Ecosystem Pond Maintenance Treatments

Ecosystem Pond Maintenance Treatments

Order your Treatments Today Be Ready for 2016


Pond Detoxifier™ $24.98  Makes Tap Water Safe For fish and Plants, Removes and detoxifies chlorine.
Neutralizes ammonia .,Detoxifies and chelates copper and heavy metals.

1 pump treats 100 gallons

Pond Starter Bacteria™  $44.98 establishes biological ecosystem. Starting your pond off right is one of the most
important things you can do for your pond. Pond Starter Bacteria quickly establishes the biological ecosystem for new ponds and after clean outs. Safe for fish, plants and animals.

1 pump treats 100 gallons

Beneficial Bacteria™ $39.98   contains 8 pure strains of concentrated beneficial bacteria, including
PSB(Photo Synthetic Bacteria) bacteria and enzymes. This combination of natural cleaners helps to maintain a strong biological balance in your pond. Because ornamental water gardens are enclosed ecosystems,
sometimes factors like fish load, uneaten fish food, organics such as leaves, sludge and unwanted debris may disrupt the balance causing poor water quality and clarity.
Beneficial Bacteria maintains a strong biological balance; providing clean, clear and healthy water conditions.

1 scoop treats 1,000 gallons

EcoBlast™ $39.98   for Waterfalls and Streams ™ The most effective treatment for reducing string algae.
EcoBlast™ is a fast-acting treatment for breaking down debris on the waterfall and stream. Works on contact.
Sprinkle of waterfall & stream







 

S.A.B.™ $39.98  This is formulated to help reduce pond maintenance and promote the growth of beneficial bacteria and enzymes.
S.A.B.™  will assist in the breakdown and reduction of debris in the stream, waterfalls, and pond.

1 scoop treats 120 gallons

Rapid Clear™ $29.98   is scientifically blended to quickly clear cloudy or discolored pond water fast. Rapid Clear goes to work clumping suspended debris, also referred to as flocculation.

1 pump treats 100 gallons

Barley Extract™ $34.98 Barley straw has been used for hundreds of years to promote clean clear water
conditions in ponds and streams. It discourages algae growth, buffers PH with a slow steady release of
beneficial ingredients by natural, biological activity.
Harmless to fish and plants. Works year round.

1 pump treats 100 gallons

Sludge Cleaner & Filter Cleaner™ $39.98  is effective at reducing sludge, waste and excess nutrients in the pond and in the filtration system.

1 pump treats 100 gallons

Physical Removal Physically remove clumps of string algae if it begins to overtake the pond.
Pull or cut away the algae where it is attached. Think of it as “weeding the pond.”

Control Run-Off Never use lawn fertilizer or insecticides on trees around your pond or on areas of your property that will drain toward your pond. Lawn fertilizer and insecticides will cause large algae
blooms, as well as severely threaten the aquatic life inside your pond.

Remove Debris Keep your pond free of debris. Don’t let the skimmer debris net overfill with leaves.
Decaying debris in the skimmer will contribute to unwanted nutrients.

Have Patience It takes time for the bacteria to establish itself and colonize to the point of being a
benefit to your pond. In general, a new pond can take anywhere from two to six weeks for the bacteria
population to reach this point.




Place your order today by calling 407-601-7663 or email Theresa@Pondtastic.com
Make sure your pond and are koi ready for the start of the 2016.
Prices DO NOT Include shipping
All orders must be pre paid to drop ship to your home.

Waterfall Wednesday in Celebration, Florida

This beautiful waterfall serves many purposes in this Celebration, Florida backyard Oasis.

We were first contact by this client after she had seen Pondtastic Water Garden's display at the Central Florida Home and Garden Show.

During the design consultation we learned that this feature was to serve two very important purposes. The first being, rain water harvesting. Underneath this beautiful waterfall approximately 400 gallons of rain water is being captured in the RainXchange®. The rain water is then used to sustain the pondless waterfall as well, with the addition of an external pump water is used from the RainXchange®  for watering the garden and surrounding  landscaping.

The second objective to this tropical paradise was to have a serene environment to provide therapeutic relief to her clients suffering from life threatening illness. 
Many days you can find yoga mats on the wooden deck in preparation for the relaxing effects of mediation and the sound of water.

 
This Pondtastic pondless waterfall is definitely used to it's fullest potential.



