Snails...a novelty of the pond world. They're slimy, slow and have an appetite to eat algae. At Dreamscapes Watergardens, we sell Trapdoor Snails for backyard ponds near Lebanon, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg, Hershey, and Camp Hill areas of Pennsylvania seasonally from April-August in our Aquatic Retail Center. They're pretty cheap (and pretty fascinating) critters to add to your pond, though, you can't be too sure that you'll see them very often due to their size.

We always find that kids LOVE to spend time trying to find the snails in the pond--the ultimate "Where's Waldo" game.

Trapdoor snails in Central Pennsylvania definitely have an appetite for algae, rarely eating anything else. So if you're prone to having algae in your pond, these critters will absolutely thrive off of it and be very happy in your backyard pond. A common misconception, however, is that snails will be the solution to your algae struggles. While they're definitely fun to spot wiggling around your ecosystem, realistically, you would have to have hundreds of snails in order to beat an algae issue. Thereby, snails will never be the end-all-be-all to algae growth-- thus we call them a novelty.

If you're looking for true measures for how to control your algae, you've still come to the right place! There are 5 elements of a healthy ecosystem and without one of those elements, your pond balance is thrown off wack and inevitably into an green algae phase. We recommend making sure you have all of these elements in place instead of committing to an army of snails. Sometimes, however, string algae is absolutely inevitable and unbeatable. In these cases, we recommend an Iongen System designed to control String Algae by use of copper.




For more tips of controlling algae, read some of our other blogs:
Controlling String Algae in my Backyard Fish Pond
String Algae in Lebanon Pennsylvania Ponds and Waterfalls
Keep your Koi Pond Water Clean in Lebanon County Pennsylvania

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,

Backyard ponds have become an exciting landscaping trend! Most homeowners want a pond to add ambiance to their yard with the benefit of the sights and sounds of tranquil moving water. Man-made ponds and disappearing pondless waterfalls create a relaxing place to retreat from the chaos and stress of life while enjoying the entertainment of pond fish and other wildlife attracted to your back yard. Yet few realize the full extent of the benefits to installing an ecosystem pond or water feature.

Maintaining a lush lawn obviously requires regular watering if there’s a dry-spell. Evaporation on a pond, however, is the same as on a swimming pool: 1” per day during the height of summer. A pond will have an auto-fill device that only adds water when it’s needed, whereas an automatic lawn-sprinkler goes off by timer whether or not the lawn actually needs the water, thereby wasting unnecessary water and money.

But there’s a LOT more that goes into maintaining a nice-looking lawn. You have to fertilize it and spend many hours a week mowing/edging the grass and moving around your non-permanent outdoor entertainment items like trampolines, baby pools, chimneas etc. to ensure grass doesn’t die underneath of them. Aside from the time involved, about 54 million Americans mow their lawns each weekend, using 800 million gallons of gas per year, AND producing tons of air pollutants, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). ​Ponds, however, reduce the need for more lawn pesticides, fertilizers and gas mowers. They require about 10 minutes of maintenance per week. As an added benefit, the debris and sludge collected by your pond filter during maintenance can be used as a nutrient-rich fertilizer for your lawn, garden, and trees. The aquatic plants and water source becomes home or food to many of nature’s critters from frogs and snails to the butterflies, birds and bees that fly above.

Educational Benefit:
In today’s technologically advanced world, picture this: your kids and grandkids WANTING to spend time outside, interacting with Mother Nature and not in front more screen-time. One of our top comments from new pond-owners is that they can’t believe how popular their water features are with their kids or grandkids. From feeding fish and trying to catch frogs to learning to help take care of the ecosystem, the educational aspect of backyard fish ponds are priceless.

We often find our very own son spending some time everyday just to dip his feet in to think. His favorite place to eat meals during the summer? Outside by the pond.

Home Value Benefit:
Did you know?: A well-constructed water feature can also INCREASE your home value! That's right- a tastefully done water feature is considered a luxury item--especially a matured water feature with established plant life.

