What is Your View?

What is my view? 

From our dining room I look through our french doors and see dragonflies fluttering on my lotus blossoms and my beautiful waterfall that is framed by lush tropical landscape.

What is your view?

This time of is the perfect time to open the windows and let the Orlando, Central Florida breeze carry the sound of your waterfall through your home.

When we go on design consultations we are always suggesting that the water feature be as close to your home as is possible. Why? The closer to your home the more you are able to enjoy it.
Maybe you'll be able to watch the flowing water as you look out the window while doing dishes or maybe koi fish will great your guest as they enter your home.

 

A very popular Orlando, Central Florida landscape enhancement is to add an ecosystem pond or pondless waterfall onto Florida rooms and lanai's. This often gives multiple vantage points to view your piece of paradise from. Would you love to have this view?

 

 

 

 

 This ecosystem pond has many views of the graceful koi and Florida landscape.

 

 

 Imagine coming home to this view everyday.

 

 

 

 What is your view?  We would love for you to share it with us.

 

It's not just a landscape upgrade, it's a lifestyle upgrade. 

Start living the pond lifestyle today!

 

 

Pondtastic made a big splash at the 2016 Orlando Home and Garden Show.

This year's display featured the new Aquascape Spillway Bowls which was the crowd favorite.

These new spillway bowls can be placed in any pond, pondless waterfall or be a stand alone water feature of it's own to add beauty and tranquility to your Orlando Central Florida(FL) landscape.
We love the versatility that these spillway bowls offer, you can have multiple bowls spilling from different elevations to create a dramatic splashing water feature or you can enjoy the tranquil sound of one bowl spilling into the other.

Crazy Legs Spitter made his annual appearance at the Orlando Home and Garden Show. Many giggles and countless pictures were taken of this fun and whimsical spitting frog. Each year we spend hours making a break taking display to give landscape ideas for the Orlando Central Florida (FL) area and Crazy Legs gets just as many comments and photos taken as the amazing ponds,waterfalls and fountainscapes do.





Thinking about having a new feature added to your Orlando, Central Florida (FL) landscape or maybe you would like to upgrade your existing water feature include a spillway bowl or bowls.
Contact us and we will be happy to go over options to enhance your landscape.




 Here are a few pictures of Pondtastic Water Garden's display at the 2016 Orlando Home and Garden Show

Pondtastic Helps Build Dream Pond in Titusville, Central Florida (FL)

What is your dream pond? Do you want a large pond so you can have big koi swimming gracefully by? Or is it to have a pond that always blooming with beautiful aquatic plants?
Gary Wittstock of Titusville, Fl had many visions for his dream pond, those dreams came true in February as his new Ecosystem "dream pond" was built at his new retirement home.
 
This pond owner is very special to Jim and I, Gary and his son have been mentors to us since starting Pondtastic Water Gardens.
Gary is the "Pond Father" Gary's son, Greg
Wittstock The Pond Guy, owns and operates Aquascape Inc. the largest supplier of water feature equipment in North America. If you've read our blogs or newsletters for any amount of time you've read us reference Aquascape 100's of times. You've seen our pictures with Greg as we've received many recognition's and awards from Aquascape. The best recognition to date was being named  Aquascape Certified Contractor of the Year.



This story really starts in 1982, with Greg and his turtles. The Wittstock family moved from New Jersey to Wheaton IL with 11 turtles in the bottom drawer of their refrigerator.
By the second day in their new home 12 year old Greg had already dug a backyard pond for his beloved turtles. This pond was not the ecosystem liner ponds of today but rather a concrete pond  that turned green and cracked. This pond however is what started the Wittstock men on a journey that continues today.

Gary recently retired to the Titusville, Central Florida (FL) area and left behind his ponds of 34 years.
Leaving behind the freezing winter of Illinois for  the tropical climate of Central Florida (FL)
The plans got in motion when Greg flew into Orlando to meet with a potential client to be aired on the show Pond Squad. 

