Pond Fish are pretty hardy and usually survive the winter with barely any effort year after year. But there are times when you find one, or two…or maybe even all of your pond fish have died over winter.

So what gives…what could be the cause of your winter pond fish loss?

• Aerator – An aerator is one of the most, if not the most, effective ways to prevent winter fish loss. An aerator produces a column of bubbles also known as oxygen that is used by your pond fish, plants, and by the beneficial bacteria.
  

 

• Pond Heater/De-Icer – In winter, you should have a hole open in the ice to allow for the exchange, and escape, of gases. However, breaking a hole in the ice manually could fatally shock your fish.   Pond heaters are thermostatically controlled and safely keeps a hole in the ice as it forms, allowing the lethal gases to escape.
  

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

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

When your fish are acting different then usual, testing the water is a must! The first thing Dreamscapes tests for is ammonia---ammonia is toxic to fish, as it burns at their gills and makes it hard for the fish to breathe. Because it is a slow and painful death, the damage is already done by the time people notice their fish acting weird.

Ammonia stems from a couple different issues, which hand in hand, all cause a MAJOR issue!
     1) Overfeeding-- Not only does overfeeding add extra poop to the water, but it could also mean the fish don't eat all the food you're tossing in, too! Often times, fish pretend to be starving and as soon as you throw in an extra large handful of food, half of it is destined to sink to the bottom of the pond.
     2) Fish waste- The more you feed fish, the more the fish poop. Consider your "magic fish number" and how having "too many fish" can impact the amount of fish waste piling up in your water...especially if you haven't done or don't usually EVER do a Spring Maintenance on the waterfeature.
     3) Dead organic matter-- whether it's dead algae killed by use of algaecides, dead leaves/pollen from the trees above or dead leaves off of pond lilies and other aquatic plants, dead organic matter all contributes to ammonia!
     4) Beneficial Bacteria-- the weekly application of beneficial bacteria promotes the breaking down of dead organic matter in the pond, which without would contribute to the ammonia levels.

The good news is that water treatments and pond nets are all sold at Dreamscapes Watergardens during regular Aquatic Retail Hours AND we even offer Spring Maintenance and Summer Maintenance service options if you want to let us handle the hassle for you.

​ Depending on the severity of the ammonia, a 25-50 percent water change should be performed immediately on the waterfeature and the addition of Ammonia Neutralizer can decrease the harmfulness of the ammonia until it is removed from the water. Please keep in mind, we have seen some ponds need MULTIPLE water changes before getting back in balance.

​

We recommend also adding Pond Salt, as pond salt increases the slime coat of the fish to help protect them from parasites. Salt, however, does not dissipate until a water change has been performed on the feature. Make sure to follow the directions on the back of the container when dosing the pond. Too much salt can kill aquatic plants.   

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

We hear it a lot: "HELP-- my fish are dying!" Sometimes the fish act different first. Other times, you find them floating belly up one after another. Dreamscapes Watergardens does NOT have koi vets on staff and is not a water company that tests for contaminates (i.e. pesticide, fertilizer, wasp spray, etc) that are all absolutely fatal to fish. Dreamscapes does, however, test for ammonia, pH, nirtites and phosphates, which are all treatable. If caught early enough, you can save the rest of your fish from catching whatever the first fish has. Pay attention to your fish activity and test your water regularly so that you can be proactive when things get fishy (pun intended).

You know your fish the best---- after all, you probably see them multiple times a day if you're a true pond-lover (and I imagine you are if you're reading this blog). When your fish start acting different than normal--something's going on! Disclaimer: pond fish sometimes act different when a predator has been around and during mating seasons--so if you haven't read our Heron Blog, consider reading it so you're not confused! 


It is a bad sign when a fish that is typically social or busy starts to segregate themselves and/or stays at the bottom of the pond clamping their fins. Jumping out of the water, scratching themselves on rocks, swimming much slower than normal or not with the other fish as usual are all signs that you should look into the health of your fish and the health of your pond water.

Though, not always easily visible, physical markings can be identified for ulcers, parasites, ich, fungal and other diseases/infections that lead to health complications for the fish that may be fatal. If you notice your fish acting weird, look for a change in their appearance so that you can identify if the issue is treatable. Each infection/disease has a distinct look to it. Knowing what's wrong with one fish can lead you to the fish medication that may save that fish or at least help prevent the other fish from catching it. Some fish need to be quarantined during medication so it is important to know what you're dealing with!
A helpful tool at helping to diagnosed and resolve potential fish problems and diseases, consider checking out the world renowned koi vet: Dr. Erik Johnson's webpage or the Koi Crisis website.