If you’re looking for a low water-use, energy-efficient, low maintenance, super enjoyable and entertaining landscape option, you might want to consider an ecosystem pond or water feature. This a water feature might be the way to go? Contact us today to find out what options exist for your backyard paradise!

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

There are "5 Healthy Elements" of a naturally balanced water feature:
 1. Filtration
 2. Rocks & Gravel
 3. Recirculation System
 4. Pond Fish
 5. Aquatic Plants

Bioballs, also known as biological media, are found within number 1's element, inside a man-made pond's filtration system.

Bioballs, by Aquascape Inc, serve the purpose to house additional space for beneficial bacteria colonies to form to break down the dead organic matter in a pond. There are many different types of "biomedia" out there in the market: some people use the form that look like black plastic ribbon-looking pieces while some people use lava rock. It is important to note that lava rock (though very cheap in price), it needs replaced YEARLY in order to be effective because it is so porous and impossible to clean thoroughly when needed.

While all types of biomedia  serve the same purpose, "Bioballs" by Aquascape, Inc rank as one of the best because of space efficiency in relation to the amount of surface area per ball that allows for beneficial bacteria to grow. The more surface area you have = more beneficial bacteria colonies to break down your dead organic matter which is the whole point.

Bioballs last forever but you still need to maintain them properly in order to maximize the amount of use you get out of them per season. Beneficial bacteria doesn't just EXIST in a pond, you have to add it. We recommend adding it weekly to your backyard pond to maintain colonies; noting that you can never have too much beneficial bacteria. Because beneficial bacteria die over the frigid cold months of winter, we recommend cleaning them every spring during your Spring Maintenance Process to rid any build up of muck that exists. You can hose them off and knock any debris off that you see, however, NEVER hose them off or even expose them to oxygen during the regular season or fall as this causes your beneficial bacteria to die. Allowing your beneficial bacteria to be removed from a pond means an inevitable set back to green algae phase until your colonies establish themselves again.

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,

• 8 x 11   pond clean out cost – $ 675.00
• 11 x 16  pond clean out cost – $ 895.00
• 16 x 21 pond clean out cost – $1100.00
• Pondless Waterfeature (up to 15’) -- $525

Located in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Dreamscapes Watergardens installs and maintains waterfeatures all over the Central Pennsylvania area. For more information on koi ponds and waterfeature installations, please contact us directly! For information on how to get your pond or waterfall on the 2018 schedule for a professional cleaning, fill out this form!

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, P

Every season we go into great detail on the benefits, processes and pricing for Spring Maintenance/Opening Services for backyard koi ponds in Central Pennyslvania. But what about pondless waterfalls, also known as disappearing waterfalls? What kind of work, if any, is put into a pondless waterfall to get it up and running for the spring and summer seasons? Should you contract a professional contractor to service your disappearing waterfall in the spring or are you able to tackle it DIY style?

What: Pondless Waterfall Spring Opening
Why: A majority of water feature owners "shut down" their waterfalls late Fall/early Winter by pulling the pump and bleeding the pipes free of water to avoid extra work when freezing temperatures hit. Despite possibly adding a net to the feature to prevent leaves from falling all over the stream, by spring your waterfall may be looking a different color than you remember it. You may find a majority of your waterfall covered with dead/black algae residual and leaf debris, while your basin may have become home to a few inches of sludge-like matter that coincidentally fertilizes MORE algae growth come warmer temperatures. If not taken care of, these factors together create a maintenance nightmare by June and July.

When Dreamscapes opens pondless waterfalls near Lebanon and Harrisburg Pennsylvania, we follow the following process:

• Manually remove any debris from stream portion: i.e. leaves, sticks, etc.
• Cut and divide aquatic plants, as needed
• Pressure wash, as needed, areas with unsightly residual build up.
• Shop-vac out the basin reservoir of all accumulated sludge and old water
• Re-fill basin with water
• Put pump in water and attach the hosing to the pump fitting with a hose clamp.
  