Jim met Greg and Gary for lunch as Gary shared his vision of what his dream pond would look. That was in June of 2015. Gary kept in touch with Jim and I and we learned that this special pond build was going to be a "build a pond" Certified Aquascape Contractors from around the state and even as far as Long Island NY came to build this "Dream Pond" in Titusville, Central Florida (FL).


It's always great for us to get together with other pond builders to build, we always learn something new. Unveiled at this pond build was the new Aquascape skimmer which was installed by Dave Havrilka with Aquascape Products and Development. Working along side us were great friends and mentors from across the state,  Pondtastic Water Gardens had the shortest drive over to Titusville, Central Florida (FL) at 45 minutes and the longest drive was 2 hrs 30 minutes which was driven by Pinellas Ponds. A HUGE Shout Out to Jeff of Island Aquascape Inc for traveling from Long Island NY to build for Gary.

Gary has been involved in the pond world much of his adult life from building, design work to manufacturing. He knew what to expect through the entire process and yet he was still in awe if the process. Many times I would see him just stand back with the biggest smile on his face or say "I just can't believe this"
I loved to watch as Gary proudly explained to the many golf cart riding neighbors that stopped by to see what all these people were doing in his yard and changing his landscape.
Already residents in the community are changing their walking routines to now include as pass by "Gary's Dream Pond"

Are you ready for your "Dream Pond?
Contact Pondtastic Water Gardens today to start making you dreams a reality!

Do You Want to Add Water to Your Orlando, Central Florida Landscaping?

Splashing, bubbling and gurgling are not just for ponds and waterfalls. You can add a splash to your Orlando or Central Florida Landscaping with as little as 4'X4' open space in your landscape.


What is a Fountainscape?

Fountainscapes are small decorative water features such as tabletop fountains, container water gardens, stand-alone fountains, bubbling urns, spitters, and fountains that incorporate an in-ground reservoir.


Fountainscapes can be as big or as small as your Orlando or Central Florida landscape will allow. When you hear the term water feature, you might picture an ecosystem koi pond or pondless waterfall.
Thinking to yourself I would love a bigger feature but I just do not have the room for anything on a large scale.

Fountainscapes are the perfect choice when you want the calming effects of water and the tranquil sounds that moving water create.
Aquascape offers many choices when it comes to fountainscape options or possibly you have your own urn, or other object that you would like to make into a water feature.


The giant frog pictured above was made into a custom fountain in the Central Florida town of Zellwood.

For your do it yourself projects Pondtastic recommends using Aquascape's   AquaBasin™ it can easily be installed within just a few hours if you like to tackle home projects on your own, or you can hire Pondtastic to do the job for you. 

Aquascape provides Orlando or Central Florida a wide variety of decorative pieces that can be used in conjunction with the AquaBasin™, from ceramic urns to brass sculptures to carved stone structures.


What's more, Aquascape adds new decorative options each year, so there's always something fresh and new to add to your landscape.

 










 




How to make your dream a reality?
If you’re considering adding a water feature to your home, CONTACT US for a free phone consultation. We can provide you with details and options for your particular design and budget. 
Pondtastic is Orlando's only Master Certified Aquascape Contractor
Pondtastic serves all Central Florida Counties Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk and Brevard.
      

Are you Living the Pond "Lifestyle"? Orlando, Central Florida

Living the pond lifestyle can mean many things to different people.

• Entertaining around your water feature
• Enjoying dinner pond side
• Splash in the water with the kids/grand kids
• Read a book
• Quiet time to reflect
• Enjoy a refreshing beverage while listening to the water meander by.

These are just a few ways we enjoy living the pond lifestyle. How are you living the pond lifestyle?


Many people in the Orlando,Central Florida area are thinking of their yard as another room of their home.

With enhancements like hardscaping, fire pits, outdoor kitchens, pergolas and quiet seating areas it's easy to see how you can spend hours relaxing and enjoying your yard.
The addition of a water feature will greatly add relaxation and value to your outdoor room. 

