Imagine stepping outside your home into your very own backyard oasis, complete with a beautiful water feature. Sit back and listen to the soothing sounds of running water as you enjoy the enchanting sights of nature. Feel the cares of the world slip from your shoulders as you experience your personal vacation spot!

• Spend more quality time with family outdoors.
• Enjoy the delight of your children or grandchildren as they explore nature, up close and personal.
• Gather and entertain friends and family outside near your beautiful water feature.

You'll wonder what took you so long to discover and enjoy the water feature lifestyle!

Dreamscapes Watergardens installs koi fish ponds as small as 8'x11' and as large as you can imagine. The smaller the waterfeature, the harder it is to maintain because of the fluctuating temperatures of the water but as long as you stick to your 5 minute maintenance weekly, you'll be alright!

The price quotes below are for complete pond installations by Dreamscapes Watergardens in 2018:
Small Aquascape Ecosystem Pond 8'x11': Starting at $6,999 Installed
Medium Aquascape Ecosystem Pond 11'x16': Starting at $12,499 Installed
Large Aquascape Ecosystem Pond 21'x26': Starting at $24,999 Installed

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,

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

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

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

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

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

Dreamscapes also carries a full line of pond supplies from water treatments and fish medications to pond pumps, heaters, fountains, plants and fish! Tadpoles and snails are also available at our Aquatic Retail Center in Lebanon, Pennsylvania seasonally while supplies last from May-August.  If you think you need it, we have it!

Retail Hours:  April 5th-October 27th 2018:
                           Monday-Wednesday: By Appt
                           Thursday-Friday: 10am-5pm
                           Saturday: 9am-12pm
                     October 28th-April 2019: HOURS BY APPT


Contact Us
2155 State Route 343, Lebanon Pa | 717-272-6555 | [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,

There is a ton of information out there about water gardens, but it's contradictory and just plain confusing sometimes. Remember to plan your decision making about building a naturally-balanced beautiful water feature about the zone for which you live (i.e. don't get pond advice from a Ponder in Florida if you live in Pennsylvania).

Let's talk about the 5 Elements of a Healthy ecosystem, remembering that without one of these could throw off the balance of your pond---promoting poor water quality. Once you understand each element, we can explain how all of them work together .

A filtration includes the use of a both a biological and a mechanical filter.

A Biological filter provides surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize and remove excess nutrients by way of extra filter mats that trap the particles before the water spills back into the pond. We often refer to the biological filter as the "biofalls box" because it exists at the water"falls".

A Mechanical filter pre-filters the water before the water gets to the pump, reducing the possibility of clogged pumps. The mechanical filter, often referred to as a "skimmer box", also skims debris from the water's surface to prevent the accumulation of organic materials on the pond floor.

Rocks and gravel will not only protect your pond liner from UV light degradation, but the rocks and gravel will also provide amazing surface area for beneficial bacteria to break down excess nutrients in the water and dissolved organic debris on the pond floor.

Dreamscapes uses rocks and gravel in every single pond and waterfall project we've ever done since we opened our business.

Ensuring that your pond has a recirculating system means that not only are you keeping the water moving (this prevents stagnant water that mosquitos really like), but you're also providing necessary oxygen levels for health fish and healthy plants. The proper pump size and pipe diameter are extremely important for the aesthetics of a water feature because you should be recirculating your total pond water volume 2-3 times an hour to ensure proper filtration.

Even though fish are often seen as high maintenance, they actually play a very important role in the balance of an ecosytem. Fish actually REDUCE pond maintenance, as they graze on string algae and will bottom feed from the pond floor. Dreamscapes carries and sells different pond fish seasonally in our Aquatic Retail Center from late April-September every year. We can let you know how to keep your pond fish safe from predators, answer any questions about fish feeding or even about keeping your fish alive over winter months.

Ah- a pond's natural filterer. Plants are great for adding character to a pond by providing varying colors, textures  shapes and heights to your pond, blending in the edges from rock to landscape. Thriving from the excess nutrients in a pond and depriving algae of its food source, the aquatic plants in a water garden, given proper coverage, are critical for overall health of the ecosystem.

Let's picture life inside a backyard pond ecosystem:
    1) Fish nibble on the plant life, including algae, while absorbing oxygen created by the recirculating system.
    2) Fish produce waste that fall to the bottom of the pond
    3) Debris, and waste, is broken down by the aerobic bacteria and the other microorganisms colonized on the rocks and gravel all over the pond bottom and in the bioballs that live i the filtration system.
    4) Once broken down, these substances are absorbed by nutrition by the plants
    5) The plants grow and are once again nibbled on by the fish.
    6) Unused waste and debris are trapped inside the debris basket and filter mats of the filtration system and removed manually.