 
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

Feeding Koi During a Florida Winter

As soon as the weather forecast mentions cold weather in Florida the phone starts to ring with people asking "When do I stop feeding my Koi?" or It's winter in Florida do the koi still eat?
Well, first can we really say we have winter in Florida? Yes the weather cools off and yes we need to follow a couple simple steps to ensure the health and safety of our beloved koi.






First, it is recommended to purchase a pond thermometer. Begin to monitor the temperature and when the water reaches upper 50° begin to reduce the feedings. When the water temperature has reached
50° stop feeding. Keeping in mind that the air temperature is much cooler than the water temperature so in Florida we really only have a hand full of days and nights that we do not feed the koi.

Lets explain why we reduce and stop feeding koi in cooler weather.

Koi start slowing down in preparation for a period of semi-dormancy as the temperature begin to decline. Their digestive and immune systems slow down, and they are not capable of digesting food the way that they can during the warmer months. Koi are particularly susceptible to problems at this time, as they have no stomach to aid in digestion; food passes directly into their small intestines, where it will sit and rot. The ensuing intestinal bacteria can pass into their bloodstream, causing sepsis which will debilitate or even kill the immune-suppressed fish.

When you resume feeding the koi DO NOT over feed them as this too can be dangerous for your finned friends.
If you are unsure whether to feed your koi or how much to feed them please err on the side of caution.  Always feed a high quality high protein food avoid foods with lots of fillers. We only feed our koi Blackwater Creek Koi food.
Don't worry, if the koi become hungry during this time they will dine on the algae in the pond.


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, 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.

Is passion worth paying for?

ONE persons PASSION is better than forty people merely interested. - E.M Forster

As we begin the construction of a project that I have been working on for about two and a half years.

That's a long time right?

I sure think it is, and we make jokes about how long it has been from the first time we spoke about this project but this project really shows how I feel about what I do.

I believe that at Pondtastic Water Gardens we have a passionate team of individuals that  professionally create living works of art. I believe that there are very few people that can do what we do to the level that we do it.

Can others see that passion..... some can , some can't.

When people make a choice to hire anyone for anything... is passion a determining factor?

I am not any different than any of you that are reading this.. I have to make purchasing decisions also.

I look at the same things you do..... cost, experience, references, completion time, etc.... but does passion enter into the equation?  should it?

Absolutely without a doubt yes !

Can you have a passionate auto mechanic? would it make a difference?
Can you have a passionate plumber ? would it make a difference?

I believe that anyone who loves what they do will do it better. I believe that  people will do the extra for the satisfaction of doing the job properly and not just doing enough to get by.


It wasn't until I had the opportunity to really watch my team interact with our customers that I really saw this.

Sometimes I will be sitting in my office working away and kind of eavesdropping on conversations taking place on the phone... it is great to hear the passion in voices of our staff. Can others hear it?

Sometimes we will be out on a pond build and I will watch one of our team search for the perfect rock to finish off the edge of the pond.. stand back and look at it ... pull it out and get a different one. Could they have left that rock there and started to work on something else?  Sure ! But he had a vision of what he wanted it to look like and he wasn't going to settle for anything less.

That's passion ... That's what you get when you pay for passion... You get a team of people that care,  that are concerned that will go above and beyond every chance they have. A team of people that take ownership!

So is passion worth paying for?



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, 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.

Waterfalls to Inspire your next Project

Are you thinking of having a custom pond or pondless installed? Here are some waterfalls to inspire you as you begin plan.

All of Pondtastic Water Gardens waterfalls are custom built, each waterfall has it's own unique characteristics. Often clients like many elements of multiple features, let Pondtastic take those elements and design your one of a kind waterfall.

The look of a waterfall can greatly change simply by the size pump pushing the water over the falls.
Do you want a crashing waterfall or do you want a gentle babbling brook?

 The waterfall is the focal point of your feature many times so be sure to go to our Photo Albums and look at the many custom designs the Pondtastic Water Gardens has installed. Orlando's only Master Certified Aquascape Contractor.












Lights are another way that completely changes the look of your waterfall.
We always suggest highlighting the falls from within the water. Pond lighting will change your backyard landscaping the the evening a tropical paradise.











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, 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.