With the beautiful weather we have in the Orlando, Central Florida area we are able to enjoy our yards year round. Unlike a pool or hot tub an ecosystem pond requires less maintenance and NO chemicals but rather natural treatments. 
Less time maintaining the feature gives you more relaxation time.

From an ecosystem fish pond
with a series of waterfalls big enough to fill your entire backyard to a small decorative FountainScape type water feature in the corner of your landscape, we can help you design, provide  installation, and maintenance for your water-feature. Pondtastic Water Gardens will transform your Orlando or Central Florida landscape into a retreat to get away from everyday life all while enhancing your lifestyle.

Beautify your Orlando or Central Florida landscape today and start living the pond lifestyle!




















 How to make your dream a reality?



If you’re considering adding a water feature to your home, CONTACT US for a free phone consultation. We can provide you with details and options for your particular design and budget.

Pondtastic is Orlando's only Master Certified Aquascape Contractor

Pondtastic serves all Central Florida Counties Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk and Brevard.
      

Outdoor Living Spaces
Most people think of outdoor grills and patio furniture when they think of outdoor living spaces. Once the outdoor meal is over, what more is there to do in your backyard? While many homeowners turn to pools or hot tubs, they're discouraged by the amount of maintenance and chemicals required with these amenities. For the price of a hot tub, a beautiful Ecosystem Pond can be installed, and less maintenance is required thereby providing more time to relax and enjoy friends and family. An Ecosystem Pond maintains clarity and quality of water through a balance of fish, plants, aeration, and filtration, often eliminating the need for chemicals. - See more at: http://www.pond-contractor.services/the-pond--water-garden-lifestyle.html#sthash.zfxdDxdV.dpuf

Pondtastic LifestyleOutdoor Living Spaces
Most people think of outdoor grills and patio furniture when they think of outdoor living spaces. Once the outdoor meal is over, what more is there to do in your backyard? While many homeowners turn to pools or hot tubs, they're discouraged by the amount of maintenance and chemicals required with these amenities. For the price of a hot tub, a beautiful Ecosystem Pond can be installed, and less maintenance is required thereby providing more time to relax and enjoy friends and family. An Ecosystem Pond maintains clarity and quality of water through a balance of fish, plants, aeration, and filtration, often eliminating the need for chemicals. - See more at: http://www.pond-contractor.services/the-pond--water-garden-lifestyle.html#sthash.zfxdDxdV.dpuf

Outdoor Living Spaces
Most people think of outdoor grills and patio furniture when they think of outdoor living spaces. Once the outdoor meal is over, what more is there to do in your backyard? While many homeowners turn to pools or hot tubs, they're discouraged by the amount of maintenance and chemicals required with these amenities. For the price of a hot tub, a beautiful Ecosystem Pond can be installed, and less maintenance is required thereby providing more time to relax and enjoy friends and family. An Ecosystem Pond maintains clarity and quality of water through a balance of fish, plants, aeration, and filtration, often eliminating the need for chemicals. - See more at: http://www.pond-contractor.services/the-pond--water-garden-lifestyle.html#sthash.zfxdDxdV.dpuf

Spring Pond Cleaning in Central Florida, Is it Time to Have Your Pond Cleaned?

Spring Pond Cleanings are just around the corner, Is it Time to Have Your Pond Cleaned?
In a word, YES!

It is necessary for the health of your fish and pond to have the organics removed annually.

Spring cleanings will begin February 29th - March 31st

Secure your date with a $100.00 deposit

OR

SAVE 10% for all PREPAID Cleanings if paid by 2/1/16

Pondtastic offers:

Two Levels of cleaning: FULL and PARTIAL

FULL: ENTIRE POND CLEANING

1: Drain pond down to 6 inches in water depth

2. Remove fish and place in large containers with original pond water

3. Drain remaining water and power wash pond , stream and waterfalls.

4. Remove debris from bottom of pond.

5. Clean all filter pads, biofalls, skimmer and pump.

6. Clean all light lenses and inspect for bulb replacement

7. Make any necessary minor adjustments to rock if needed.

8. Fertilize water lilies.

9. Add declorinator to make pond water ready for fish

10. Reintroduce fish to pond

Options include: Install eco carbon and barley in each biofalls.

