Every Winter Dreamscapes gets quite a few calls about the best practices for Winterization of ponds and waterfalls in the Lebanon County, Lebanon Pennsylvania area. If you're looking for the answer to how to keep your fish safe over Winter, you should read our "Life Supports" blog. One of the most frequent questions we've gotten this 2016 season is:

Should I keep my Lebanon, County PA waterfeature running over Winter?

First we will look at the cons to running your waterfeature over the Winter:

1) Accompanied with Winter weather in Pennsylvania, we inevitably go through periods of freezing and periods of thawing of water. During the periods of freezing water, if you are running your waterfall, ice formations on the waterfall could divert the water outside of the pond; ultimately draining your water level. While your pump does not turn off automatically, it will continually try to pump water that is not in the skimmer box and could burn out--costing you the price of a new pump.
Worse yet: If your pump sits submerged in the pond, it will keep pumping your water until there is no water left in your pond--leaving your fish without the most vital part of their survival: water to swim in.

2) If you lose electric and/or your GFI trips, shutting off your pump--it is likely that the water in the plumbing could freeze in the interval between the electric tripping and you fixing it. This freeze of water in the pipes could crack them and cause a major leak issue the next time you get the pump running again. In order to fix cracked pipes you have to replace the entire section that is damaged which is no fun at all.

One of the very coolest parts of owning a pond is being able to see the seasons take shape on it i.e. a Summer pond is a completely different world from a Winter pond. Without all the lush plants and activity going on, what is left to enjoy when Winter hits?

One word: ICE.

Ice formations can be one of the coolest natural occurrences to happen to your waterfeature because they happen all on their own and are never the same from freeze to freeze! Watching water freeze as it trickles is also a pretty fascinating activity as well. The ice sleeks and shines as water trickles over it and is definitely a pretty sight to be seen. But is it worth the hassle that goes into maintaining your water levels, plumbing pipes and pump health?

Namely, if you are a homeowner who works extra long shifts, go away for long weekends or are not home to be around your pond to double check it's levels, running your pond year round could be a huge problem for you! Needing to babysit the waterfeature and constantly top it off with water could be more of a worry and hassle than it's worth for you if you are not home enough to enjoy it. There is nothing more sad than coming into the backyard to greet your pets and finding out that the water has diverted elsewhere.

So we recommend to disconnect the pump, store it in a bucket of water somewhere where it won't freeze (like a garage or basement) and make sure to disconnect the check valve if one is present! Follow the steps in this blog about fall shutdown for more information to shutdown your waterfeature!

Especially in the Lebanon, Pennsylvania area, Dreamscapes recommends to shut ponds down for the Winter by pulling the pump (store it in a bucket of water in a place that doesn't freeze), bleed the pipes (especially if there is a checkvalve in place) and plop in a deicer and/or air station (especially fish that are 8" or larger). For more information on the complete steps to take to shut down your pond or waterfall contact Dreamscapes Watergardens directly at 717-272-6555.

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

One of Dreamscapes' highest honors to date, has been the opportunity to contribute to the therapeutic offering that patients receive when at the Sechlar Family Cancer Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania.  Built in 2015 and opened in January 2016, this new cancer center was designed with the comfort level of the patient in mind, going above and beyond in even the smallest of details. Specifically, the addition for an elaborate waterfeature was desired for not only aesthetics reasons, but for therapeutic reasons as well, as the soothing sound of running water has been known to be great for relaxation and to reduce stress. The tranquil sound of water moving can also improve concentration.

Where could be a watefeature be more appropriately placed?

The architect's master vision for this property was to create a peaceful setting from the moment you arrive to the Cancer Center, to the waiting area and even for the patients inside the intake bays--encouraging peace, tranquility and relaxation with a waterfeature that wraps around the side of the building and meets the patient's room window. The patient's room window has a different optimal viewing point than the next.
 
Que Team Dreamscapes!

Mother Nature does not follow a cookie-cutter pattern and neither should man-made waterfeature. With two separate 20' long waterfalls spilling into a 20 foot by 60 foot pond, the Sechlar Family Cancer Center waterfeature has a variety of elements that contribute to an overall tranquil feel that is difficult to replicate. But first, the ground work.

With almost 500 labor hours and 60 tons of boulders, this massive waterfeature features a wetland filtration system to promote crystal clear water by use of filtering the water through the roots of plants. The wetland filtration system is generally used to filter larger ponds, as larger ponds tend to see a lot more sediment and an excess in nutrient build up around the water column. (If you don't know: excess nutrient build up can and will promote the growth of algae!)

