|
Right on Mike.
No color enhancing food until getting ready for show. Read food labeling carefully: many food that don't advertise them contain them.
For best beni, water should be below 60ppm kH, with experience, some high-end koikeepers will keep it under 40ppm.
Nitrates, which accumulate rapidly in a closed system, can make more damage than is readily apparent: yellows shiro and beni. Keep it down with a good water exchange routine and a veggie pond (water hyacynths work great) that the pond water circulates through. Make sure to regularly shake the plants and remove the organic debris.
A deep pond (more than 6 feet) will provide the required shaded areas as the sun goes round (except in the tropics of course). In addition, for the middle of summer, even here in the Pacific Northwest, a BLACK shade cloth of 55-65% density helps. I have seen gosanke with sunburn: it is horrible, the whole skin peals off.
Most problems (other than genetic) affecting the quality of beni are with water quality, especially organic laden water. Exchange a lot of water or make sure the DOCs are pulled out.
Oh, the point Dick made is very true. I recently asked a Japanese breeder about pond loading with tosai. He responded that any more than 4-5 tons per tosai will cause excessive growth and loss of beni.
MIke: really did not mean to step on your 4 points, but thought a few more details might be helpful.
__________________
Arthur
|