The RMKC 2001 Koi Show will be conducted English style. Each entrant will have a dedicated tank(s) and we will try to minimize exchange of water and thereby contaminants. Show entrants will be required to provide their own tubs and nets to be used during judging. (Please note that some cross contamination between tanks is unavoidable.) Show entrants are expected to be present during judging to bowl their Koi as needed by the judges. RMKC will have staff available to assist with bowling for entrants as requested. Show entrants are expected to have all Koi checked in by the official check-in closing time. Show entrants are expected to keep their Koi in the show tanks and on display until the official show check-out time. RMKC will provide oxygen for bagging Koi to return home.

The objective of the Water Quality crew is to provide the best possible conditions for Koi at the show site. The WQ crew will do this by having a well prepared plan, they will be properly equipped at the show, and they will setup, test, and treat tanks in an orderly manner. To maintain order, preclude confusion, and minimize possibility of poor quality water, Koi show entrants are urged to not interfere with the WQ crew and observe the show schedule.

The WQ crew will test water for: Chlorine, Ammonia, Nitrite, Carbonate Hardness, General Hardness, pH, Temperature, Dissolved Oxygen. Water treatment consists of : aeration, dechlor (sodium thiosulfate), NovAqua, and Amquel. Dechlor is used first to neutralize any chlorine that may be present in the source water. A 1X treatment of NovAqua (0.5ml per gallon) will be used to treat for water contaminants and to help with the slime coat of Koi that may be damaged in transport and handling. AmQuel will be used to neutralize ammonia. The testing and treatment procedures are designed to assure that there is sufficient AmQuel in the water at all times to neutralize all ammonia given off by the Koi PLUS maintain a safety margin of at least 4ppm. Show entrants can do their part to maintain water quality by fasting their Koi for at least 5 days prior to the show and by bringing only healthy Koi.

RMKC will also have small quantities of salt, baking soda, and refresh on hand. Show entrants may use these water treatments as they see fit. Entrants must first contact the WQ Crew before administering any of these chemicals.

Show entrants (or their designated representative) are welcome to perform their own water tests. If you have any concerns about the state of water, please immediately bring these concerns to the attention of the WQ crew. Only the RMKC WQ crew is permitted to administer any show tanks with any treatments. If at any time, you feel that your Koi are not being adequately treated you may excuse your Koi from the show. To excuse your Koi, simply notify the WQ crew at your earliest opportunity. Once you Koi are excused from the show, you will then be totally responsible for the care of your water and Koi. Any entrant who administers treatment without the prior consent of the WQ crew will automatically beconsidered to have excused their Koi from the show. Under no circumstances will entrants be allowed to connect to or modify RMKC Show water, electrical, or air systems.

Before Show: Gather supplies. Prepare tank number labels (8.5 x 11 sheets in plastic covers). Prepare tank diagram showing tank location and number. Prepare tank log sheets. Assign tanks to show entrants. Tank numbers, diagram, and log sheets are all intended to make absolutely certain that all water is adequately tested and treated and to help avoid any confusion about the status of any tank. The WQ plan will be sure to include all tanks including those for bagging water, cleaning nets, etc. All tests, treatments, water changes, fish additions or removal, etc. will be recorded.

Clorox, Mops, Garden Hoses, Yard Sticks

Water Test Kits: Chlorine, Ammonia (salicylate type), Nitrite, GH, KH, pH Meter

pH Calibration Solutions, Ammonia Standard, distilled water

Thermometers, Oxygen Meter, Test Vials (20), Test Vial Rack

Syringe (for drawing water samples and cleaning vials)

Water Treatment Chemicals: AmQuel, Novaqua, salt, refresh, baking soda

Tank Water Quality Logs, Tank Numbers

Air pump, distribution pipe, air stones, air tubing

Sump Pumps with 150' hoses, Extension cords

Oxygen Tank, Koi Transport Bags, Rubber Bands

08:00 Tanks will be filled from nearby fire hydrant. Flush hydrant and hoses. Setup and fill show tanks with 18" water. All tanks should be clean. If any tank has scum, slime, funny smell, etc. clean it thoroughly, rinse with Clorox, rinse with clean water. If cleaning does not eliminate all problems, set aside and do not use.

11:00 Setup air system. Put two airstones in each tank. Adjust system for high flow aeration.

12:00 Spot check chlorine levels in tanks to estimate amount of dechlor needed. Dechlor every tank using sodium thiosulfate. Allow dechlor to circulate using sump pump and aeration. Test EVERY tank for chlorine. For any tanks that tests positive: treat with dechlor, test again.

13:00 Spot test water for: NH4, NO2, NO3, GH, KH, pH, temp, O2.

14:00 Treat each tank with 1X dose of Novaqua (0.5ml per gallon). Treat each tank with AmQuel to neutralize 6ppm NH4 (3ml per gallon). If source water contains chloramine, treat each tank with AmQuel to neutralize ammonia from chloramine plus additional 6ppm NH4.

16:00 Start Koi Check-In. As Koi are admitted, log time, number of Koi, and size of Koi. As benching crew becomes available: measure and record size, record variety, inspect for major health problems, photograph.

21:00 Close site for evening. Cover tanks containing Koi with netting. Inspect tanks before leaving (check airstones, check for signs of leaks, check appearance of Koi).

07:00 Inspect tanks (check airstones, check for signs of leaks, check appearance of Koi).

07:05 Test Ammonia Neutralizing Capacity (ANC) of tanks containing Koi.

07:30 Add AmQuel as necessary to maintain ANC of 6ppm.

07:30 Re-open show for Koi Check-In

09:00 Close Check-In

10:00 Begin Judging - Vendor Koi

16:00 Spot check tanks with greatest Koi load for: ANC, temp, O2, pH.

