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?

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 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.

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.

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. 

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 | [email protected]

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

Wanting fish is one of the top reasons why people get a backyard pond to begin with--so they can house and then interact with their beloved fish pets. Fish feeding naturally comes with the territory of owning pond fish. When to feed pond fish and how much to feed pond fish and should you feed at all certainly is always the topic of conversation for newer pond owners. In this blog, we're going to answer the last question.

Koi pond fish are really awesome fish not only because of their unique patterns and colorations but because they are vivacious algae eaters. While goldfish don't love algae as much as koi, they will eat other micro-organisms in your pond, when they're hungry. In fact, when you think about it logistically in Mother Nature, fish fend for themselves all day, every day when it comes to their food sources.

So with that logic, you could quit feeding all together and let your fish eat up the algae and other nutrients in the pond as they would in nature. If you get your fish accustomed to looking to you for food, however, it may be hard to switch them to only what they find inside their ecosystem.

The more consistent you are with your fish feeding (i.e. feeding your fish at the same time from the same spot every day) the more personable they will become-- seemingly coming to greet you as soon as you come outside to the pond. We also have been able to HAND-FEED fish and even pet them! Imagine the interaction your kids and grandkids will have with fish who literally are happy to see you.

If you neglect feeding your fish, they wont look to you as friends and may consider you a threat if they don't understand what role you play in their lives. You may notice fish bolt really fast when they see a shadow or sense quick movements and they may even go as far as hiding from you!

It's important to remember the more YOU feed your fish, your fish will look to you as their source of nutrition and will become more personable and friendly.

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 | [email protected]

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

Whether you just installed your new koi pond or just inherited one with a home purchase, you may be wondering how often and how much should I feed your new koi fish. It's a common concern and important question! After all, it could change the entire maintenance plan and longevity of your fish.

Well, wonder no more because we’re here to teach you all about feeding your fish. Whether your pond has koi fish, comet goldfish, pond sharks or shubunkins, we have one simple method that works for them all.

We recommend that you feed your fish once a day or every other day when your pond water is healthy and clean. This will provide enough nutrients for healthy fish and a healthy pond. Feeding them too often can put an excess amount of nutrients into your pond which will promote the growth of algae. If you want your fish to grow faster, feeding your fish twice a day will help to promote growth, and give you happy plump fish but will require more maintenance. By getting into a feeding pattern (i.e. same time and place at pond) your fish will learn when it is time to eat, and they will begin to look for you at to the location where they’re familiar with you consistently feeding them.  After some time they will get so familiar with you and the feeding place/time that they will eat right out of your hands!

At this point we should raise awareness to the seasonal differences of fish food feeding. Seasonal fish food feeding? Is there really a difference? YES! There are different types of food contingent on water temperature and even a time to stop feeding entirely.

When feeding fish we like to give them a few small handfuls at a time, following the five minute rule. The 5 minute rule is only giving the fish as much food as they can eat within a 5 minute time period. If they eat everything you give them within 5 minute, you can consider giving them more. If after the first 5 minutes there is left over food floating around, its time to put the food away. Be sure to pull the excess floating pellets out of the water so they don’t decompose in your water.
It is important to mention that fish food is NOT a fish’ only source of food! Fish can thrive off of eating the algae and plant matter that surrounds them and will do so if you miss a regular feeding time. While koi tend to eat more algae than goldfish, goldfish have been known to nibble here and there. Pond Sharks, on the other hand are ONLY algae eaters! Keep in mind, the fish are given a small amount of fish food at a time for a few reasons. One reason is so that they are encouraged to eat the algae growing in your pond, because it will help keep the algae growth in check. Also, large amounts of food that don’t get eaten would then flow into your filtration system, break down and then can cause algae growth from the excess nutrients that are broken down.

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 | [email protected]

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,

By: Aquascape, Inc.

Quite a few of the koi connoisseurs think of butterfly koi as “mutts,” and some say that butterfly koi aren’t even koi. Others, however, happen to think butterfly koi can be the finest koi in any collection, depending on several factors – size, pattern, and finnage.

