Koi keeping is passion, art, skill, hard work and a lot of fun too.
Congratulations
Congratulation to Lori Vertin on her judging certification with the American Koi Judges Association (AKJA) and Michelle Gravenish becomes a member of the AKJA Certification Committee
October Pond Tour and Koi Talk
Free! Everyone Is Welcome! No Membership Required!
When: Saturday, October 2, 2021 1:00 pm
Where: Contact UMKC for address (email membership@uppermidwestkoiclub.org)
What: Bring your own lawn chair
You could win one package of Tricide-Neo (A $30 value) !!
Pond Tour and Koi Talk
Ron Sterbenz has been keeping Koi for almost 20 years. It all started with 2 koi and 500 gallon pond. This then led to a construction of an outdoor pond at about 8,000 and 8 feet deep that kept koi year round. As tasks grew more difficult and the quality of the koi improved, they bought the house next door and turned the lot into a year round greenhouse and gardens. Koi are now kept though the winter in a 10,000 9 ft deep heated indoor pond. The greenhouse has plants on the upper level with filtration underground. Both ponds were "spray in" polyuria and feature Ultima bead filtration and UV. The greenhouse also has sieves and a stainless steel bakki shower system with cores of ceramic media protected by California feather rock. Heating is accomplished by both gas and a recirculating hot water heating system running through the concrete slabs. The greenhouse temperature is regulated with computer controlled opening roof, window system and fans. Water changes are done automatically and parameters are monitored online for temperature, DO, PH and Salinity.
There are about 12-14 large to jumbo koi, all are specific koi purchases from select breeders. Over the years he has usually sold and then acquired 2-3 new koi each year and almost always Gosanke. Many of his older animals can be 5-7 years old. While others may keep a Chagoi around for fun he has always kept a Hi-Utsuri as his different koi. He no longer keep any doitsu nor long fin. The location greenhouse and gardens were built up with over 30 pallets of Chilton and Fondulac Wisconsin wall stone, cut and mortared into place, taking over a two summers to complete. There are over 5,000 annuals grown in the greenhouse and planted through out the property plus 30+ types of dahlias.
Potluck
Bring in a small dish or dessert to share. Water and soft drinks will be provided by the club.
2021 Fall Koi Auction
The Upper Midwest Koi Club (UMKC) is going to host an auction this fall. If you have some koi to re-home and/or pond equipment to move, bring them in.
If you consider adding koi to and/or updating your pond, come and see what are available for auction this year. Many people got very good deals in the past!!
Special thanks to Greg Bickal of Bickal Koi Farm who generously donated many nice 3-4" tosai to the club. These koi are available for auction and here are some samples of these tosai.
When
Saturday September 18, 2021
View Time - 10:00 – 11:00 am
Auction Start – 11:00 am
Where
Groth Music Company’s parking lot
8056 Nicollet Ave, Bloomington, MN 55420
What
Koi, pond-related equipment and stuffs.
Donation/Seller Rules
· UMKC members: You will receive 75% of the auction price and the club keeps the other 25%
· Non-UMKC member: You and the club will split 50/50. You will be able to join the club at the site. Since the club suspends membership fee this year, you will be able to get a free membership until the end of February 2022. That is right, you will get a free membership and the discount member auction rate if you join the club at the site. Double bonuses!!
· Of course, you are welcome to donate the proceed to the club.
· All the koi need to be in plastic bags. The rule of thumb is that you need enough water to cover the koi dorsal fin and the bags still have plenty of space for air/oxygen.
· The club will have an oxygen tank on-site. Please notify club staffs when you bring koi in with air so that we can re-bag them with oxygen.
· Please do not bring koi in with containers or coolers without them bagged in plastic bags. If you don’t have suitable plastic bags, please contact the club.
· The club reserves the right to reject koi that appear to be unhealthy and sick.
Buyer Rules
· We take cash, check and credit card via paypal
· All payments need to be paid in full on-site