Water Quality is the #1 reason why fish get sick or die. There are parasites in your water no matter what you do because Mother Nature continually exists around your pond. A fish's slime coat protects them from these parasites but if stressed out because of poor water quality, the slime coat breaks down and the fish is susceptible to diseases. Consider adding Pond Salt to the water to increase the slime coat of the fish to be safe.

To maintain good balance in your water, consider your routine maintenance and your seasonal maintenance--
          Was the waterfeature properly shut down in the fall?
          Was a Spring Cleaning performed on the waterfeature?
          What water treatments are you adding weekly or should be adding?
          Is your filtration system big enough for your total gallons of water?
          Do you have TOO MANY fish?
          Are you overfeeding the fish?
          Do you have enough aquatic plants in your pond?

Pay attention to your fish activity and test your water regularly so that you can be proactive when things get fishy (pun intended)!!! Dreamscapes performs free water tests during regular operating hours for ammonia, pH, nitrite and phosphate levels. Dreamscapes 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 Golden Orfe’s beauty and fun personality is definitely an attractive reason to add them to your watergarden but their impact on insect control (water quality) is equally or more important. Yes, they eat fish food, BUT they also eat insects-- YUM!

Long and slender, the Golden Orfe is a deep bodied fish that can get 20” or so in length and can weigh up to 4 pounds. They are a very solid looking fish when mature. Their color is a golden orange mix, but can also appear yellowish and even pale pink.

In the right environment, a Golden Orfe can live 20 years or more in captivity. The Orfe is definitely better kept in larger ponds, ideally over 800 gallons and they do like a lot of oxygen so a pond or water garden with a waterfall and a supplemental air station would be well suited for keeping them.In larger ponds, they like to be in schools and are best displayed that way since they like to constantly swim just under the surface of the water. They move grouped together and rarely will break away solitary.

Koi, goldfish, Pond Sharks and Orfe all co-exist swimmingly and the Orfe is not an aggressive fish unless it’s mating season (March through June). Their courtship involves aggressive behavior which is normal; so if you see a lot of sudden chasing and splashing, that’s probably what’s going on. Fall/Winter care for the Golden Orfe is the same as koi and goldfish but stay up-to-date on our recommendations for "Life Supports" to make sure your fish are smiling at you come spring time.

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


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

String Algae-- every pond owner's worst nightmare. If you have sun and you have water, inevitably you will get algae--right? Balancing pond water comes down to understanding your waterfeature and it's needs--from the magic number of fish and plants to correctly following weekly maintenance tips. Sometimes, though, when full sun is the reigning champion and Mother Nature can't help but gift you the repetitive string algae as a pond accessory, it's less frustrating and more efficient to let someone (or in this case, something) handle the string algae mess for you.4

For more information about string algae specifically, read our blog. For information about a device designed to take care of string algae on its own, read on...

The Aquascape Ion Gen System is an electronic water clarifier for ponds, pondless waterfalls, and decorative water features. Dreamscapes has been selling and installing the Ion Gen electronic water clarifier since 2009 with great results in string algae control, improved water clarity, and reduced maintenance. These machines work incredible in full sun applications where algae can be a battle. 

Ion Gen system consists of 2 basic components:  the control panel and a replaceable copper probe. The control panel needs to be protected from the elements during the season and removed in the Fall once the plants start dying back. We recommend a faux rock cover for the control panel.  The copper probe can be installed in-line in the plumbing or dangling in the skimmer box, if present.

You do not operate the system UNLESS string algae is present in Spring/Summer. Once the unit is plugged in, the Ion Gen control panel sends a signal to the replaceable copper probe which then releases a controlled amount of copper ions into the path of flowing water. The “controlled amount of copper ions” is determined by you on the control panel and based upon the severity of the string algae growth currently present in the waterfeature.  The copper ions released by the probe dramatically reduce string algae, improve water clarity, reduce maintenance, and reduce the need for algaecides.