First, let’s consider where butterfly koi originated. In the early 80s, a population of common, brown and grey carp with long fins were found in a series of canals and ditches in Indonesia. A company in New York took an interest and brought the fish into the U.S. and sold some. They did not sell well because they were ugly. However, an enterprising and curious group of breeders at Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery placed an order for a dozen of these fish to see what the heck they were. Ugly, with long fins, is what they discovered. Over the next several years they bred these large, long finned mutations with their finest regular-fin koi and made several discoveries.

• Long-fin genes are dominant, so breeding the fish back to color would not breed out the long fin gene.
• Long-fin koi are robust and disease resistant.
• The fish could be bred back to color and many colorful lines of long-fin koi have been created at Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery.

The original breeder at Blue Ridge Fish Hatchery who spearheaded the cultivation of long-fin koi was a man named Wyatt LeFever. His son Randy made his way to the tanks to see the fish. As he regarded the fish with interest, he observed, “Dad, they look like Butterflies!” The name stuck.

As Butterfly koi grow, they become more and more impressive because the fins keep growing until the blood vessels can’t sustain the fins to be any longer. The older the fish, the longer and more impressive the finnage. So, a full-grown butterfly koi looks like a long, slinky dragon moving through the water. Their barbels (whiskers) even grow long and can fork into elaborate designs.

Butterfly koi seem to lack some of the body size of regular koi, but the overall fish can run as long as 36 to 40 inches in the right pond with plenty of food. They are graceful and pleasant to watch swim.

Since pattern seems to mean a great deal to the value of a regular koi, it makes logical sense that a good, standard pattern with bright colors would increase the value of a butterfly koi too, but there are a few notable additions. While a butterfly koi is more valuable when it has a properly defined and positioned pattern in the color, beautiful fins can often make even a poorly patterned fish look beautiful.
In addition, lemon and platinum ogons (solid color) in the butterfly category are awesome as adults. When you grow a metallic yellow or platinum ogon butterfly to an impressive, large size, their body movement is more graceful and slow. The fins are long, but the uniform gold or neon-white color is brilliant in the water and such fish look like fireballs or comets moving through the water with their “fire” (fins) streaming behind them. Gorgeous!

Sorogoi are incredible as adults in the butterfly class, as well. A sorogoi is the overall grey fish with the “fukurin” or black fish net pattern over the body. So, taking that color and putting it on a large, impressive adult butterfly koi gives you what rather appears as a grey sea monster moving through the water. Its subdued colors don’t attract the eye at first, but then you see its graceful, lengthy body and fins moving around below you and you are taken aback by both the robustness of the fish (they grow huge) and its mysterious, grey color.

Even better than that are black butterflies – which are, by far the coolest fish. They are seldom found, so the effect is rare and special when it happens. The black butterfly may be with or without scales. The rarest and most valuable of this type is the doitsu, karasu butterfly. This fish is black, has no scales, and has long fins.

Black butterflies grow up and become very large because their genes are not as strained as some of the brighter colored fish. And if they have no scales, the body is a glistening jet-black. The fins keep growing until the entire fish is broad, and streams long black robes behind it. They look like a jet-black dragon.
And when a visitor to your pond is feeding your fish at the side of the pond, suddenly, a large black shadow looms up from the depths. Larger it gets, until they realize that there is no color, the fish is just a shadow and when the fish takes the food, it turns and swirls down out of sight with a flourish of long, black fins. “What was that?” they usually stammer. “That is the shadow. He’s our black fish, which the Japanese have always regarded as a lucky fish,” you reply. The fully mature black butterfly koi is surely one of the most memorable fish a kid could ever encounter or feed. With such a fish, you own a living breathing shadow dragon.