  
  At this point, we check for any diverting water from rock displacement or low liner caused by rocks settling over winter.
  

Every April-June, Dreamscapes services approximately 200 water features within Lebanon County, Lancaster County, Dauphin County and Cumberland County for spring maintenance. For pondless waterfalls up to 25' in length, we charge $525 for our spring maintenance service. Custom waterfalls larger than that may result in additional servicing fees. Click here for information on our 2018 backyard koi pond pricing.

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,

Ponds unfairly get pegged as mosquito breeding territory. With minor tweaks, a true mosquito pond could be solved and become breeding grounds no more. If you don't have a pond but you're wondering--- fear not and read on. A common concern that new or soon to be pond owners express is whether their pond can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The life cycle of the mosquito is just like any fly with 4 stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. The first 3 stages are aquatic and last for just over a week, the adult stage lasts about a month or so.  To lay eggs in the first place, mosquito prefer stagnant water; i.e. slow moving or motionless still water with low oxygen levels and high nutrient levels.

If your watergarden is correctly built, there should not only be no stagnant water areas, but attract many types species that happily and aggressively eat mosquitoes. These species include but are not limited to: fish, dragonfly, frogs, and birds. If mosquito are still coming, there may be a swampy area elsewhere on your property or the neighbors. Check around!

If your pond is built different than the Aquascape Inc. set up, consider adding something like a spitter decor fountain to churn up the stagnant water areas you're finding. Spitters can be a fun decorative addition to the water feature anyways. The addition of an air station, such as a bubbler, will also churn up the water AND add some extra oxygen to your fish. If it's filtration you're lacking, considering adding a skimmer box, as it will help solve more than just a mosquito issue-- it'll clear up all sorts of maintenance problems you might be having, too!!!

WATER CONDITIONS in your pond

• High oxygen levels because of aerators, waterfalls, and streams.
• Low nutrient levels because of filtration systems, water treatments, and aquatic plantings.
• Lots of water movement from pumping systems, skimmers, decor spitter fountains
  

ENVIRONMENT of your pond

• Fish, dragonfly, frogs, birds and bats  all either eat mosquito larva or mosquito adults!

TREATMENTS for your pond

• Mosquito Dunks is a popular and effective treatment.

It is perfectly normal to wonder about the potential mosquito issues with a pond---especially if you inherited a pond with a new home purchase. Fortunately, a well-managed pond is exactly NOT the place that mosquitoes want to be or lay eggs. Our well balanced ponds will be home for all sorts of critters that have an appetite for mosquitoes and their eggs.

Dreamscapes has a full service maintenance program that travels all over the Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin County areas constructing and installing pond tents. We also carry 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 koi ponds and waterfalls in 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

Mother Nature always has her own plan. Even though you did your fall pond shutdown and just cleaned the leaves off of the net, they're back again. New leaves fell from the trees...old leaves blew back from the wind. Fall is a long season...especially if you're surrounded by a bunch of trees--all loosely depositing their leaves around your watergarden. Inevitably, if left untouched, leaves that fall on top of pond nets start to weigh down into the pond. This allows for the decomposition of the leaves into the water which contributes to sludge and poor water quality over the cold winter months.

Last year, Dreamscapes Watergardens started recommending a POND TENT for backyard ponds that struggle with the changing season. Pond tents can be put up as early as September and should be taken down before the first snowfall so as to not put unnecessary weight on the structure. If stored correctly, pond tents are reusable year after year.

***Pond tents also have the added benefit of helping to protect your fish from predators.

Depending upon the size and the shape of your pond, a few different shape tents are most effective. The dome is created for ponds 11x16 and under, as the arch made with conduit piping can support the weight of itself and the gusts of wind. For ponds larger than 11x16, we recommend making an angled structure with straight pvc poles for better support of the structure's weight. To secure the structure from moving, ditch the plastic stakes for sod staples!