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,

Summertime—the most beautiful time of year and the best chance to truly enjoy the pond.

By Summer, the majority of your pond maintenance should be behind you if you properly performed a Spring Clean-out on your water feature. There are some summer maintenance items that still need to be addressed in order to have a season of clean, clear water to enjoy. By keeping up on these tasks PROACTIVELY, you should have a healthy pond all season long.

You can lose up to an inch of evaporation a day if it’s really really hot outside so you need to make sure the water level stays where it should be. Maintaining the correct water level will ensure that the pump and/or skimmer are able to operate properly which will help keep your pond free of debris. Whether you're topping off your pond with a garden hose or you're filling with an auto-fill valve, the correct operation of your skimmer box provides oxygenated water for your fish, which is important when considering that the summer heat can be tough on oxygen levels.

The more the merrier (though there IS  a fine line)! If at all possible, try to cover at least a third of the pond’s surface area with water lilies. Ideally during the summer, 40-60 percent of your water surface should have coverage.

Keep your plants looking good by trimming them when necessary==same as you would with any regular landscape or house plant. Routine maintenance, including removal of spent blooms, yellowing leaves, and excess growth will get rid of nutrients in the pond (nutrients come from the decomposition of those spent/yellowing leaves), reducing the possibility of algae blooms.

In the extreme heat of the summer, over feeding can lead to oxygen depletion and possible algae blooms (the more they eat, the more they poop!). It’s important to remember that fish can eat and eat until they over eat. Ours ALWAYS pretend like they’re starving. It’s possible that they’re just being friendly when they greet you and not begging for food. A good rule of thumb is not to feed your fish more than they can eat in a period of two to three minutes at a time.

If you have a biological filtration system (also known as a biofalls or “top box” , cleaning off the filter pads will destroy the algae-fighting bacteria that live there, resulting in excess algae growth. It will also disturb the “biomedia” that live up in that box, causing them to either die, or wash down into the pond creating a murky look for a while.

If your lilies are potted, use fertilizer tabs near the base of the plant to encourage more blooms. Lilies planted into the pond, however, pull the nutrients they need right from the pond. There are a lot of benefits to having lilies in your pond: from shade and protection, to reducing the water temperature and of course the sheer beauty of them.

Bacteria sounds bad, but it’s not! Not the beneficial kind anyways. Follow the dosage instructions on the label and add bacteria weekly to compete with the algae for excess nutrients in the water, helping reduce the growth of algae

Avoid using fertilizer in areas that may drain into your pond. Fertilizer will cause a surge of excess nutrients in your pond and actually encourage algae blooms. Similarly, runoff from mulch can cause tanins (tea colored water) from making their way into the pond.

Remember, your water garden is there for you to ENJOY and it’s much easier to do so if you’re maintainancing it proactively instead of reactively.

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,

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,

This is one of the most popular questions we get at Dreamscapes Watergardens. Warmer weather gets everyone itching to plan out their summer.  When determining what size Koi Pond is best for you and your family, there are different factors that should be taken into consideration. Keep in mind that having a professional pond builder onsite can help design the layout to include various vantage points for your new water feature.  If you are a Do-it-yourself kind of person, consider a few important factors, such as:
            A)  Proximity to the house.
            B)  Where if your favorite spot to unwind inside?
            C)  Budget

To some, this may seem obvious but surprisingly it's not! So we will point it out more---
  Might you enjoy the pond more often, if it is closer to your outdoor living space?
The lay of the land close to your house will help determine what size Koi Pond you can have. Ideally, close to where you sit often or spend a majority of your outdoor time. Consider the space around your patio chairs to be ideal. Imagine this: your family around your patio set (table/chairs) enjoying a summer evening bbq meal with the pond next to you.

Often homeowners don’t think about the fact that a pond can also be (and should be!) enjoyed from inside of the home gazing outward.  Is it the sun room you enjoy breakfast in or your family room that you unwind in after work with your glass of wine?  If so, you may want to consider putting the pond with visibility from the window of your favorite spot. Why? Fall and winter seasons are just as beautiful as spring and summer. Don't forget those rainy summer days or even those blisteringly hot ones that leave you inside during the hottest part of the summer day. Once again, what is the available space just outside that window or door?  If you are fortunate to have a view of your koi pond from inside, it will provide enjoyment year round, during pleasant and not so pleasant weather conditions.