In a discussion of butterfly koi, we should talk a tiny bit more about the fins. The butterfly koi fins are long because of a genetic aberration resulting in the length growth gene failing to turn off. In fish, the fins are supposed to grow to a genetically specified length, and then stop growing. But in the high fin mutation the fins don’t get the “stop growth” message and they keep growing. This happens in individual fish of many species from time to time. Some notable examples are Siamese fighting fish, Simpson’s hi fin swordtails, long fin oscars, and long fin black tetras. Any time the mutation is encountered and identified, it is bred into a species to see if it would make that species more economically important commercially.
Like any other koi, the fins of the butterfly koi are made up of dozens of rays of cartilage that radiate outward and support the fin. These rays generally grow very straight, but past the point of normal length they can grow wavy. The fish that grow straight rays even into the lengthier parts of the tail are more impressive looking and would be more valuable.
One problem with butterfly koi is that they are often handled the same way as regular koi. Broken fins and tails are par for the course by the time the fish is an adult. So, it’s normal to see bends and waves in the fins and tail of butterfly koi partly because of growing that way, but also because of netting-damage as a juvenile. As an adult, a split tail or fin often does not heal well and remains split. All of the above is irrelevant to the casual observer, the impact of the fish is exactly the same, but you might notice variations in fin quality and you may care enough to choose one fish over the other based on that.

The butterfly koi is a true koi. Despite this fact, the Japanese have shared some American purist’s distaste for these long fin beauties. Truth be told, the Japanese have usually reacted to any new color, at first, as an abomination. Eventually, they get used to it and accept it, and eventually love the diversity.
And it has been that way with the butterfly koi. At first, Mr. Suda was the only breeder in Japan producing butterfly koi. His fish have been gorgeous, and he even bred them for prodigious size. But the rest of the Japanese breeders declined.
Mr. Suda’s fish became so popular in the U.S. that they became scarce; making Mr. Suda realize his decision to breed them was a good one. Over time, as other breeders watched Mr. Suda sell everything he had very fast, they eventually overcame their resistance to butterfly koi and started producing them, too. Today, there are domestic breeders who compete in the butterfly koi market. They are very popular fish – and for good reason.

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 | [email protected]

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

10 years is a long time for fish to grow and eventually for them to OUTGROW their home. This couple in Lebanon, Pennsylvania LOVE their fish---they're massively HUGE!

If you know anything about pond ecosystems, you should know that the general rule for thumb for the amount of fish in a pond is 1" of fish for every 10 gallons of water... which means a whole lotta water for this family who have accumulated hundreds of inches of fish over the years.


So that's JUST what this couple decided to do for their fish-- expand their pond so that they have enough room!

Using a 18'x25' liner in one week, we turned this narrow 7'x20' backyard pond with waterfall into a beautiful 14'x21' pond with a showstopping waterfall. Increasing the size of the pond to this size required a few changes to the pump and plumbing to accommodate the water volume. First, a larger pump is needed to be able to properly filter this pond's water volume, so we equipped this pond with a stainless steel Tsurumi 5PL made by Aquascape Inc on their pro-line side. The increased volume of water coming down the waterfall also meant the need for a check valve assembly to keep water from washing back down during an electrical outage. So we added one of those, too.

We broke up the repetitive original rock work by adding some larger chunky boulders, which also created a little more natural look/feel to the aesthetics of the watergarden.

Underwater pond lights take a water feature to a whole new level of enjoyment because of the capability of night time viewing. That's why we hooked this water feature up with seven 3-watt lights and three 1-watt lights made by Aquascape Inc.

Aquascape Inc. lights are top of the line under water lights that are fully encased to prevent water leaking into the fixtures. Because it is fully encased, they are backed with a 5 year warranty. If you haven't considered pond lights in the past--- what are you waiting for!

Dreamscapes sells Aquascape Pond and Waterfall lights in our Aquatic Retail Store from April-November!

Having finished this pond in late-October of 2017, we can't wait to see what it looks like once the plants mature and add one of the most beautiful aspects of back yard water gardens.

After 10 years, this homeowner's pride and joy fish finally have a pond that's worthy of these beauties.