Because this waterfeature is viewed from multiple different angles, Dreamscapes incorporated at least a dozen absolutely beautiful driftwood enhancement pieces at various viewing locations. This gives the waterfeature new unique life for viewers from every angle of involvement: the parking lot, the entrance, the waiting room, each individual intake room. We believe this gives the waterfeature an edge for interest, as it seems to be a has so much detail to discover.

One of the most differentiating characteristics between pond installers is the amount and style for which they lay their rock. Dreamscapes installs in a style to mimic Mother Nature with her natural artistic appeal that is anything but symmetrical or cookie-cutter. With 60 ton of boulders, 3 tons of cobble stones, 15 tons of river gravel, and dozens of driftwood pieces of stumps and logs, natural artistic style flows during the installation process for a beautiful breath-taking result.

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.

The warm weather is obviously the best time to be able to enjoy watergardens in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. When the cold weather sets in, our beloved pond fish slow down and they tend to keep themselves concealed as they begin to go into their own states of dormancy. It is hard to imagine what is going on underneath those layers of ice and snow to know whether or not our fish are safe.

Koi and most pond fish are cold-blooded which means that their body temperature is regulated by the surrounding temperature of the water. Similarly, their body functions also respond and change according to the water temperature that they are being kept in. The activity and metabolism of koi and pond fish is greatly reduced during the Winter months which is why they do not feed at this time. Specifically, it is recommended to STOP feeding fish entirely when the water temperature is 50 degrees or below-- as they are not only uninterested in eating it and unable to digest the food in a healthy way, but the wasted food that sinks to the bottom also contributes to toxic waste described later in this blog.

Koi and other pond fish go into what is called a “state of torpor” when during the Winter months in zones 5 and 6. “Torpor” is not quite full hibernation, because it is of a shorter duration than the length that hibernation is. Torpor, however, is a very similar state of being to hibernation to include: reduced body temperature, slowed metabolism, slow reaction times, reduced breathing rate and primary body functions. When in the state of “torpor” the animal to is able to save the energy that would otherwise be needed for higher levels of activity.

Though in a state of torpor, pond fish still contribute waste to the pond and that waste still goes through it's own nitrogen cycle, creating toxic gases. Toxic gases can ultimately kill fish if the gases do not escape the pond. Keep your fish safe by maintaining an open area in the ice try using a floating de-icer or an aerator. If not familiar with either of these items, please read our de-icer blog and/or our aerator blog. This open area in the ice will allow noxious gases, like ammonia, to escape from the pond. If they do not escape, however, you risk your fish suffocating on the gases underneath the ice. Which, logically speaking, you will not notice until the ice thaws and you see your fish belly up.

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

Seasonally, Dreamscapes carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains. Hundreds of plants and fish are available between the months of April and September every year! If you think you need it for your Central Pennsylvania waterfeature pond, 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
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,

String algae, scientifically known as "claudophora spirogyra", is a very common filamentous type of algae that also goes by the name of hair algae or blanket algae/mat algae. It resembles long hair and often floats and covers the top of the pond like a blanket would. String algae can be found growing on surfaces such as rocks, liner, aquatic plants, and just about anywhere it can latch onto in koi ponds, water gardens, waterfalls, streams, water features, and fountains. The texture, color, and length of string algae can vary and can even appear black and slimy.

String algae are a major pest, all season long--often requiring extensive pond maintenance to control, kill and prevent it. Many different elements in the pond can encourage the growth of string algae, such as: sunlight, a heavy fish load, and lack of pond plants.

Thankfully, taking the proper measures can drastically reduce the occurrence of algae. It is important, however, to remember that algae are a part of nature, and an important part of the pond ecosystem. A pond is an ecosystem that supports fish, plants, frogs, tadpoles, birds, dragonflies, and other wildlife. The main goal in keeping clean water is not to attempt to completely rid your pond of algae, but to keep it in balance with nature!

If you have read our facebook note on pond ecosystems, then you should be caught up to speed. The prevention of algae is made much simpler by reducing the amount of nutrients available for the algae to feed on. These five elements are absolutely vital to have in your pond in order to reduce the amount of nutrients, and in turn, keep your pond algae free. Removing any one of these items will make it much more difficult to keep a pond with clean, clear water.

Plants: Plants have a variety of benefits in and around the pond. In addition to beautifying the pond, did you know that plants help control algae. But how? They do this by consuming the nutrients out of the water that algae would normally consume. Thereby, the more mature/established your plants get, the more nutrients they are able to pull from the water before algae has room to grow. Also, there are many oxygenating plants, such as Anacharis and Parrots Feather, that add oxygen to the pond, helping maintain a healthy ecosystem. Some plants, such as water lilies, will shade the pond, thus reducing the amount of sunlight available for algae growth.

