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Do Koi Fish and Gold Fish Get Along in the Same Pond?

9/24/2018

2 Comments

 
This is a question we get a lot with new pond owners who are just getting their feet wet. What pond fish cohabit well and what pond fish species should we not put together?

Pond Fish for Sale in Lebanon Pa

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At our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes sells ONLY pond fish that will over-winter well and will successfully cohabit together. We do this to reduce confusion or any misunderstanding. Our most popular fish, the koi fish, we sell from 3"-12" in size from late April-September. We also sell 3"-4" comet goldfish, 3"-4" shubunkin goldfish, 5" golden orfe fish, and 5" pond sharks seasonally. All of these pond fish get along great together in the pond no matter the difference in actual fish size.

Channel Catfish

Channel Catfish are a very tricky fish to try to successfully keep with other pond fish in a backyard water garden in Pennsylvania because they will put their mouths over anything they can get them on. Often times, they suck the eyeballs off of weaker fish in the pond. We've always told customers that as long as the catfish is smaller than your other fish, it should be okay to have them in your pond. Eventually, however, that catfish will grow and may be problematic for baby fish or small fish that you introduce in later years.

Trout

While trout are a cold-water fish, we still often get inquires about adding them to backyard ponds in Central Pennsylvania. Trout need to live in a spring-fed body of water in order to maintain water temperatures suitable to survive.

Fish Personality

A few misconceptions about cohabitation lies in the misunderstanding of fish personality traits.
--In the Spring, you may notice fish aggressively pushing up against each other and rocks, sometimes enough to leave marks on the fish. This is common activity observed when fish are mating. Shortly after, you may find was appear to be foam, or soap bubbles, covering the pond.
--New fish added to the pond often take some time to get familiar with their surroundings before they either stop hiding or become as personable as your older fish. If you're noticing your fish hiding and acting differently than normal and they haven't been added to the point more recently, consider your water balance or if you may have had a predator lurking.
--You may still have a bully fish that is not attributed to their species. Every so often we hear of clients have a territorial fish that seem to bully the other fish. Generally speaking, this is not a common personality trait, however, it is possible!
--Some fish, like pond sharks, are not personable fish and they always hang out on the bottom or sides of the pond (on their own) eating algae all day. 

So Now What??

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August.  If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours:  April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                     October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT


Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com

Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
2 Comments

How Much Does a Professional Waterfall Installation Cost?

9/17/2018

2 Comments

 

Did you Know???

  • Natural landscapes have a healing effect on the human body and can lower your heart rate and blood pressure, according tot he Sustainable Sites Initiative, Standards and Guidelines Preliminary Report of 2007.
  • Pondless waterfalls are the easiest to maintain with little to no maintenance required, allowing you more time to relax and enjoy your beautiful water feature with friends and family.
  • Water features attract birds and butterflies, and come in a variety of types and styles, perfect for any budget or landscape.
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​Imagine stepping outside your home into your very own backyard oasis, complete with a beautiful water feature. Sit back and listen to the soothing sounds of running water as you enjoy the enchanting sights of nature. Feel the cares of the world slip from your shoulders as you experience your personal vacation spot!
  • Spend more quality time with family outdoors.
  • Enjoy the delight of your children or grandchildren as they explore nature, up close and personal.
  • Gather and entertain friends and family outside near your beautiful water feature.

You'll wonder what took you so long to discover and enjoy the water feature lifestyle!

Aquascape Pondless Waterfall 

Dreamscapes Watergardens installs pondless waterfall as small as 4' in length and as large as you can imagine. Pondless waterfalls are great for travelers or those who work away from home a majority of their time because you can unplug for weeks at a time without having to worry about the ecosystem living inside like a backyard koi pond would. 

The price quotes below are for complete pondless waterfall installations by Dreamscapes Watergardens in 2018:
6' Aquascape Pondless Waterfall: Starting at $5,999 Installed
16' Aquascape Pondless Waterfall: Starting at $9,499 Installed
26' Aquascape Pondless Waterfall: Starting at $14,999 Installed

Dreamscapes also install water features of custom lengths, widths and heights at custom pricing!! Contact us for more information!!
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Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds and pondless waterfalls (disappearing waterfalls) all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly!

​Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August.  If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours:  April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                     October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT

Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com

Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
2 Comments

Backyard Pond and Waterfalls: A Therapeutic Approach

9/10/2018

6 Comments

 
There are many benefits of water features that far outweigh the beautiful aesthetic approach. From increased family time, to health and wellness and environmental conservation, it is pretty safe to say that water features are for EVERY body..even if you just don't know it yet. 