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 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

Is there a better jewel of your backyard paradise than your watergarden? Some would say it’s the koi fish found within them! Everyone who has a Koi fish raves of the joy they have not only while feeding them but of watching them swim through caves and waterfalls, naming them and what their family and friends think of them. But Koi fish aren't the only beautiful fish you can have swimming in your pond. Dreamscapes takes great pride in being able to sell these family pets right here at our retail location in Lebanon, Pennsylvania (PA)!

One of the things that is so wonderful about welcoming a fishy friend into your pond is that they are pretty low maintenance. You won’t see a Koi scratching at the door to go for a walk, or choosing your prized sofa for a litter box. Nope. Fish live, breath, and eat in the exact same place … your pond. They truly are one of the most low-maintenance pets you can have. AND some fish species are actually helpful to the ecosystem that they live in, nibbling on algae and contributing to the conversion of the nitrogen cycle.

Fish can also “over-winter” in your pond in a state called dormancy underneath all of the ice and snow produced by Mother Nature here in Central, Pennsylvania (PA). Caring for these guys during these months involves just a maintained hole in the ice, allowing any toxic gases from the production of fish waste to escape, as well as, supplemental aeration for koi fish larger than 10” in length. You also stop feeding these fun creatures once the water temperature dips below 55 degrees, which makes caring for them even easier. For more information on fish during the winter, read our blog:

When it comes to feeding them, you may notice that there are several different recommendations filling the internet and book pages alike. An important point to note is that the more you feed them, the bigger and the faster they grow! While fish will continue to eat and eat, long past the point that they’re hungry, koi fish will actually nibble on algae in the event you have not fed them enough.

If your fish are part of a balanced ecosystem, as is the case with the Aquascape system, your best bet is to feed them as much as they will eat in two minutes, being careful not to leave too much food floating at the surface. It is also important to mention that the more you feed them, the more they will poop--leaving you more work to clean up after in terms of maintenance and water treatment applications. We recommend once a day or once every other day to cut down on poor water quality conditions.

One of the greatest things about owning a pond is the variety of Pond-living pets available. But before you go ahead filling your pond with all your favorite fish finds, it is important to first figure out how many fish your pond is designed to hold-- did you know you can have TOO many fish? Check out our other fish blog if you still need to know your magic "fish" number!

Goldfish and Shubunkin are two great fish species that live harmoniously with Koi, are cheaper than koi and are available at Dreamscapes Watergarden’s Aquatic Center. Goldfish are incredibly resilient and can be a great starter fish for a new pond owner. Best of all, they come in all, shapes, sizes, and colors! Dreamscapes carries strinkingly beautiful orange, white and black goldfish, making it easier to spot them through your pond water. While Koi fish continue growing and have been known to grow as large as 3’ in length, Goldfish will only grow as big as their environment, making them a perfect fit for a preformed pond, patio pond or container pond.

Another fish that is sure to find its way into your heart resembles the Koi, but is much smaller. With a flow-y tail a "SHUBUNKIN" differs from the Koi in the fact that it doesn’t have “barbells,” which are a sort of whiskers that are used to root through gravel.

The Aquatic Center and Retail store at Dreamscapes Watergardens opens officially every season in April and will begin selling fish for the year later in that month. Please advise that adding fish to your Central Pennsylvania pond sooner than late April can be fatal for the fish, as Lebanon County temperatures are historically too low at that time for safe acclimation.

To get your pond up and running for the season, stop by Dreamscapes for a full line of Aquascape Inc. products.

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

If you have fish in your pond, sooner or later they are going to have babies if all the right water quality balances are in place i.e. if you have poor water quality, your fish may not be the healthiest to have babies of their own. Late spring/early summer usually marks the time of year when koi and goldfish start to spawn.

Fish spawn tends to look like soap bubbles or foam on top of the pond. You may also notice your pond fish acting differently than usual-- rubbing against each other aggressively and chasing each other around the pond. When koi and goldfish spawn, they produce thousands of eggs but very few actually survive and grow up into baby fish. Often times, but by accident, other fish in the pond end up eating the fish eggs---especially curious koi, as they are always nosing around the pond looking for things to nibble on.

The eggs hatch a few days at a microscopic size, taking a few weeks to grow big enough for you to notice that they exist at all. At this stage in development, the baby fish survive by feeding off of different microorganisms in your pond and you don't need to worry about feeding them yourself--let nature take it's course. Baby fish can grow up to an inch long in a couple months if the water quality remains healthy and they are able to find enough food in your pond. At this size, they may start eating commercial food if it is crushed up for them. Fish food that is high in protein content can help bulk them up in size quicker than the microorganisms in the pond will. Growing them quickly is helpful when it comes to the overwintering practices in the Lebanon County, Lebanon Pennsylvania area.

