipment and pond design. If you haven’t
yet built, gather as much info as possible before
you begin and go as large as possible for a more
stabile environment.
Hudson Valley Meeting Draws Record Attendance
With about two dozen enthusiastic participants, the July meeting of the Hudson Valley
chapter counted among the best attended in
recent memory. Jo Mead sat in for Herb
Ehrich to preside over the session, held on a
warm Sunday afternoon around Paul Tomasko’s pond in Saugerties.
had concluded, everyone gathered for a scrumptious
variety of refreshments and plenty of friendly gab.
Jo recounted the harrowing experience of
treating seven infected ponds just before the
July 4 weekend (see p. 1). She and Jennifer
Hauer reviewed various health and sanitary
measures to prevent such incidents in the
future (see Jennifer’s article).
After a lively introductory roundtable, your
newsletter editor reviewed distribution issues
while the holiday committee detailed half a
dozen options for the chapter’s year-end
event. Once the 90-minute formal session
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Mid Atlantic Pond Life
Issue No. 5, August 2016
To Air is Humane
Election Results
A Message from MAKC President Jo Mead
Results from the annual MAKC officers
election held at the Long Island chapter on June 26 show that 67 ballots
were cast, reports Jo Mead. The results also show that, with the exception
of a single write-in vote in the South
chapter, every candidate received 67
votes. All candidates ran unopposed.
It has been a very brutal
summer with the heat. I
cannot stress enough the
importance of aeration in
your pond. If you see your
fish congregating by the
water fall it is a good indication that there is not
enough aeration in the
pond.
Also, for those who rely on well water for water changes,
the lack of rain can/will greatly affect the kH and pH in
your well. It is best to test your water frequently to closely
monitor the situation. With that in mind it is good to have
baking soda and oyster shells on hand on case of pH crash.
I like/rely on the Seneye Monitoring System. It will keep
track electronically of the temperature, ammonia, water
level and pH of your aquarium or pond. You can receive
text/email alerts if one of the parameters is off. This is
great when you are away.
The position of MAKC Secretary remains open as no one stepped forward
to run. Herb Ehrich continues to be the
sole officer holding two positions:
MAKC Vice President and Hudson Valley Chapter Vice President.
According to the MAKC bylaws (Article
VIII, A): The President shall appoint a
nominating committee consisting of three
(3) persons including the chairperson
which shall present a slate of candidates
for each office. At chapter meetings in
April, the slate of the nominating committee shall be received into nomination followed by any additional nominations for
the offices from the floor. At chapter
meetings in May votes shall be cast by
secret ballot for each office. Each member family in good standing may cast only
one vote for each office.
Helpful Link: Don’t Get Into Hot Water
As water temperatures rise, pumps should be running 24/7 in order to supply enough aeration to
keep pond water supplied with oxygen. Now is a critical time to keep your pond system running. To
learn more about the importance of oxygen in pond water, click on this link to an article by Don Harrawood, Koi Health Advisor for the Southwest Koi and Pond Association. http://texaskoi.org/oxygenlimiting-factors-ponds/
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Mid Atlantic Pond Life
Issue No. 5, August 2016
Euthanasia
by Jo Mead
Perhaps the kindest thing you can do for a pet fish that is extremely ill or severely injured is to induce its death humanely through euthanasia.
There are many misconceptions on the web
on how to euthanize a fish. Our recommendations follow the American Veterinary Medical
Association (AVMA) recommendations of
overdose as a preferred and humane method.
Regardless of the method used, use a container large enough for the fish to swim
around freely. After adding the fatal solution,
it is important to watch the respiration/gill
movements once the fish turns on its side.
The fish should not be removed from the solution until at least ten minutes after the last
observed movements.
Tricanie-S, also known as Finquel, is our preferred method for euthanizing a fish. With Tricanie-S the fish should fall asleep peacefully.
The three other acceptable methods include
clove oil, baking soda and Alka Seltzer. Please
note that these methods may be
irritating and cause stress prior to death. You
won't be able to find Tricanie-S in pet stores,
so we recommend ordering it online to
have it on hand for emergencies. [Editor’s
note: available from amazon.com].
How to use Tricanie-S (Finquel)
Use equal amounts of Tricanie-S and baking
soda (to buffer the solution as Tricanie-S can
make the water acidic). Mix 1/2 teaspoon of
Tricanie-S and 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
per gallon of dechlorinated water in the container and then add the fish. If the fish is still
moving around after 10 minutes you can add
another 1/2 teaspoon of Tricanie-S and and
1/2 teaspoon of baking soda pre-dissolved in
some water from the container.
Alternative acceptable methods
Oil Of Clove
Add 12 drops of Oil of Clove per gallon of dechlorinated water. You may want to emulsify the
clove oil by placing it in a smaller amount of water in a glass jar; shake well. Place an airstone on
the highest setting in the water to help keep the
clove oil in solution. Add the clove oil solution.
Baking Soda
When dosed properly, baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) causes rapid loss of consciousness
and death by increasing carbon dioxide in the
water. Mix 3 tablespoons of baking soda into
each quart of water and then pour into the holding container.
Alka-Seltzer
Alka-Seltzer can be also be used to produce carbon dioxide in the water and induce loss of consciousness and death. Use 1 tablet for 5 gallons
or 2 tablets for 10 gallons of dechlorinated water
and then add the fish to the solution.
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Mid Atlantic Pond Life
Issue No. 5, August 2016
Upcoming Events
Hudson Valley Chapter
August 21: 3-5 pm - John & Jan Remington home, Saugerties - Jennifer Hauer
will speak about recognizing disease and
illness in your fish.
Central Chapter
August 21: Meeting in Bethlehem,
Pennsylvania. Barry Hixson.
Sept. 18: -3-5 pm - Betsy Moore and Jim
Pellicone home, Kingston - The Cary Institute will talk about invasive plants and
fish.
Oct. 16: - Henry and Cherie Rua home,
Saugerties – Focus on closing ponds for
the season.
Nov. 2016: No meeting but the
Event/Program committee is researching possible day trips. Stay tuned.
Dec. 18: Holiday dinner at an outside
venue tbd. Watch this space.
Tell Us What You Think
This is YOUR newsletter. One key goal is to
provide a forum for everyone in the MAKC
community to express themselves. Let us
know what you think about our articles or any
issue concerning MAKC. We want to publish
your comments, letters or suggestions. Send
them to Ken Dreyfack or Paul Tomasko at [email protected].
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The MAKC will be at the Aki Matsuri Autumn
Festival, Bonsai & Beyond, Celebrating Japanese Plants and Culture, at the U.S. National
Arboretum in Washington DC. It will be held
on Saturday, October 15, 2016 from 10 am
to 4 pm. A few years ago the MAKC helped
clean up the koi pond at the administration
building. After five years of repairs and renovation, the work is due for completion this
summer. The MAKC will have a table at the
festival where we will be able to promote the
club.
Hudson Valley chapter members:
Check out the chapter’s Facebook
page. Peggy & Frank were the first
members to be featured, followed by
the Remington’s. You could be next.
Contact Cheryl Benken at
[email protected]
https://www.facebook.com/hvkoiclub/