Dreamscapes installs and renovates ponds and waterfalls all over the Central Pennsylvania area. We also have a full service maintenance program that travels all over the Lebanon, Lancaster and Dauphin County areas for different spring, summer and fall maintenance packages. 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 | [email protected]

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

It was a LONG winter and now your fish are swimming around staring at you like they're starving.
-Is it 'okay' to feed them?
-Are you starving your fish by waiting?
-Will they die if I don't feed them?


The difference between regular house pets and the average fish is the type of interactions you have with them. When your dog greets you at the door when you come home, do you automatically assume he's wagging his tail because he's starving? He's probably just happy to see you. Chances are that so are your fish but because our interactions with them only extend to feeding time-- there is often confusion with their personality and their hunger signs. How much and how often you need to feed them, anyway? Right?

It's always most critical to check the fish food container for temperature sensitive information because it can be unsafe and even fatal to feed certain times of fish food at the wrong time of the year. Most outdoor fish foods have a COLD WEATHER variations to their regular season fish food and this is important because the fact that a fish digestive system works at a reduced rate when the water temperature drops below 55 degrees. In fact, you shouldn't feed your fish at ALL during some portions of the year.

Dreamscapes carries Microblithe Fish Food in Cold Weather, Summer Staple and High Growth and Energy varieties during regular retail hours from April-November. The temperature parameters for our food are as follows:
Cold Weather fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 50-65 degrees.
Summer Staple fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 66-85 degrees.
High Growth and Energy fish food should be fed when water temperatures range 66-85 degrees

In fact, fall feeding recommendations are that when water temperatures dip below 50 degrees in late October, you should stop feeding your fish entirely until spring. Historically in the zone 5-6 spring, fish feeding can begin as early as mid-April depending upon Mother Nature and if your pond is full sun or full shade.

In the Spring if your water temperature hasn't quite reached the parameters on the back of your fish food container but your fish look hungry, WAIT. They are okay-- I promise. Drop your thermometer into the pond periodically and check it out. Remember, they may look hungry, but it's dangerous to feed them earlier than their bodies can handle.

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 | [email protected]

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

Fish predators…they are everywhere- sometimes more during some seasons than others. Whether you’re new to ponding or just need a new trick at keeping the predators uninterested in your stock..you’ve come to the right place for a short list of some pretty effective methods. If your fish are missing, please know it wasn't the dog or cat that hangs out by the pond. While some of the below solutions may seem odd, they all have worked for our customers at one time or another. It’s important to note that some of these work better when combined with each other.

Heron are absolutely beautiful birds and they happen to be protected here in Pennsylvania. Territorial birds, younger ones are shy and prefer to hunt without humans around and will take off if there’s noise. Older birds are more brave and require much more effort at keeping them away once they’ve pegged you as a reliable buffet. A heron will come back repeatedly and eventually clear out every koi it can find if you don’t act fast.  

Heron Decoys – Fake herons work well if you move them when you spot a bird in the area. During spring, we recommend moving them daily as there are more rentless birds searching for food for their babies.

Fishing Line / Net Barriers – Heron do not fly into the pond---they walk into it. Because of which, you should string fishing line around/across pond to deter the heron from getting in. When they go to step, the line will get caught in their feet/wings and cause frustration.

Mink are known to hunt in Winter when the pond is iced over and your fish are just hanging out dormant. To do so, they will use the hole created by the bubbler / heater you installed as a "Life Support" to get under the ice. If you notice small footprints near the hole or blood/drag marks coming from the hole, these are indicators a mink has come for your fish and may come back.  

Pond Dye – Mink hunt by sight and have no sense of smell underwater. Adding pond dye to your pond will make it so they cannot see what they want to hunt.

You may find raccoons prowling around the pond from here and there, however, normally found at the scene of the crime, after-the-fact, raccoons are rarely capable of killing koi. Obvious signs that koi was killed by a heron and not the raccoon is usually the large puncture wound in the fish.  Once the heron has speared a fish too large to eat, it throws it on the shore, and the raccoon is found with it later.  

