Gordon's Pond Utopia LLC
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What do I need to have ready for you to clean my Pond?

1/23/2017

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​​Below is an outline of what we will need for our Spring Service:
1. FIRST  (and most importantly!) get your name on the Pond Spring Clean-out list. We service dozens of water gardens beginning when the ice thaws, so waiting is NOT our best option! 
2. We will call or email you (from the info you provide on the info form) prior to your clean-out to confirm exactly what services and products you will require.
3. On clean-out day, be sure to have your garden hose outside (and the water turned on!), waterfall pump(s) and other components readily available and your water garden electrical outlet turned on.
4. Gordon's Pond Utopia will now get crazy with your water feature! and make it great again.

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How much will my Spring clean out cost in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey?

1/16/2017

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​Spring Clean-outs are done between March and April depending on whether. It is best to do clean out before thing start to wake up from winter.
8 X 11 and smaller start at $ 500.00
11 X 16 and smaller start at $ 750.00
16 X 21 and smaller start at $ 900.00
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What do I get with my Pond Clean out
Spring Clean out form
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What do I get with my Pond Clean out in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey?

1/9/2017

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We will call or email you (from the info you provide on the info form) prior to your clean-out to confirm exactly what services and products you will require. On clean-out day, be sure to have your garden hose outside (and the water turned on!), waterfall pump(s) and other components readily available and your water garden electrical outlet turned on. Gordon's Pond Utopia will now go wild with your water feature! We will drain the water (temporarily housing the fish if you have them). 
Spring Clean out Form
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​​ The next step is to give the water feature a quick pressure washing and rinse (we don’t want to remove every bit of the beneficial Bio-Film). Once washed down, we will trim back aquatic plants, check and replace underwater light bulbs or fixtures (for the cost of new bulbs or fixtures), re-adjust rocks & gravel, clean filters, perform pump maintenance cleaning,  and finally install the waterfall pump.  When all of this is finished, we will add dechlorinator to the water, begin refilling the water feature (and re-introducing your fish if you have them). We will also add an initial dose of Algaecide, Flocculant and Sludge Bacteria to aid in getting the pond ready for the season.
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8 Spring Pond Tips for Carlisle, Mechanicsburg and Hershey.

1/2/2017

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​Spring is here and it’s time to get a little maintenance done on your pond. These maintenance tips take little time and effort and can help prevent future problems from arising throughout the pond season. Some pond enthusiasts enjoy performing their own maintenance but always know that you have the option to get in contact with a Certified Aquascape Contractor to give you a hand! Gordon’s Pond Utopia is a Certified Aquascape Contractor.
​1. Clean out your pond, whether that means a full clean-out or just picking up a bit and rinsing things off. More about giving your pond a spring cleaning >> CLICK HERE
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 2. Check your pump to make sure that it’s clean and functioning correctly. Your pump is the heart of your water feature and needs to be in tip-top shape at all times. Learn more about water feature pump maintenance >> CLICK HERE 
 3. Fix any leaks in your water feature. Constantly adding tap water to make up for a loss of pond water means the constant addition of nutrients which will eventually promote algae growth.
4. Remove algae, leaves and other debris left over from the season before. This is crucial because an excess of decaying debris will add to the nutrient levels and the algae in the pond.
 
 5. Start adding beneficial bacteria treatments and continue to do so regularly throughout the season. It competes with the algae for available nutrients, starving the algae of its food source.  Use Aquascape’s Automatic Dosing System to avoid the hassle of consistently adding and choosing the correct water treatments for your water feature.
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 6. Add plants to control algae. Since plants directly compete with algae for nutrients, they are the most important addition to the pond. Using a wide variety of plants will not only add to the natural look of the pond, but will reduce algae growth as well.
 7. DO NOT overfeed your fish. Fish food that is not eaten will add more nutrients to the pond, helping feed the algae. See our 5 Tips for Feeding Fish article for more information. 
​8. Last but not least, have fun with your water feature! Spruce it up with new landscaping, add a fountain within your feature, add lighting or just change up some of the rockwork! Get creative because after all, your water feature is your masterpiece to enjoy and show off to others.
 
