How Many Ponds Will You Have in Central Florida?

How many ponds will you have? Typically most pond owners end up with 3 ponds. This Central Florida family is no exception.


This blog begins on a very hot Orlando summer day in 2009 at Pondtastic Water Gardens Build A Pond Day.
15 homeowners gathered to learn how to build an 8'x10' ecosystem pond.









Homeowners built the entire pond under the direction of Pondtastic owner Jim.

Pond #1

After this tiring and informative day these Orlando homeowners decided that they did not want to build the pond themselves but rather wanted the Certified Aquascape Contractors at Pondtastic to remove their first pond which was a preformed hard plastic pond. This first pond was enjoyable at first however the time had come for a natural looking ecosystem pond to be built.

The one week construction began in early October 2009. The perfect area was selected so that the pond could be viewed from multiple areas as well as enhance their Central Florida landscape.


After learning about the different sizes in skimmers and biofalls and pumps at the Build A Pond class these informed customers decided to upgrade their filtration and pumps.

We always love the excitement
 of new pond owners and this couple was no exception.
Each time we saw them after the pond was built for the next several years they seems just as excited and in love with their pond as they were the first time the waterfall was turned on.

Pond # 2

Retirement is a very exciting time in anyone's life, and the countdown had begun for these two educators.
We were contacted to once again rebuild another pond.
The plans for a dream backyard with entertaining areas and a larger pond was set into motion.






This time a larger 11'x16' ecosystem pond was designed to accommodate the koi and have a wow waterfall.

                                                                   

Pond # 3

Again, the excitement with this couple is so infectious.
The goal was to have the pond finished in time for a big retirement and anniversary party.




These pond owners are another great example of our motto
"We build friendships one pond at a time"





As you can see from the pictures below they had the perfect back drop for their party.



Congratulations on your retirement!

Jim , Theresa & the Pondtastic Crew                           

                                                                                

 How Many Ponds Will You Have?

Why have a Certified Aquascape Contractor build your pond? Listen to Ed from Aquascape explain why.

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 & Theresa

Pond Pump Maintenance and Troubleshooting Tips

Do I need to do maintenance on my pond pump?

Yes, In Central Florida ponds run all year unlike our neighbors to the north, so we have to make sure that we are servicing them year round.


How Often Should I service my pump?

We suggest that you check the pump intake at least once a month. If you see a reduction in flow over the waterfalls or if you hear the pump making noises service right away.

When it comes to pond pumps, it's always a good idea to be proactive and stay on top of maintenance so you can prevent problems before they happen. Every pond owner knows that a broken, non-working pump can create a headache with water quality and fish health, so use these tips to prolong the life of your pump.

• Do not allow the filters to become clogged with debris and sediment. Conduct weekly skimmer cleanings and seasonal maintenance.
• Keep water flowing freely to the pump by routinely cleaning the skimmer debris net and filter mat. Be sure to maintain proper water level in the water feature. Avoid allowing the pump to run dry or operate in low water level situations.
• Inspect and remove large debris, such as mulch, sticks, small pebbles, etc from the bottom of the Skimmer, Snorkel™ Vault, or sump basin in order to prevent the pump from becoming clogged and possibly damaged.

If you are experiencing pump issues, follow these tips to troubleshoot common pump problems.