Motion Activated Devices – Motion activated lights, motion activated scarecrows, anything that can detect motion at night can help.  

Water lilies, water lettuce and water hyacinth can all help hide your fish from the prying eyes of predators during the pond season.  Koi tunnels and or koi caves give your fish places they can hide when they feel threatened. Lastly, an aerator will not only add oxygen to your pond in the hot summer months but it will also break the water surface up and help to obscure a predators view to whats beneath the surface.

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 | [email protected]

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

A common question we get asked, especially by new pond owners, is will my dog or cat catch my koi fish? We are here to assure you that your fish will be fine. When your k-9 or feline companion begins to explore the big puddle in your backyard for the first time since installation they will be extremely curious. But in their defense, your neighbor and kids are curious too---so are you!!

Typically what we see first is that the dogs want to run around it and test the durability of the rocks around the edge, which is completely fine. They may sniff around at the water, and possibly could even play around on the rocks through the streams. Sooner or later they will become brave enough to take a plunge into the pond, unless of course they hate water, like cats. Cats notoriously hate water...and even when perched along the edge of the pond, cats don't have enough leverage or ability to reach all the way into the pond and scoop a fish out. Cats and dogs may sit and watch fish for hours as if mesmerized --- fish mesmerize everyone though!

Almost every pond built by Dreamscapes Watergardens has at least one fish cave installed in it, which allows the fish to hide from predators. The fish cave is virtually hidden from view. So if for some reason you own a dog that can swim as fast as a fish, they will still have a place to hide out and lie low while your dog is enjoying your water feature. Most dogs tend to lose interest in chasing or staring at fish after they get use to the pond being on your property as well. With a little bit of time and trust, we promise your dog will learn to love your pond and coincide with your fish.

We have two Chesapeake Bay Retrievers, who are WATER DOGS, for example and they are ALWAYS in the pond. A year apart in age but both still fairly young, we went through the feeling out the safety of our fish pretty recently and can report that the dogs have never caused harm to the fish. They may be all over the waterfall and in the pond every day but not only have the fish been safe but we've never had an issue with the liner tearing either from their claws. We also have had our friend's dogs in the pond with no danger done to the fish.

Dreamscapes is a full service watergarden company offered installation, renovation and maintenance services for ponds, waterfalls and fountains all over the Central Pennsylvania area. 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 | [email protected]

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

Even if the water looks clear, regularly testing your pond water is something we all should be doing.  How "regular" depends on the condition of the pond—if you have a heavy fish load or lack a filtration system, you may want to test more often. At Dreamscapes, we prefer to test our outdoor display ponds monthly but the indoor retail tanks every other day during the season. If you notice something out of normal, such as the fish acting different or getting sick, we recommend testing it weekly.  Similarly, when the bacteria colonies are just waking up in the spring and you start feeding fish, we recommend testing the pond often for ammonia and nitrites.

Ammonia –  Ultimately, we want to aim for ZERO ammonia because ammonia is INCREDIBLY toxic to fish.  In a properly cycled and balanced pond, this is not hard to do.  In an overstocked pond, or an under-filtered one, you can easily see elevated ammonia levels.  This is caused by the waste produced by the fish (and other critters like birds and frogs), as well as, leaves decomposing in the water.

pH- Most pond owners look for a pH of about 7.0 – 8.0 but here at Dreamscapes Watergardens, we tend to run at around a 9.0.  Koi generally like a higher pH. The most important thing to note is that while 7.5 and 9.0 are both healthy, a swing in pH can most certainly shock and harm a fish. Thus it is important to acclimate fish properly no matter where you buy them or adopt them from.

Nitrite – Less toxic than ammonia, but still very toxic, we want our nitrite levels to be ZERO.  Nitrite is the second stage of the nitrogen cycle and is the result of ammonia being broken down. In the spring, nitrite poisoning can be common if the conversions are not working properly.