The actual design of tent structures are custom for every pond because every pond is different. Unless the waterfalls are left running late into the year, the pond tent structure only really has to cover the pond portion of the waterfeature. The edge of the net should be pull taut against the waterfall so that no leaves can blow in an open space. The waterfall can be covered with a separate piece of regular net.

Let the experts handle the hassle for you! Dreamscapes has a full service maintenance program that travels all over the Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin County areas constructing and installing pond tents. We also carry 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 koi ponds and waterfalls in 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

HAPPY MONDAY!!! Maybe your pond already looks like the photo above or you're getting ready to shut it down, however, today we’re going to talk about leak detection in your Central Pennsylvania water feature--- which is important to trouble shoot NOW before the temperatures get too cold, causing hoses to freeze.

Slight fluctuations in your watergarden pond are normal – evaporation and splashing can cause your waterfall or pond to lose up to one (1) inch a day. Large drops in water level, however, is a pretty good indicator that something else is going on. There are 3 areas that the leak issue can be found in:
                              Pond, Piping, or Waterfall.
Luckily, leak detection is simply a series of trouble shooting steps that we’re going to walk you through! The Dreamscapes Team uses these steps faithfully during every leak call we get.

A plumbing leak could be obvious before troubleshooting the pond/waterfall. If you have saturated mulch around the filtration boxes or around the perimeter of the pond, check there first! If obviously saturated mulch is not present, follow the steps below:
Step One: Fill your pond up to a normal level.
Step Two: Turn off your pump
Step Three: Wait 12 – 24 hours and check the water level.
Step Four: Depends on if the water level continued to drop or stayed the same.

If the water drops past an initial inch, the leak is in your pond. At this point, you want to let the pond continue to lose water until it stops because it will eventually find the hole and stop dropping. This is important to troubleshoot in the fall because of not knowing where hole is. In the unlucky case that the hole was in the very bottom of the pond, imagine adding water to the pond when the hoses freeze.

If the water level falls right at the line where the screws and gromets are on the skimmer  box, double check to see if the screws have rusted and disintegrated. If the screws are intact, move a few rocks around the front checking for obvious tears or chew holes and slide your hand behind the liner checking for wet soil indicating that the faceplate silicone has dried out. Remove the faceplate, clean the old silicone off the liner, and refer to your skimmer instruction manual for the proper way to seal the faceplate to the skimmer.

No issues with the above items? You can concentrate your search around the perimeter of the water level by removing any rocks, checking the pond liner for a puncture or hole. If the water level continues to drop to 6"-8" from the bottom, please be advised that it would be wise to remove the fish into holding tanks at this point in order to not compromise their safety. A holding tank should have aeration and a net over top to not only prevent predator attacks but to also prevent curious fish from jumping out. Once found, you can patch the leak with a liner patch kit. You can replace your rocks once the patch has finished sealing.

If the water level stayed the same in Step Three, your problem might lie in the waterfall.

Waterfall leaks can be caused by:
-low liner,
-splashing,
-obstruction or
-chew holes/liner tears.




Low liner -- found around a waterfall's edge. As dirt around the stream or waterfall settles, it can create low liner spots that may cause water to escape over the liner’s edge. This can be easily found by looking for wet mulch or muddy areas around the edges of your stream or waterfall. If you find the low spot, lift up the liner and backfill the liner area with soil to raise the edge and contain the water.
“Splash leak” – one that’s caused by water splashing out of the water feature, can be easily remedied by moving rocks in the area to redirect the water back into your feature.
Obstructions -- in your stream and waterfall caused by excessive plant or algae growth can restrict and divert water flow.
Chew Holes -- harder to find, chew holes can be anywhere inside the waterfall length/width and requires the moving of rocks. We set up test pipes in order to work in 2 foot increments starting at the bottom of the waterfall. Move the test pipe up another 2 feet after 24 hours has passed where the water level has not changed. When water level has dropped, begin lifting rocks in that 2 foot section. You can patch the hole with a liner patch kit and replace the rocks once the patch has finished sealing.