Fish: Large pond fish, especially koi, will eat a tremendous amount of algae. Not enough for them to be the end-all-be-all...but they definitely pull their weight! Fish constantly forage for food among the rocks and gravel in the pond, picking them clean of any algae they might come across. Koi that are over nine inches in length are a definite asset to have in the pond, as they love to eat string algae. Click here to read more information about pond fish like koi and goldfish!

Rocks and Gravel: When rocks and gravel are added to a pond, bacteria will actually colonize in the gaps and crevices between the rocks. The rocks and gravel provide huge amounts of surface area for the bacteria to colonize and multiply. Once the bacteria colonize the rocks, it’s just like having an additional biological filter in your pond. Remember-- bacteria are the "good" guys in the pond. So the more room you give it to grow and to colonize, the more effective it is!

Mechanical Filtration: A pond skimmer acts as a mechanical filter by removing leaves and other debris from the surface of the pond before they can sink to the bottom. This way the debris does not have a chance to decompose in the pond and thus provide nutrients for another algae bloom.

Biological Filtration: Having the proper size of biological filter is essential if you want clean, clear water. Without a biological filter, you are facing a losing battle against green water. Aquascape’s BioFalls® Filter provides a huge area for bacteria and enzymes to colonize. These bacteria and enzymes consume nutrients and help break down organic debris and fish wastes that would otherwise contribute to water quality problems.Having a sufficient number of plants in the pond will help remove nutrients from the water. By having plenty of plants in the pond, you can, in effect, starve out string algae.

Beneficial bacteria will often help control algae. Bacteria feed on the same nutrients that algae does, and adding "good" bacteria will help win the war against green water. Beneficial bacteria converts harmful fish wastes into nitrite, and eventually into nitrates, which plants use as nutrition/fertilizer. The bacteria colonize on the filter mats and bio-balls (some people use lava rock) in the biological filter, as well as on the rocks and gravel in the pond.

Dreamscapes Watergardens carries the Aquascape, Inc. "String Algae Buster" product that is designed to kill algae. In order to be effective, algaecide must deplete the oxygen levels in the pond to essentially starve the algae. It is imperative that your pump is in a great working condition, so as to not harm your fish.

Any algaecide product is most effective when used hand in hand with a Beneficial Bacteria product, as algaecides KILL algae and Beneficial Bacteria helps to break down the algae once it is dead. Dead algae eventually helps to fertilize more algae if it is not broken down.

Lucky for you, Dreamscapes sells both Beneficial Bacteria AND algaecides at our Aquatic Retail Center. For more information on different types of water treatments we have on hand at all times, read our facebook note, here.

The Ion Gen system consists of 2 basic components:  the control panel and a replaceable copper probe.  Once the unit is plugged in,  the Ion Gen control panel sends a signal to the replaceable copper probe, releasing a controlled amount of copper ions into the path of flowing water.  The copper ions released by the probe binds the copper to the algae, which then kills the algae and prohibits the algae from growing any further. This computer controlled ionizer system dramatically reduces string algae, improves water clarity, reduces maintenance, and reduces the need for algaecides.

For more specific information on algae and your pond, 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

What do you do when you possess all of the pond installing passion in the world, design ponds for a career and own a pond installation business? You build your absolute dream pond in your own backyard because where else are you able to enjoy a beautiful serene paradise the best?
That's right -- this is Dustin and Tara Stohler's pond!

Literally speaking, this pond is 25’x35’x3’ with a 20’ long and 10' wide waterfall.  The pond boasts crystal clear water, some really nice imported koi, and a pathway of floating steps. 

This pond is five years old and has been on the Dreamscapes Pond Tour multiple times... so you just might recognize it. But have you ever thought about what went into building it? 

Wetland filters are designed for larger ponds, as larger ponds are subject to a lot more sediment and an excess in nutrient build up around the water column. To work, this type of set up filters through the roots of bog and wetland plants in order to promote PRISTINE water quality on a level that is much higher than any other filtration system.

Steppers in ponds are great for a multitude of reasons from aesthetics to exploring opportunity...you absolutely can't go wrong with having steppers across your pond. Not only does it give you access to the other side (which comes in handing when the pond is large) but it also allows anyone who enjoys the pond a different type of up close experience to the ecosystem in that water. Dustin and Tara's son, Chase, loves to come out and sit on different parts of the steps to stick his feet in the water. Sometimes he even lays right down on his belly and sticks his face in the water, too.

For more information on koi pond installation for the Lebanon, Pennsylvania area, 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