• First of all, is the pump receiving water? This sounds like an obvious question, but we have had clients call and state that their pump is not working only to find that they haven't added water to the pond in the past few weeks and the skimmer ran dry. The pump in this situation may actually be running, but just not receiving enough water. A lot of times you can actually hear the "hum" or "gurgle" of the pump while it's in the skimmer.
• Make sure nothing is blocking the flow of water to the pump, such as large boulders, debris blocking the front of the skimmer opening, a clogged skimmer net, or clogged skimmer filter mat that has not been emptied or cleaned in a long time.
• The pump may be vapor locked. This term sounds complicated, but it simply means that air is trapped in the volute of the pump. The pumps are designed to push water, not air ... so an air bubble gets trapped, and the pump becomes vapor locked. In this situation the impeller is basically spinning, but water is not being pushed. Listen to see if you hear the hum of the pump. A vapor lock can be fixed by tilting the pump to allow the air to escape from the intake. You may even be able to accomplish this without disconnecting the fitting on pump.
• It is also effective to check and see if the electrical supply is operating properly. Premature pump failures can occur due to faulty electrical. For example, pumps hooked up to extension cords may cause potential problems. While this electrical setup usually works for testing the pump soon after the water feature is built, it is not recommended for permanent installations, and may end up causing the pump to fail.
• Check the electric box to see if the safety breaker on the ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) has tripped. The proper electrical setup for the pond should include a GFCI outlet. The GFCI's responsibility is to shut the power down if it senses an electrical problem.The GFCI is a safety device installed to protect people from receiving a shock in case of an electrical malfunction.                GFCI's are very sensitive and can sometimes trip during a thunderstorm or a power surge. Reset the breaker if it has tripped.
• Unplug the pump and disconnect the union fitting found at the top of the check valve. The water will back-flush from the BIOFALLS® back into the skimmer. This will help flush out any possible clogs along the length of the pipe.
• Pull the pump out of the skimmer and inspect the intake on the pump for any lodged debris. Aquascape pumps are capable of handling solids and debris up to a reasonable size, typically 5/8". On some occasions, debris may become lodged in the impeller (housing) of the pump. This could possibly seize up the impeller, or restrict the flow causing the pump to stop operating properly. Thoroughly check the pump intake, including the area above the impeller where small debris, such as gravel, may be trapped.
• Plug in the pump after inspecting it for debris, and see if the impeller spins.
• If the impeller does not spin, unplug the pump and try to assist it by using a screwdriver or similar tool to give it a little kick start. On some occasions, the impeller may seize up and not spin. This sometimes happens after the pump has been out of operation for a period of time (such as over the winter). Hopefully, the pump will then begin to operate after it is plugged back in. Once it starts back up on its own, you'll want to unplug the pump again, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in. The impeller should begin to spin without assistance this time.
• If you still have no luck, bring the pump over to a different electrical receptacle on the property, specifically one that contains a GFCI breaker, and see if the pump operates. This will tell us if the pond's electrical supply is bad, or if there is something internally wrong with the pump. If the pump trips this GFCI, then there is definitely something wrong with the pump, and it should be replaced. However, you'll want to have a qualified electrician come out and check the pond's electrical setup if the pump runs without a problem on another outlet.

This video shows you how to troubleshoot and service your Aquascape Aquasurge Pump.

 

Need a new pond pond?
Call Pondtastic to order your pump today

Waterfall Wednesday in Winter Park, Florida

Winter Park is in the heart of busy Central Florida, however when you stand next to this waterfall the interstate feels miles away.

These Waterfall Wednesday pictures give you a glimpse of an amazing large water feature which is home to countless koi fish.

This very large pond has 40,000 gallons of water flowing over the massive rocks. 
4 -10,000 Aquascape pumps are placed within each of these pump vaults.













The huge Tennessee boulders are placed around the pond with heavy equipment. It's always important that the boulder are proportionate to the pond size.

Aquatic plants are a very large part of the ecosystem bog filtration. 

The 100+ plants are placed in the bog and on the plant shelves to create a lush water garden.

Spillway Bowls Make A Splash

These new Spillway Bowls are creating quite a splash in Orlando.

 

Are you looking for a something to enhance your Central Florida landscape? Or maybe you want to add more circulation to you koi pond.

These versatile water features can be installed to create many different looks and sounds.

Beautiful spilling water features can be added to small spaces adding tranquility and soothing sounds to any patio or entryway.







Spillway Bowls can also easily be linked together creating a unique standalone water feature.
Enhance your landscaping with the sounds of water.
 





What about adding these bowls to your pond for a modern looking waterfall? Add pond lighting to capture the dancing water as it splashes from bowl to bowl.

These beautiful bowls are made from durable glass fiber reinforced concrete and come in a beautiful patina.


 

 Watch this short video for more ideas

 

Call today for your custom installed Spillway Bowls

                                    407-601-7663

Pond Renovation Is It Time?

Have you sat out at your pond or waterfall and thought this needs work?

What is the difference between pond renovations vs. pond repair?  

Even though they sound similar, they are quite different. To repair something means fixing or replacing a part that is broken or not working. Whereas, a renovation is a complete overhaul and redo, resulting in a practically brand new water feature.

What renovation work can I have done? 

This is the perfect opportunity to change anything you don't like, and address any issues. You could install lighting, upgrade your filtration, increase pump size, add fish caves. Maybe you want to make the pond larger, or add another waterfall.
In the last 5 years there are many new technologies developed that help reduce maintenance and enhance the enjoyment of the water feature that can be added.

Who gets pond renovations?
Our pond renovation work comes from Pondtastic pond owners who want to increase the size of their ecosystem pond. Homeowners who did not have a Certified Aquascape Contractor build the pond, instead they had a landscaper  build the pond and it is not the pond they had hoped for.
Often pond renovations come from new homeowners who don't know their pond's history and want to incorporate their own ideas into their backyard paradise.

How much does it cost? 

We have done renovations from $5,000 all the way up to $85,000

So are you ready for a renovation to be done on your pond or waterfall? 

Contact Orlando's only Master Certified Aquascape Contractor

Please go to our CONTACT US page at www.pondtastic.com

We will begin with a FREE phone consultation upon receipt of your contact form DON'T forget to attach your pictures.

** All Onsite design consultations are $120.00

 Begin enjoying your pond again!