Ponds and waterfalls are an exciting way to turn any regular grassy area into an incredible backyard paradise. Think about it: with a little bit of water in the right place, you can bring a whole world of color, sound and LIFE to an area. Waterfeature dreaming possibilities are endless when the space available is as great as it is at this home in Manheim, Pennyslvania.

This homeowner found out about Dreamscapes by simply driving past the business location-- how lucky! After owning a pond at a previous house,  this couple knew they could NOT go without all the tranquility that comes with having the soothing sound of water right at their fingertips.

Because wetland filters operate a lot slower than regular pumps, this Manheim, Pa waterfeature also has the option of using what we call a "party-pump" to enhance the flow on the main waterfall. The use of a "party pump" is only done so at the desire of the homeowner, since the Wetland filter takes care of the actual filtration of the pond. When guests are over however, or they are enjoying their koi pond, plugging in the "party-pump" creates more of a "WOW" effect as water simply gushes down the falls and flows with a more prominent sound.

Inevitably when you have sun and water together, you will get algae growth. For absolute crystal clear water, the Dreamscapes team went as far to couple the Wetland filter with an Iongen System by Aquascape Inc. If you have never heard of an Iongen System -- you need to! Iongens are designed to control every pond owner's worst nightmare: STRING ALGAE. Although String Algae is generally the sign of a healthy balanced ecosystem, String Algae is one of the most unbearable types of algae that exist, as it not only floats inside the pond, but it often bubbles up and creates a rather displeasing looking layer on the top of the water.

Finally, the artistic side of why homeowners in Central Pennsylvania choose Dreamscapes Watergardens to install their waterfeatures: the project specifications. This incredible waterfeature has some really awesome unique aspects, as it not only has steps that lead INTO the pond, but it also meets right up against the deck of the home. With a 21'x32'x' pond body and a 20' Enhanced Waterfall, this waterfeature also incorporates some really awesome Aquabowls and different size "Stacked Slate Urns" installed where the Wetland Filter is. 

From the optimal viewing point at the deck, there is so much detail to enjoy everywhere you look.

Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and renovates 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

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.

Hey Dreamscapes, Is it okay to add new fish to my pond at this time (November) of the year?

One of the great things about getting new koi, or any new pond fish for that matter, in the very early Fall is that you can find some great pricing on koi and other pond fish. Especially in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, most fish sellers are anxious to get rid of stock toward the end of the season before it gets cold, as they are looking to not have to maintain them indoors over the Winter. For that reason some good deals and great pricing can be found on koi from late August through September. Dreamscapes recommends that if you are interested in taking advantage of these deals, to do so no later than mid-October for the Lebanon County, Lebanon PA area.

By adding fish to your Zone 5/6 pond later than the beginning of October, you are risking the health of the added fish. It is absolutely true that fish undergo a level of stress when it comes to acclimating them to a new environment. Stress can reduce their slime coat and make them more susceptible to the parasites that are inevitably living in your pond water. Fish should be given a substantial amount of time to adjust to their new environment before going into torpor (fish “hibernation”).

Pond fish in Central Pennsylvania should also establish their new eating patterns before cold weather hits, which also gives you the opportunity to observe the pond fish for any health issues. Even if they do survive, you may find you have a very unfriendly and/or skittish fish come Spring because they are not use to YOU either!

Introducing pond fish, whether it be Koi, Goldfish, Orfes, Sharks etc, to new environments with only weeks before they stop eating or even as they begin to go into torpor is not a practice that the Dreamscapes team recommends.

It could ultimately end fatally for the fish.

There is often a lot of different recommendations about how to properly add fish to ponds. It is important to note that an outside ecosystem is VERY different from an inside fish tank, as Mother Nature happens to the outside pond and not to the indoor tank. The follow set of instructions is how Dreamscapes Watergardens recommends to acclimate fish. This guideline acclimates the fish to not only the temperature of the pond, but also to the pH, which is very important.

1) Float bag for 30 minutes in pond
2) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
3) Float bag for 10 minutes
4) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
5) Float bag for 10 minutes
6) Add approx. 1 cup pond water to bag
7) Float bag for 10 minutes
8) Individually release fish by hand into pond

For more information on koi pond fish, please contact us directly!

Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and renovates 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.

It is true: Summer 2016 is behind us. The great "Pond Shutdown" -so to say. The temperatures both inside and outside the pond continues to drop and the tree leaves have fallen as the aquatic plants have died back. Our pond fish in Central Pennsylvania are beginning to go into their own states of torpor and are not eating anymore.

At this time of year, Dreamscapes always gets a increase in calls inquiring about proper actions to be taken during Winter for ponds and the fish that live in them in Central Pennsylvania.


Some of the top questions/statements we hear are as follows:
Do I need a Deicer/Heater in my Lebanon County, Pennsylvania pond?
What can happen if I don’t have a pond deicer?
I never used a Pond Deicer and my fish were always fine.
My neighbor does not use a Pond Deicer and their fish always survive.

A pond deicer, also referred to as a pond heater, is a piece of equipment that is designed to maintain a hole in the water during the Winter months, when water typically freezes. But why? Simply put, even though your pond is dormant in the winter, there is still biological activity occurring. Specifically, fish are obviously still breathing, using up oxygen and releasing carbon dioxide. This natural occurrence means that the metabolic processes continue to occur, meaning that your fish still poop! The process to break down fish poop and other dead organic matter contributes to the toxic gasses being released under the ice in your pond. If you are not familiar with the how a pond's nitrogen cycle works, please read this article!

If these gasses remained trapped under the ice and are not released to the atmosphere, the supply of dissolved oxygen in your pond will continue to decrease and carbon dioxide will increase, creating a toxic environment. Fish and other inhabitants (frogs and turtles) will not be able to survive in the toxic conditions such as this because they will essentially be suffocating underneath of the ice.

By maintaining an open hole in your ice, you not only allow these gasses to escape, but you also allow more dissolved oxygen to be held by the pond, allowing your fish to breathe.

Thus, the bigger your fish get, the more oxygen they need, the more they poop and the more they contribute to the toxic gases that will need released from underneath that ice. Believe it or not, the bigger the fish gets, the more care they need to ensure they are smiling at you come Spring. If your fish were fine last year, but they grew, they might not have the same outcome this year.

It has always been true that no two ponds are alike. Let me repeat that: No two ponds are alike. Therefore you can not rely on friends and neighbors for what worked for their pond when determining what will work for yours. There are so many factors that contribute to the balance of an ecosystem -- what type of filtration you use, how many fish you have, how much/often you feed your fish, when your last pond cleaning was, how many plants you have, how routinely you add beneficial bacteria to your pond, if at all, etc. It all matters!

Many misconceptions about Deicers/Heaters is that the deicer is designed to HEAT THE POND.

This is untrue. The purpose of a de-icer is ONLY to keep a hole open in the ice on your pond, not to heat the entire pond. As long as you can see water around (and under) your deicer, it is functioning properly.

It is important to note that the pond heaters that Dreamscapes Watergardens carries are THERMOSTATICALLY controlled. This means that the pond deicers only turn on when the water temperature hits 32 degrees or below. This saves costs of operating the pond deicer and lengthens the life span of the deicer as well. It does take some awareness on the pond owner's part to check that your deicer/heater is working when the time comes. Please do not just set it and forget it.

In the event that your pond does freeze completely over, you NEVER want to try to manually break the ice a part. Whenever you smash the ice, it sends out pressure waves through the water that could absolutely cause harm to your fish. Fish are very sensitive and get more sensitive the bigger they get.

If you find your pond has frozen all across the top, you can consider sprinkling “Pond Salt” on the place where your deicer is currently trapped underneath, or where you intend to put your Deicer. Pond Salt acts in the same way road salt does during the Winter, while maintaining a safe approach to protecting your fish.

To purchase a pond deicer/heater at Dreamscapes Watergardens, please stop out during our regular operating hours.

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 is located at 2155 State Route 343 in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Please note that your GPS is ending you at the correct address, as some GPS devices do NOT recognize State 343 as an address. Some GPS recognize this street as South Pinegrove Road and others recognize it as North 7th Street.