In the end, most of the time, when trying to figure out what size pond works best for you, the deciding factor often comes down to budget. Minimally, for maintenance purposes, we recommend that your pond should be at least 8’ x11’ because anything smaller will prove to be harder to control algae and the health of the ecosystem. Large Koi need space to swim, as well as, more water volume to balance out the ratio of their poop to clean water while it goes through the filtration system. For more information on the balance of the ecosystem, read our blog:

On average, most pond owners install three ponds in their lifetime (more if you move houses).  They start with a small pond based on budget, then expand to the pond they think they want; and often enlarge it again to finally achieve the “right pond” for their setting/needs. Sometimes this is motivated by amount of fish stocked and sometimes this is motivated by the ultimate viewing angles. There is nothing wrong with this process, but if budget allows, it is best to consider all of these factors the first time around.

If you have any other questions, or need help figuring out what size koi pond is best for you and your home please contact us here.
Check out some completed koi pond designs to help generate ideas today!

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

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

Sure, it’s chilly and your pond is probably the last thing on your mind right now. But it’s actually a perfect time to start thinking about any changes you’d like to make to your backyard pond or waterfall.

At Dreamscapes Watergardens, we don’t just install new ponds, we also rehab, renovate and restore ponds that have fallen into disrepair, too! We upgrade ponds that could use a little more flare by bringing new life with the addition of driftwood, boulder work or even waterfall “facelifts”. Whether you need to upgrade your filtration system or you’d like to expand your water feature to house some big fish, we’ve got you covered.

When you’re thinking about next steps for your pond, consider its current state:

• Do you normally handle a maintenance nightmare?
  
• Is there often stagnant or gunky water?
  
• Does it leak, leaving you to refill the pond more than usual?
  

If your water feature is working well but you’re just looking to change things up a bit, the next step is to daydream. What would your ideal backyard paradise look like? Here are some things to think about when plotting your pond makeover:

• What do you enjoy the most about your pond? Is it the relaxing sound of running water, or the visual appeal of the plants and scenery. Maybe you love the interaction with the fish, birds, and other wildlife. Whatever brings you the greatest joy, build your dream pond around that.
• What do you like (or dislike) about your current pond? What would make you want to spend more time around your pond?
  

Spring is here and summer will be here before you know it. Planning now can help make your backyard dreams a reality – and Dreamscapes Watergardens can help. Give us a call at 717-272-6555 or contact us online to explore how to make the most of your outdoor space.

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,

Every spring we get an influx of phone calls from new homeowners who have inherited a pond and are trying to figure out how to maintain it. Other times it's a DIY customer who is designing their very first pond and are planning their maintenance. So naturally, we ask about how the pond (or the plan for the pond) is set up and whether or not that set up includes rocks and gravel. We often find the same 3 questions from new ponders:

                                   “Do Rocks and gravel make ponds dirty?”
– Plain and simple: Rocks and gravel do not make a pond dirty. A pond can only become dirty depending upon how the pond owner manages the pond—i.e. are you over feeding your fish? Are you cleaning out your pond yearly? Are you properly maintaining it at all? Imagine a rock by itself---it doesn’t have any byproducts…it doesn’t ooze any liquids. If you place rocks and gravel into a body of water and just leave it alone what will it do? Sit there. However, if a pond owner overfeeds, overstocks fish, poorly maintains or even neglects that same rock and gravel-filled pond, it will indeed APPEAR dirty. The reality is that a pond without rocks and gravel will be the same amount of dirty—you just don’t notice it as much if the dark waste is against a black liner. In fact, there are benefits to gravel, in that it can actually enhance filtration and water quality in a pond if used correctly with beneficial bacteria products.

                          “Can rocks and gravel kill your fish?”
–It is true that some varieties of rock can fluctuate pH levels, or begin breaking down in the water, thereby causing issues. If you’re using the correct rock however, generally river gravel/pea gravel, then there is no worries about the potential of them killing your fish.

              “Will rocks and gravel will poke holes through the pond liner?”
– While this COULD BE a possible problem if the pond was built incorrectly, it is also true that the damage that rocks and gravel can do to liners is from human error or poor material choices. Don’t just use any jagged/sharps and think about what you’re doing when you place them on the liner and you will see that damage to pond liners from rocks and gravel pretty much never happens. It's also important to consider what type of pond liner you've used or how old it is. We've had DIY customers try to reuse 15-20 year old liners they've found on craigslist, which is ultimately on it's way "out" (i.e. getting brittle). So of course it's set up for rips and tears and isn't the fault of the rocks--- but of the liner itself. Liners made specifically for pond use is DESIGNED to withstand and coexist with rocks and gravel. For example, we've used rocks that weigh a couple tons and haven't had problems-- it's super tough stuff!

We’ve used rocks and gravel in ponds for 2 decades without any of the problems we’ve heard concerns over. These are probably the most common conerns we’ve heard against the use of rock and gravel from being used inside water features. Maybe you have questions about a different argument against the use of rocks and gravel in ponds--- ask them!

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,