The size of the fish by the end of summer is important to know as you begin to consider over-Wintering plans for your new babies. If you decide to let them over-winter outside, they may or may not survive, especially if they don’t have enough fat reserve to tide them over. If you don't want to chance their survival and they decide to bring them inside, make sure you have a large enough tank with adequate filtration because they will continue to grow inside over Winter.
Another thing to remember is that if your pond babies continue to survive year after year, sooner or later they are going to get big and could overcrowd your pond. It is important to know and stick to your magic "fish number" of how many fish your pond can comfortable house without compromising the health of the entire ecosystem.  If you plan on keeping some of the babies, understand that eventually you may have to get rid of some of them so to ensure you don't compromise the all of the fish.

Watching the baby fish grow up is fun and the whole process is a great learning experience for kids and adults, alike.

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

Dreamscapes carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours:  April 5th-May 27th:         Wednesday-Friday: 10am-5pm; Sat: 9am-1pm
                                                         Mon & Tues: Hours By Appointment
                     May 28th-Nov 25th:        Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm; Sat 9am-12pm
                                                         Mon, Tues, Weds: Hours By Appointment
                     Nov 26th-April 2018:       All Hours By Appointment


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

You heard us right---POND SHARK--they do exist! Dreamscapes Watergardens in Lebanon Pennsylvania began offering these super awesome Pond Shark's at our Aquatic Center during the 2016 Retail Season after many, many people suggested we carry them and we believe they make an incredible addition to your backyard ecosystem.

But why and what do you need to know about these fun Pond Shark fish before acclimating them to your backyard pond in Lebanon, Pennsylvania?

Proper care of this fish will give them a very long life span lasting many decades. While Pond Sharks are most comfortable when water temperatures in your pond are between 60F and 75F, they pretty much go dormant with temperatures below 55F. A large environment is necessary (we recommend AT LEAST an 11'x16' pond or larger). A large pond will allow them to grow to their potential size, maxing out at about 3’ in length. Though considered a "slow grower", in order to grow they need a complete diet which thankfully includes the algae that they like to nibble off the rocks and gravel in the bottom of your pond. But they eat all sorts of stuff like krill, earthworms, and prepared fish foods like sunken koi pellets.

We always find it necessary to remind folks to be cautious of the number of inches of fish your pond can comfortably hold, as well as, what you're current fish load is capable of reaching. Remember, to find out your magic "fish number" you must live by the 1" of fish for every 10 gallons of water rule. Staying under this limit will help to keep your pond levels in balance! Poor water quality negatively affects the fish health and their growing capabilities.

ALSO important is to make sure that you have an adequate filtration system to maintain a balanced ecosystem when caring for all pond fish alike. Dreamscapes swears by and installs the Aquascape Inc, filtration system in every pond and waterfall. If your setup does not include a proper filtration system, you may have trouble maintaining quality water levels, even if you stay underneath of your suggested fish load---ultimately compromising the health of the fish. 

Despite it's name, this Pond Shark will NOT eat your other fish-- they only eat algae and sunken fish food. An algae eating shark, c’mon… how cool? Actually, Pond Sharks are more closely related to algae eating sucker fish of the aquarium trade than to an ocean dwelling, fish eating, shark. Some of its best personality traits are that it is compatible with goldfish, koi, and a many other pond fish. Having been known to generally hang out on the bottom of the pond, interacting with this fish comes with pretty minimal opportunity.

With it's strong striking pattern of vertical bands to include contrasting black and off-white colors, this fish is a whole different type of eye catcher than your typical Koi or Goldfish. One of the neat parts about their physical traits is that the stripes combine the bigger the fish get, turning more of a solid maroon in color and more physically resembles the ocean shark. So though he does  not maintain those zebra looking stripes pictured above, they do have a lot to prove in the way they make their transformation.

Seasonally, Dreamscapes carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, as well as, hundreds of plants and fish! If you think you need it, we have it! Plants and fish are offered from late April/early May through September every year and always temperature permitting for the safety and longevity of the fish and plants. Similarly, Pond Sharks are generally very popular in our retail store and a waiting list does accrue during Spring- consider putting your name on it!

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