Finally, if none of these solutions work, it’s time to check the pipe, plumbing fittings, and pump connections.

The pipe runs along the outside of the pond and usually saturates the mulch if there is a significant leak like in the picture to the right. A cracked pipe could result in the loss of inches and inches of water in an hour.

The connections to the filtration system could also saturate the mulch. Check all three areas for saturated mulch before digging up/exposing connections and piping. If it is a SLOW LEAK...it may not have saturated the mulch. Dig'em up and  tighten/replace necessary components if found.

As mentioned above---you certainly want to have troubleshooted the leak to know the location before the outside temperatures get too cold, freezing the hoses. If you've narrowed the leak to the waterfall--no rush! That can be addressed in the Spring upon opening. A hole in the bottom of the pond, however, could be fatal for the fish come mid-winter.

Let the experts handle your leaky mess for you! Dreamscapes has a full service maintenance program that travels all over the Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin County areas. We also carry 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 koi ponds and waterfalls in 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

So you have a beautiful pond with fish and the seasons are changing so you have questions:
            How often and what do you feed them?
            Does it matter what kind of food they eat? 
            Do you need to feed them in the wintertime? 
            Will the goldfish eat the same food as Koi?

Your fish will be FAR more enjoyable and friendly pets if you feed them because they’ll learn to trust you and they’ll start looking to you as a food source. Truthfully, it is magical throwing handfuls of fish food in the water and watching them all come to the surface to gobble it up!  And yes!  Koi will eat more than goldfish will, so adding a little extra food to their diet can be helpful—they’ll actually eat algae, too. So don’t be afraid to let your koi help minimize your maintenance by letting they gobble up some algae. If they have to pick between the food we toss in and algae, however, they will choose our food everytime. Keep in mind that when fish poop breaks down, it contributes to the ammonia levels in the water and can be toxic to fish. If you haven't already, read our Ammonia blog
for more information.

If you are feeding ANY retail-bought fish food, you NEED to read the label, as there are temperature specific foods that help tackle each season

In spring when the pond temperatures in Central Pa reaches 50ºF, it is safe to begin feeding fish. Fish now are coming out of their winter hibernation and they cannot metabolize all of the ingredients of the all season formulas.

As the water ranges between 50-56ºF in the spring, the fish will begin to feed, and they need food that is easily digested, such as foods that contain WHEAT GERM.  Dreamscapes carries a Fall/Spring “Cold Weather” fish food that helps to with digestion. This is the ONLY food that should be fed at this time.

During the warmer months, pond fish require a high-protein diet for growth and spawning. When the temperature goes above 65°, a summer staple or a high growth and energy food can be fed. Keep in mind that your fish can appear hungry even if you feed them 3x a day BUT the more you feed them, they more they poop, the slower the poop breaks down and the more fertilization algae has to grow.

Winter is a whole new ball-park for fish when it comes to food-feeding and life-support mechanisms. When the water temperature drops below 50°F, the fish’s metabolism is too slow to utilize food. You absolutely need to STOP feeding your fish, as they are entering their state of hibernation and they are not capable of proper digestion in cold water and the food can decay in their system, sending bacteria into the bloodstream and killing them.

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 koi ponds and waterfalls in 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 number one reason why people get a water garden, backyard pond, waterfeature (CALL IT WHAT YOU WILL) is so they can have fish, DUH. Then they research and ask around and hope they're getting advice that doesn't lead them astray. Don’t let the fears and myths of owning fish keep you from getting a few of your own finned friends for your water garden---know your facts. Take a look below at how Aquascape Inc. has cracked some commonly heard myths about fish in a water-- credit to Aquascape, Inc for all the research and information!

Want the fish but don't want the hassle of taking care of them? Dreamscapes offers Spring Opening, Fall Shutdown and even Routine Pond Maintenance packages seasonally! We also carry 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 koi ponds and waterfalls in 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