Note: The large majority of debris is removed from the pond. If the pond is “sterilized” by removing ALL living bacteria etc…           the established eco system will be destroyed. 

PARTIAL: CLEANING OF THE BIOFALLS AND SKIMMER ONLY

1. Remove and Clean all filter pads, nets and brushes.

2. The biofalls and skimmer will be completely drained and vacuumed clean.

3. Reinstall all of the above and restart pond.

                 

                                                 Watch a short video about pond cleaning

Contact Us For A FREE QUOTE  for your pond cleaning TODAY!

 How to make your dream a reality?

If you’re considering adding a water feature to your home, CONTACT US for a free phone consultation. We can provide you with details and options for your particular design and budget. 

Pondtastic is Orlando's only Master Certified Aquascape Contractor

Pondtastic serves all Central Florida Counties Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk and Brevard.
      

How Many Koi Fish Can You Have In Your Central Florida Pond?

How Many Koi Fish Can You Have In Your Central Florida Pond? There are many variables to this question, aeration, filtration, what you feed your koi and water quality are just a few things to consider when stocking your pond with koi.


Pond fish typically need 10 gallons of water for every inch of their length, but keep in mind they will grow larger over the years. Some pond experts even go so far as to recommend only ½ inch of fish per 10 gallons of water as a maximum stocking density.

Other pond experts measure the square footage of the pond and suggest that you keep the inches of fish slightly under the square footage. In other words an 8'x10' ponds is 80 square feet, or 6-8 10" koi.

Most of us however are over populated including our pond at home so how do we keep our koi happy and healthy?

• Pumps
• Aeration System
• Filtration
• Beneficial Bacteria
• High Quality Koi Food 
• Weekly Pond Maintenance
• Filtration Cleaning every 6 months
• FULL Pond Cleaning Annually (Spring or Fall) 

 

It all begins with water quality, we balance our water in many ways. Proper circulation and aeration are key. In Central Florida our water is warmer year round. The warmer the water the less oxygen there is in the water, the summer months can be very stressful and even deadly for the koi without proper oxygen levels. The pump needs to run 24hrs a day to add oxygen to the pond.  The addition of an aeration system is always recommended.



One of the of the most overlooked additions to aid in healthy water quality is Beneficial Bacteria. Each treatment adds billions of microscopic enzymes that digest the organics or waste in the pond. In Central Florida we add the bacteria weekly minimum. Personally, we add bacteria 3 to 4 times a week into our pond. Why? The more "hungry mouths eating the organic waste the better.

Remember clear water does NOT mean healthy water.




A high quality koi food helps greatly with the water conditions. The more filler in the food the more waste into the pond. A good food is higher in protein and healthy fats with less filler.
What you feed your koi is what you feed your pond.
Call to order today!







Regular pond maintenance to remove debris is a must. The more organics removed from the pond the less chance of poor water quality. 
We spend less than 15 minutes a week maintaining our pond.

The filtration and pond do need more intense twice a year. Every 6 months all filtration gets a deep cleaning and the pond gets cleaned out annually. All koi are removed and the pond is drained and cleaned. Let Pondtastic do the dirty work for you.






So before adding another fish to your koi collection, make sure you have ample space, aeration, filtration and treatments to ensured a happy, healthy home!

How to make your dream a reality?

If you’re considering adding a water feature to your home, CONTACT US for a free phone consultation. We can provide you with details and options for your particular design and budget. 

Pondtastic is Orlando's only Master Certified Aquascape Contractor

Pondtastic serves all Central Florida Counties Orange, Osceola, Seminole, Lake, Polk and Brevard.
       


                                                                                                       Jim and Theresa