Longwood Backyard Retreat

This Longwood, Florida backyard feels like you are on a mountain retreat. It's like you are miles away from the construction on the highway and the traffic from less than a mile away can't even be heard. Instead, you hear birds chirping and the rustling of leaves as squirrels chase each other around the tree.
Even the Florida temperatures are shielded from the large trees that provide cooling shade.
This is paradise!

One must walk the  paths to discover the start of the 35' stream nestled among lush Florida landscaping. This stream features 3 areas where the water crashes and falls into the next elevation change. Water bubbling and gurgling down the stream invites you to sit on a large rock and put your feet in to cool down. Again, making you feel that you are anywhere but in busy Central Florida.

This beautiful Oasis has many features added to make this as low maintenance as possible to maximize time to relax and enjoy the koi and be one with nature.











This ecosystem pond is 11'x16' with a 35' stream, features 2 Aquasurge 5000 pumps, 8.0 skimmer filter with large basket to capture any flowing debris. The start of the waterfall is another filter, a Signature Series 2500 biofalls. Added oxygen is provided by a 40 liter aeration system, oxygen is always great for the koi and it helps slow the growth of algae in the pond.
Algae growth is also slowed by the use of an Aquascape IonGen which does a really nice job combating string algae. The water quality is maintained by adding Beneficial Bacteria weekly is digest the organics in the pond. An ultra violet light was installed to supplement in the hottest part of the summer when we have daily rain and it's 98°. This light will kill any algae that passed in from of it.
Pond lighting was installed so that this paradise can be enjoyed in the evenings also. 

After the pond was constructed Adam with Lanai Hardscape Company added walkways and additional seating areas along with lush Florida landscaping to give this yard a completed look.


The yard has so many great little areas with hidden treasures and the pond has become the focal point of this backyard.





There are so many breathtaking views and vantage points from which to enjoy this pond.
At times this homeowner said "it's difficult to work from my home office, I'm always looking out the office window at the pond"
Entertaining on their Florida room now comes with it's own waterfall soundtrack.
The bistro seating along the stream is a great place to enjoy a refreshing beverage and let the worries of the day seem so far away.


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, 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.

What Do We Feed Our Koi at Pondtastic Water Gardens?

At Pondtastic Water Gardends we feed our Koi Blackwater Premium Food Only!


In Central Florida we feed the following 3 formulas of Blackwater Koi and Goldfish Food.
Many times people purchase a bag of color enhancing and a bag of max growth and mix them.We also have many people alternate their purchases from month to month.



Gold-N professional diet is amazing food! We have several customers that love the reduced waste in the pond and the amazing colors that are so vivid on their koi.

Read and decide which is the best formula for your koi.

Blackwater Max Growth Koi Food
Max Growth is formulated to grow and maintain your fish in top condition. A high protein fish floating meal-based diet with ingredients designed to be the primary diet for your fish. It is designed to grow your fish to the Max! The Max Growth diet is the staple diet used by one of the largest Koi suppliers in the USA. It contains absolutely no fillers. This diet is designed to grow Koi and Goldfish. Try it and you'll be hooked.
Max Growth Koi Diet is a floating Koi food.

2LBS $15.98      5LBS $31.98     40LBS $91.98        + Tax and Shipping





Blackwater Color Enhancing Koi Food

Color is formulated to bring out the maximum vibrancy of color. Special ingredients aid in bringing out the color needed to enter your fish in competitions or simply make them look their best. For optimum results. Use for up to two months prior to show or competition. This diet contains 4 different natural color enhancer's in sufficient quantities to brighten the colors RED and YELLOW. Some color enhancing diets on the market put only enough product in the diet to be listed on the label. We put enough ingredients to include over 30% of the diet. Quality product, great price.
Color Enhancing Koi Diet is a floating Koi food.