16:30 Add AmQuel as necessary (based on projected NH4 rates) to bring ANC to 6ppm.

18:00 Cover tanks with netting.

18:30 Inspect tanks before leaving.

07:00 Inspect tanks (check airstones, check for signs of leaks, check appearance of Koi).

07:05 Test ANC of all tanks. Note which tanks contain Koi that have not been fasted.

07:20 Spot check tanks for: temp, O2, pH.

07:30 Perform 25% water change on all tanks.

09:30 Begin refilling make up water tanks.

09:45 Add AmQuel to all tanks to bring ANC to 6ppm.

10:00 Begin Judging - Hobbyists Koi

14:00 Test ANC of all tanks.

14:30 Add AmQuel to all tanks to bring ANC to 6ppm.

15:00 Spot check tanks with greatest Koi load for: temp, O2, pH.

18:00 Cover tanks with netting.

18:30 Inspect tanks before leaving.

07:00 Inspect tanks (check airstones, check for signs of leaks, check appearance of Koi).

07:05 Test ANC of all tanks.

07:20 Spot check tanks for: temp, O2, pH.

07:30 Perform 25% water change on all tanks.

09:30 Begin refilling make up water tanks.

09:45 Add AmQuel to all tanks to bring ANC to 6ppm.

14:00 Test ANC of all tanks.

14:20 Spot check tanks with greatest Koi load for: ANC, temp, O2, pH.

14:30 Add AmQuel to all tanks to bring ANC to 4ppm.

16:00 Break down show. Drain tanks. Rinse out debris. Clean with Clorox. Rinse with clean water.

Discussion: In preparing this Water Quality Plan, the RMKC 2001 Show Committee discussed several areas where there are multiple ways for handling water quality. Highlights from these discussions are summarized below.

AmQuel: This is the most commonly used ammonia neutralizer. This is also the most trusted ammonia neutralizer. Despite some ruccus that was caused by info. on some web sites, RMKC will continue to use AmQuel. Also, it was observed in the 2000 show that Koi in tanks with higher doses of AmQuel seemed to fare better. RMKC will increase the ammonia neutralizing capacity in the tanks from 2ppm to 4ppm.

NovAqua: The use of NovAqua has come under question lately. Arguments for use of NovAqua - it enhances the slime coat which helps resist parasites. Arguments against NovAqua - it coats gills and inhibits breathing. It was discussed and the show committee decided to continue using NovAqua.

Biofiltration: RMKC proposed to the membership that we use biofilters on the show tanks for 2001. Members were invited to sponsor the cost of filters and they would own the filters after the show. There was insufficient interest from the members.

Zeolite: This has similar constraints as biofiltration (requires pumps, media chamber, valves, etc with total cost about the save as for biofilters). Zeolite is also not a simple open the bag and use it material. The quality of zeolote varies from performing well to not performing at all. Using zeolote at a show will require testing the material in advance and re-charging the material. Advance preparation is a significant effort.

Flow Through: This entails a system that constantly flows fresh water into each tank. The filtration of the source water must be adequately sized to handle the large flow that is required. The filter must also be able to handle the largest possible surge of chlorine in the source water or it must be equipped with sensors that can shut off flow in case of filter exhaustion. A flow through system may not eliminate the need for chemical treatments.

Test Fish: Using small, inexpensive Koi or goldfish can help to test for dangerous chemicals that cannot otherwise be easily tested. Using test fish requires that the tanks be setup and all systems operational far enough in advance that the test fish have time enough to "test positive" for water problems before the start of Koi check-in. Test fish are also potential carriers of parasites and disease.

Salt: Salt can help reduce the affects of poor water quality and the stresses associated with participating in a show. Using salt was discussed at a show committee meeting. All present were against the idea.

Baking Soda: It was proposed that we set a minimum KH for the show of 100ppm. The intent was to give entrants target water parameters that they could replicate in their ponds so that the home pond water and show tank water would be as similar as possible. Provided that the tap water was less than 100ppm, baking soda would be used to bring the water in the tanks to 100ppm. This was discussed at a show committee meeting. Most present were against the idea.

Calcium Chloride: It was proposed that we set a minimum GH for the show of 100ppm. The intent was to give entrants target water parameters that they could replicate in their ponds so that the home pond water and show tank water would be as similar as possible. Provided that the tap water was less than 100ppm, calcium chloride would be used to bring the water in the tanks to 100ppm. This was discussed at a show committee meeting. Most present were against the idea.

Aeration: At some shows, aeration is run at maximum available flow. At other shows, aeration is controlled to allow CO2 to accumulate. The reason to limit aeration is to intentionally allow CO2 to accumulate which in turn keeps pH low which in turn keeps ammonia toxicity low. The reason to run aeration at higher rates is to keep pH stable and to avoid any marginal oxygen levels. Also, RMKC does not have the ability to monitor CO2. Given that excessive CO2 is detrimental and that we will be using enough Amquel that ammonia should not be a problem, we have decided to run aeration at high.

Water Changes: We will be conducting water changes to the maximum extent that available water supply and storage will allow. Change water tanks will be filled and treated on Friday along with the show tanks. The first water change will be performed on Sunday morning. We will change as much water as our storage capacity will allow. As soon as storage tanks are emptied, we will begin refilling them. The second change will be performed on Monday morning. We will also attempt to heat water for the second change to match temperature in show tanks (we expect that water in the tanks will warm up from initial filling on Friday to the second change on Monday morning).

Entrant Provided Equipment: This was considered and rejected for the following reasons: no control over size or space needed; no control over power required and concern of overloading circuits; concern about being able to adequately secure net covers with various filters; concern about damaging show tanks; undesirable show appearance.