Temperature – Temperature can affect what levels of ammonia become toxic, as well as respiration and metabolism in your fish.  Koi typically can tolerate a broad range of temperatures, from iced over ponds to 90F and we find they typically do well in ponds that stay under 80F in the summer.  The warmer the water is, the more need there will be to oxygenate the water as well. The temperature of the pond is also important to know when it comes to feeding the appropriate food to your fish.

Hardness – Koi do better in hard water because of the relation of salt within their bodies to the dissolved salts in the pond.  Hard water allows koi to ease up on osmoregulation, and therefore reduce stress on your fish.  

Phosphate – Another fertilizer for algae in your pond, its not uncommon to see it introduced from private wells.  If algae is a problem, and all other things have been considered (water changes, feeding, filtration), we look at phosphates as a potential source for algae to grow from.

Copper – Generally only tested if you used a copper based medication or if you are currently using the Aquascape Ion Gen system.  Copper at excessive levels will inhibit plant growth and can damage the skin and gills on your fish. If you notice your fish acting funky or even dying while the other levels are fine, test for copper and check your Iongen. Your Iongen should ONLY BE TURNED ON if string algae is present. If string algae is not present (such as in the spring) unnecessary Copper is released into the water and not absorbed.

For the safety of your fish, Dreamscapes performs FREE WATER TESTS during regular business hours for customers. 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, waterfalls, POOL WATERFALLS or fountain 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 | [email protected]

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

We're going through some photos and found some really great ones from the Stone Ridge Poplar Run project of 2014. Located in Myerstown, Pennsylvania, this retirement living community envisioned an elaborate courtyard where residents could spend evenings talking to friends with relaxation at their fingertips complete with an outdoor kitchen, fire pits, beautiful flower pots and top notch landscaping.

What's outdoor relaxation without the tranquil sound created by moving water? Dreamscapes Watergardens was honored to bring this type of ultimate peace in the form of a watergarden to all those who enjoy it at Stone Ridge since opening spring of 2015.

Starting with a clean slate, the dirt covered courtyard was transformed because of the Aquascape Inc. components that include an incredible filtration system. It's amazing what you can do with some liner, underlayment, rocks and water if you have passion for the project.

Did you know that *most* aquatic plants in zones 5 and 6 like to sit somewhere within 0-6" of water?
The digging part of the project is one of the most intricate parts because of the ability to sustain aquatic plant life. Too deep and plants drown...too shallow and fish freeze solid during winter. Aquatic plants are your waterfeature's natural filterers, so it's important to pay close attention to this level! Dreamscapes digs in what we call "plant shelves" into the waterfeature in order to accommodate not only the ability to sustain aquatic plants but the ability to then have a deeper section in the center to safely over winter fish.

The creativity that is the rock-work serves multiple purposes:
--Rocks and gravel as filtration-- All the gravel in the pond serves as more and more and more places for beneficial bacteria to colonize.
--Predator Safety through Koi Caves-- Koi caves give fish to hide when necessary while not being obvious.
--Crashing Sound of Water in Falls-- The way the rocks are laid in the waterfall contribute to the way the water rushes over them which, in turn, affects the sound the water makes! The further the drop, the louder the sound.
--Natural Looking Feel--As if Mother Nature just happened to exist on it's own!

Boasting an impressive 35 foot by 25 foot wide pond and a massive 20 foot long stream with about 15 feet of elevation, this beautiful waterfeature creates tranquil noises like no other all day and night long. The watergarden at stone ridge also is supported by an Iongen System to minimize maintenance by helping with string algae control.

As the sun starts to set over the buildings at Stone Ridge Popular Run in Myerstown, PA...the Aquascape pond lights turn on and create a whole different atmosphere as the lights illuminate the beauty that is the waterfeature. With almost 2 dozen LED pond lights, the residents of Stone Ridge are able to have dinner served to them in the courtyard and still enjoy the waterfeature lit up when the sun starts to set.

So Now What???

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 | [email protected]

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