WaterScapes Pro

Common Questions

Why is your system the best on the market?

We use commercial grade Aquascapes, Inc. equipment on each of our installations which includes all of the essential components necessary for a well balanced, easy to maintain ecosystem. Just as in nature, the elements of your water garden system work together in harmony, allowing for aquatic plantlife, fish and natural bacteria, resulting in clear water and very little maintenance.

What is the best size for a water feature?

That depends on your yard and budget. You may want fish and plants or you may want a low maintenance pond less waterfall. Contact us and we will help you determine the perfect water feature for you.

How much will it cost to have my own water feature?

As with most things, you get what you pay for. Waterscapes Pro is a Certified Aquascapes Contractor. We use only the best products, which, installed properly, will provide you with many years of trouble-free water gardening enjoyment with minimal regular maintenance. A poorly installed water feature, not only looks contrived, but actually costs more overall as sooner or later, you will have to spend to have the original problems corrected. Consider a water garden installation from a Certified Aquascapes Contractor . Waterscapes Pro can assist in the design and consultation, to help match your budget to a water feature customized for you.

What kinds of fish and plants should I put in my water feature?

The possibilities are endless. Koi and Goldfish are hardy fish that do well with the change of seasons and are loved by pond owners everywhere. Some pond owners stock their ponds with native fish or game fish. Water plants can be grouped into one of the following six categories: water lilies, lotus, marginal, floating-leaved, floating, and submerged. It is best to have a variety of plant-life and you can even plant them to bloom at different times of the day using certain species. If you are interested in learning more, you should consider taking one of our many available seminars.

What will happen to my fish and plants in the winter?

If there’s a hole in the ice for gasses (including oxygen) to be exchanged, fish will simply go down to the bottom of your pond and hibernate until spring. Ponds that are 24” or deeper have plenty of space for the fish to be comfortable, even though ice can be 8 to 10” deep in the colder climates of North America. Just like regular garden plants, some aquatics are cold hardy and can be expected to survive the winter. Annuals (also known as tropicals) will need to be replanted each season unless you pull them out of the pond and store them in a warm place. To learn more just take our fall shut down seminar.

How do I care for my fish?

Fish are scavengers and can generally live off of anything they find in the pond, including the algae. If you want to see your fish grow in any significant way or if your pond is heavily stocked with fish, you will need to feed them. Give them no more than what they can gobble down in five minutes. Excess food creates more nutrients that can encourage algae growth, causing more work for you. To learn more just take one of our fish seminars.

Why do you use rocks and gravel on the bottom of the pond?

Rocks and gravel offer a natural place for the aerobic bacteria that breaks down the fish waste and collected debris to colonize to set up housekeeping, actually reducing the amount of muck. The muck that gathers on the bottom of a rock-free pond can gather in on a rock and gravel pond bottom, but the bacteria is there to fight it. A rock and gravel pond also keeps the bottom of your water garden from being slippery due to nature’s debris build-up.

How do I care for my plants?

Basically water plants take care of themselves. If you thin them back with your yearly maintenance cleaning, you really shouldn’t have to do anything more than enjoy them. If you want to learn more about the various varieties, please look into taking our pond plants seminar.

Why don’t you use bottom drains or UV lights?

Bottom drains are old technology from when people thought ponds should be like swimming pools. They can cause major pond leaks that can drain your entire pond and they are not as efficient as the skimmer/filter method used by Waterscapes Pro. UV lights increase algae growth and do not help maintain the over healthy ecosystem that we provide. You can still take advantage of beautiful lighting for your pond, but we suggest you consider low voltage lighting, not UV lighting.

How do I care for my pond?

Pond maintenance should only take you around 3 minutes every 2 weeks. You will need to check the skimmer and take out debris. Look at your water to make sure your water quality looks good. We would be delighted to answer any questions you may have just contact us. You can also sign up for a seminar or one of our maintenance packages.