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 | 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

Generally speaking, you should plan to prepare your plants for the chillier days of autumn in late September. When the days are shorter and the temperatures begin to drop giving way to the morning frost, you can be sure it is time to take action. Fall aquatic plant care also helps when trying to secure pond nets during the fall shutdown process to the waterfeature. For more information on the fall/winter shutdown process, please read our blog!

Dreamscapes keeps in stock only HARDY AQUATIC plants. So if you bought your aquatic plants at Dreamscapes Watergardens, rest assured they should come back or you in the Spring of 2018 when you start opening your pond for the season. When these plants are turning yellow and brown, it is not only a signal to stop fertilizing them, but you may consider trimming the dying foliage to about 2 inches above the water level. Semi-evergreen varieties can be left for longer interest. And the best news? You may leave these plants where they are in your pond!

Even if we don’t carry them, we can’t forget the TROPICAL MARGINAL aquatic plants. Here in our Zone 4-5 climate, we treat these plants as annuals, by replacing them each season. Keeping tropical waterlilies indoors over the winter is difficult so we advise our customers to treat them as annuals and purchase a new plant each season and to certainly remember to remove the plant entirely in the Fall so that the foliage doesn’t contribute to sludge build up after it decomposes. An alternative is to treat these tropical plants as houseplants and bring them in for the winter. They may be potted in a sealed clay pot with no drainage holes, or an ordinary pot if you add water regularly. When kept moist, the plants do well in a sunny window or sunroom.

Taking the time to properly care for your aquatic plants will mean happier and healthier plants next spring, and (in turn) a cleaner, healthier, pond ecosystem for your fish. Dreamscapes carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally.  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

Here at Dreamscapes Watergardens, we get asked the same question about frogs: "how do I get my frog to stay in my backyard pond?"

Whether you're introducing frogs or tadpoles into your backyard pond on your own or if they're finding you by chance, frogs definitely add a new dimension to the pond lifestyle through sights, sounds and splishy splashy. All frogs start their lifecycle as an egg in the water but frog habitats go well beyond the pond. They're found above and below ground, above and below water, in trees, grasses, jungles, cities, numerous other combinations of habitats, and they're even invading our homes.They always stay near water, though.

Adult frogs will hunt and eat insects, worms, snails, dragonflies, mosquitoes, and grasshoppers. Larger frogs will also go after small animals like mice, snakes, birds, other frogs, small turtles, and even small sick/weak fish from our ponds if they can fit in their mouths. Healthy backyard pond fish like koi, goldfish, and orfe shouldn't be worried about.

Herons, raccoons, snakes, turtles, fox, big fish and possum (on the other hand) all want to eat frogs, while dogs and cats often play too rough with them.

Antisocial creatures, frogs are only generally seen with other frogs during breeding season. Fish love to eat the eggs which look like round, clear jelly-like clusters while toad eggs are laid in long strands. It is not unusual to find the inside of a skimmer box or lily pads covered with eggs during breeding season. As a pond owner, you don't have to do anything to help them survive--- just let Mother Nature run it's course.

To help make your frogs want to stay you need to create the right home for them.  Add aquatic plants, like grasses in the pond to hide in and lily pads (classic thought) but even rocks around the perimeter allowing the frogs to bask in the sun. Frogs are amphibious and can easily transition from skillful swimmers submerged below water to fully adept land rovers navigating around. If you have a fully shaded pond, you may have a harder time finding frogs that want to stay. Landscaping plants around the pond are ideal for when they want to hop out and explore---they make the waterfeature feel more natural for a frog. If you have a loud gushing pond with a waterfall, consider providing areas with slow water flow because frogs like quiet water, too! If you don't have koi caves already in your pond, consider how to provide some shelter within the pond with a simple clay pot. Lastly, frogs do not like the pond “too clean” because they can't blend in as well for protection. Algae here and there is OK! Frogs may get curious about what else is "out there" and hop away to check it out.

Be sure to check pond netting for the occasional frog stuck on top of the net who is trying to make his way inside. If he can't get into the pond, he has to find a home elsewhere! It is even recommended to add a 6″ deep tray of compacted soil covered with gravel mulch as a place to dig in for the winter months. If you keep your pump running over the winter, resident frogs are known to climb into pond skimmers to enjoy the warmer pocket of air inside the skimmer box. So keep your eye on the water flow because sometimes frogs get stuck and end up  clogging the pump!!

For most homeowners, Dreamscapes recommends to pull the pump over the winter and do a full pond shutdown. More information on that service can be found by checking out our waterfeature maintenance page.

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,

From colorful water lilies that dance on the pond’s surface to aquatic Forget-Me-Nots that hug the edges of your water garden, it’s the amazing pond plants that put the “garden” in “water garden.” You can apply many of the same tips and guidelines you use to create your terrestrial flower beds. Things like color, height, and planting conditions are things you’ll want to consider when it comes to naturalizing your pond with plants.

Know Your Plant Size. One of the biggest mistakes novice water gardeners make is knowing how big their chosen plants have the capacity to become in a few seasons. Be sure to take height and width of the mature plant into consideration and allow enough space for future growth.
Create Interest with Variety. Random placement of plants with different colors and textures will create more interest than using plants that have all the same growth habit or leaf shape. Consider how Mother Nature feels more random than anything else.
Group Plants Together. Remember to group like objects together will create visual impact.  Plant a row of marsh marigolds along a stretch of the ponds edge, as opposed to dotting them all around the pond in single locations.
Short in Front, Tall in Back. This might seem like a no-brainer, but in order to not lose the visual impact of plants, always put shorter plants in front of taller ones. Keep in mind where you generally view your pond from and plan your pond plantings from that place, whether your deck, patio or sunroom window.
Go Green. A soft, calming space is created by using different textures and shades of green foliage. The combination is effective on its own, but also looks great when accented by pops of colorful flowers. You can also play with color based on leaf selection alone, since you’ll find aquatic foliage in a range of colors such as red, purple, yellow, and several variegated combinations.
Consider Each Plant’s Needs. Be mindful of how much sun your aquatic plants require, along with their planting depth. If a plant requires full sun, that’s a minimum of 6 hours of unobstructed sun per day. If you’re not sure what your plant needs, ask the pro at your local garden center or search online for information.
Play with Colors. Choose colors you like best and consider the type of lighting your pond receives. Yellow, orange, and white help brighten shady areas, while cool blue and violet tone down the intensity of the sun’s rays.

Mimic-ing Mother Nature can be fun if you have experience or a guideline to follow. Variety is the spice of gardening life, so don’t be afraid to experiment … or follow our handy planting guides below! You’ll want to ensure an interesting mix of aquatic plant types for your water garden. Plant a few marginal at the pond’s edge, include colorful water lilies or even a lotus, add floating plants like water lettuce, and include submerged plants to help add oxygen to your pond.

Pond Size    Gallons of Water      Marginal Plants      Water Lillies
4x6                         300                         7                          1
8x11                       500                        11                          1
11x11                     700                        12                          2
11x16                   1000                        14                          2-3
16x16                   1500                        16                          3 
16x21                   2000                        17                          4

For more specific information on plants and your pond, please contact us directly!

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 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

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