2LBS $15.98      5LBS $31.98     40LBS $91.98        + Tax and Shipping

Blackwater Gold-N Professional Diet
Gold-N combines ingredients with many micro nutrients and vitamins as well as other ingredients to help digestion and maximum uptake of nutrients. This floating Koi food is a favorite of those keeping champion and show-grade fish. It is used by professionals world wide. Blackwater Creek also uses it as a grind to feed small fish for fast growth and body shape. This diet if fortified with probiotics including Bacillus Subtillus and Aspirgillus Orezae in sufficient quantities to maximize digestion and minimize waste.
Fish-meal, Shrimp Meal, Kelp Meal make up over 60% of the diet. No fillers, better digestion. This is why so many hobbyists are discovering that you don’t have to pay a lot to provide your fish with the top diet available for Koi.
Many people who have not taken the time or have the time to dig deep into Koi nutrition may judge a Koi food on price alone. This perception that "if it costs more , then it must be better"  allows some people selling fish food as Koi food to charge  a high price for an inferior product. (Tilapia food , Catfish food etc) These are not the best for your fish. Blackwater Gold-N is.  Therefore if you would like to pay more for a diet to help you feel better about quality, we have listed Gold-N with various prices for you to choose from. Its the same diet, same packaging, and same size... just at a higher price to compare with  the other diets claiming to be professional. If it makes you feel better, you can pay more... we don’t mind (grin).
This is the same diet formerly called Blackwater “Gold”. Hikari Sales USA is the registered  trademark holder of the word "Gold" and thus we were forced to change the name... By the way… the “N“ in Gold-N stands for “Not Hikari”  Compare this diet to the Hikari Saki diet and you will see that it is a comparable diet at half the price. Champion fish deserve Gold-N

 Gold-N Professional Diet
  8lbs $69.98   40lbs $174.98   + Tax and Shipping









 Learn About Gold-N Professional Koi Diet

Thank You to Blackwater Creek for being a shared contributor.

Patio Waterfall in Orlando, Florida

Imagine having dinner on your patio and listening to the gentle flow of water at it makes it way through the rocks and plants on your Florida patio.

This is exactly what this home owner had always envisioned for her lanai, sadly it took her having two features being built to get what she had wanted to be the focal point of her outdoor room.

The first attempt of a waterfall was done by her landscaping handy man. The home owner knew she had a problem the next morning when her pump was "screaming" and her patio was wet. After several attempts of the handyman trying to fix the multiple problems with the waterfall the client unplugged her waterfall and left it for several months. After looking at her "pile" of rocks for far too long she contacted Pondtastic Water Gardens.

Jim went out met with the Orlando homeowner, within seconds of looking at her pondless waterfall he found the first crucial rookie mistake, all the rocks were cemented together. Why is this a problem you might ask? Water follows the path of least resistance, the way this was build the water rolled right out of the feature onto the patio.

On day one of construction the second rookie mistake was discovered, EPDM liner was not used on the waterfall it was only used in the basin .



In a matter of a day and a half the feature was completed and we have a very happy client who loves to entertain on her Florida room and loves her pondless waterfall.















Watch this video for more inspiration


 











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, 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 Much Does the "Average" Pond Cost In Central Florida?

This is the first question people ask when they are “pondering” the addition of a pond to their Central Florida landscape.

How Much Does the “Average” Pond Cost?

While it sounds like a simple question, how much does an “average” pond cost? A true pond expert will take this question and ask for a definition of “average.”

The concept of “average” is difficult to define when playing with custom designed products. When it comes to ponds, each is individually crafted to fit the new environment, and as a buyer, you should keep in mind that the average numbers will fluctuate to your particular pond.
Ponds come in a variety of shapes, looks, and styles, depending on your space, budget and preferences.

 What does “Average” look like?

The most commonly built ponds in the Orlando area, are about 11’ x 16’ in size. Using these numbers, the “average” will begin around $12,000 but commonly rounds up to about $15,000-$20,000. Now this range depends on how many custom features the pond aspires to have. A pond alone may be around $12,000 (at that particular size), but add-ons that many people envision in a pond, such as plants, lights, waterfalls, fish, streams etc., will add to the base price.

Customizable Features

Why would the final price tag of a pond be vastly different than the base model? Ponds, like cars, are very customizable. Certain people only want the car with roll up windows and an AM/FM radio. While others want the leather seats with a navigation system and an engine push start button. So when you ask for a basic pond, it doesn’t include the add-ons that most people like in a pond. This will include fish, plants, lights, streams etc.  This can change the definition of what the average pond costs.

How to make your dream a reality?

Before getting attached to these numbers, if you’re considering adding a water feature to your home, CONTACT US for a free phone consultation and let’s begin at a drawing board. We can provide you with details, options for your particular design and budget. Who needs average when you can have it personalized?

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

Special thanks to co-contributor Laura Reale