[dick benbow]

So, It only seems natural that we'd look more in depth at some questions we've hung on to in the slowing of our active role in the hobby.

In my studies of the vulnerability of spirulina to shelf life and processing, I think an awful lot of us are not getting what we pay for. i ALSO believe that
most fish that are still developing color are not aided by being fed this food.
Breeders don't use color enhancing foods on koi that are still developing under their care. I believe it's use should be for those koi that have maxed their ability to progress and who in fact may be sliding backwards and need the assist. My understanding is that there is a measurable difference between the beni coloring of a natural fed koi and a different tint to the one that has been influence by spirulina, even damaging to an developing one.

One of the things i've learned since starting 3 decades ago is that so much of our hobby demands special conditions for different age/different sex/ different conditioned koi. The day you could have one pond ( gee it was simpler back then! ) is gone. Tosai and nissei have differnt needs then sexually mature koi. I quess to do it "right", you need all 3 year and older females, who have peaked, and need to be fed color enhancing at some point
to assist in their continued show life. Then we would know if your plan you've worked out mentally will actually work in application.

This year instead of slowly winding my koi down, I've cranked the temps back up and feeding EA One food that I got from Bill at Mystic because I wanted to learn this year instead of next what I saw in their improvement. I have been seeing an improvement in the whites, especially with my female asagi.
While I haven't finished feeding yet, I've seen enough to know that I'll want to use it just prior to a show to help with the whites. That said I hope you'll put your plan to work and see for yourself if you believe it will work!