Did you know?

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....that water features have been proven to provide soothing sights and sounds that help you relax and de-stress in today's busy world? It's true! In the Standards and Guidelines Preliminary Report of 2007, the Sustainability Sites Initiative reports that water features lower your blood pressure and improve your physical and mental health as you prop your feet up and enjoy the therapeutic effects of Mother Nature. In fact, hospital patients who have a view of natural landscapes recover faster from surgery and require less pain medication. In addition, heart rate, blood preassure, and other measures return to normal levels more quickly when people view natural rather than urban landscapes after a stressful experience. 

Local Examples:

It is becoming more common to see medical care facilities, senior care homes, and churches marketing their water feature as highlights to their facilities for the reason of therapeutic approach to care and relaxation. We've even been contracted to install them at local public schools so that the students have a place to decompress before and after school. To see an example of a water feature we installed at the Sechlar Family Cancer Center, click here to read our blog on that project! Similarly, check out the Fountain Installation project we installed at the Northern Lebanon Middle School a few years ago. The Prayer Garden at Lebanon Area Evangelical Free Church serves symbolic purpose as it greets all of the worshipers and attendees to the church. Lastly, we installed a beautiful pond with a waterfall at the Retirement Community at ECC Stoneridge at Poplar Run in Myerstown, PA so that the folks can sit and enjoy the beauty that comes from pond fish and rushing waters. Check out the Stoneridge Water Feature by clicking here!

So Now What?

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August.  If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours:  April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                     October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT


Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com

Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania,
6 Comments

Pond Leaks: Screws and Gromets

9/3/2018

0 Comments

 
Ponds leak for all sorts of varying reasons: low liner, liner tears/chew holes, plumbing breakage or even a dammed up waterfall from plant over-growth. For the average DIY pond owner, the above issues are pretty easy to detect and to fix. Having checked for liner and waterfall issues, DIY pond owner's regularly call about their mystery leak.So what about when you've tried everything that's been the problem before and you can't figure out what's happening this time?

Screws and Gromets

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What are screws and gromets in a pond? Screws and gromets are the hardware pieces that hold the face plate of the skimmer box to the actual skimmer box, securing the liner between the two. If you don't know what a skimmer box is or need a refresher, click here to read our blog on skimmer boxes!

Brass screws and gromets are typically sold with and used during the original installation of a pond's skimmer box and tend to rust/disintegrate within the first 10 years after installation. Because you never have to use, look at, clean or even pay attention to screws and gromets, it's easy to forget that they exist as a part of your backyard pond altogether. 

Pond Leaks Because of Screws and Gromets

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Before you start removing and repairing the screws and gromets on your skimmer box's face plate, it's always a good idea to make sure that the screws and gromets are indeed the problem causing the leak. We trial and error this by turning the pump off, filling up the pond to it's normal level and letting the pond sit over night. The pond will continue to lose water and drop until it find's the whole causing the leak. If the screws and gromets are the problem, the water level will drop until it reaches the lowest screw that's rusted/disintegrated. With the water removed, it should be visibly obvious if a screws are rusted/disintegrated.

Another way to check is by digging along the front-side of the skimmer box until you can wiggle your hand behind the liner by the face-plate. If there is water or even moisture back behind that liner, that's a great indication that water is being lost through the deterioration of the screws.  

Solution

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To solve a leak of this nature, first you're in need of removing the screws and gromets from the face-plate. Keep in mind that it is important to replace ALL the screws and gromets, whether or not they're all compromised. Removing the screws often requires drilling the old screws out.

To replace with new screws and gromets requires very special precision, as you need to line up the new screws where the old screws have made holes in the liner. Similarly, if any screw is every a little crooked, you can expect to continue losing water. Thus it is important to take your time doing this type of repair. 

Stainless Steel Screws and Gromets are the best replacements for the original brass screws and gromets that we've found. You can purchase these pieces at any Fastenal store. Tip: don't forget to use the silicone when replacing the screws and gromets!!

So Now What???

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August.  If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours:  April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                     October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT


Contact Us 
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | info@dreamscapeswatergardens.com

Dreamscapes Watergardens services the city of Lebanon, Lancaster, Harrisburg, Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Cleona, Cornwall, Fredericksburg, Indiantown Gap, Jonestown, Kleinfeltersville, Mount Gretna, Myerstown, Newmanstown Palmyra, Quentin, Reistville, Richland, Schaefferstown of Pennsylvania, PA
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