Need more information on getting your water feature ready for the season? Check out this short video 

5 Tips For Feeding fish

1. Be Consistent
The key is to be consistent, try to feed at the same time each day, and from the same spot. After a few weeks in your pond, they will be conditioned to you feeding them and the response will be considerably different. After a complete season, you will have them eating out of your hand.
 
2. Serve High Quality Food
Since everything you put into the pond is going to be broken down and removed by the filter, it is important to remember to only feed them high quality food, such as Aquascape Premium Fish Food, that is specifically designed for the fish in your pond. Feeding them anything other than high quality fish food could lead to many water quality issues like green water, string algae, and poor water conditions.
 
3. Variety is the Spice of Life
Many pond owners also choose to offer their fish a treat now and again. If you want to spice things up a bit, try a little fresh watermelon and watch your fish go crazy. Most fruits and vegetables will be fine as well, just keep in mind that the natural ecosystem has to deal with every bit we feed them or that is left in the pond.
 
You can also give your fish the Aquascape Pond Fish Vitamin Treat. Each depression of the pump top bottle creates a small worm-like looking treat for your pond fish. Aquascape Pond Fish Vitamin Treat increases appetite and vitality, enhances natural colors of the fish, and stimulates breeding.
 
4. The Five Minute Rule
A good rule of thumb is to only offer what your fish can eat in four or five minutes. The decision to feed your fish is up to you. Many pond owners never throw a single piece of food into their pond. Your pond will produce food for your fish to eat and also help create a balance between plants and fish. Remember, however, that larger fish need more food than small ones, so they may take a look at your plants for a snack. Not to mention the fact that if you are not feeding your fish, you are missing out on another whole level of fun that your pond has to offer.
 
5. Choosing the Best Food
Studies have been done comparing the digestion of protein from various sources in fish, and found that fish proteins were the best digested and assimilated by fish. Fish eat fish.
 
Fish are adapted to the consumption of others in their food chain, so fish proteins are the best for fish. When you look at a bag of food and the first ingredient is wheat, is that the best choice for your fish? No, wheat protein is not equal to fish protein so keep looking. You should look for fish or other aquaculture proteins as the first ingredient in a decent diet for your koi and goldfish.
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How often should I clean my filters in my fish pond in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey PA

5/23/2016

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General Maintenance

​The Skimmer

The skimmer is designed to sweep the surface of the water so this it is free from debris. The debris basket inside the skimmer is the first filter stage of the skimmer. The basket will collect leaves, twigs, seeds, and other debris that falls or blows into the pond. It only takes a few minutes every other week to empty the debris basket. More frequent changes will be required during the fall in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey PA because of the quantity of leaves falling off the surrounding trees.
 
It is a good habit during your first season with the pond to periodically check the quantity of debris in the basket. This is especially true in the fall. Keep a mental note as to how often your basket has to be emptied. It's important that the debris basket is not allowed to become too full as too much debris can reduce the water flow to the pump.
Contact Gordon's Pond Utopia for pond Maintenance
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Features found on the Signature Series™ 6.0 & 8.0 Skimmers
  1. Natural Looking Faux-Rock Lid: Grooves designed into lid provide space for gravel or mulch
  2. Patented Adjustable Faceplate: Have you ever messed up your transit measurement when setting your pond's water level? Forget about it! Four inches of travel enable you to tweak out the perfect water level (Signature Series™ 6.0 & 8.0)
  3. Easy Maintenance: We are making it as easy as possible for the pond owner to maintain their filter with a large-volume, rigid debris basket (Signature Series™ 6.0 & 8.0)
  4. Injection Molded Fittings: Check valve threads into skimmer wall providing a professional watertight seal along the back of the filter
  5. Corrosion-resistant non-cross-threading hardware stands up to the elements
  6. Filter mat removes smaller sediment and debris
  7. Rounded shape provides maximum strength

 Filter Mat

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​The filter mat below the debris basket is the second stage of the skimmer. The mat is designed to handle any debris that finds its way past the basket. The mat will not need maintenance as frequently as the basket, since the basket will remove the majority of debris from the water.
 
The water reaching the pump should be relatively free of any large debris, thanks to the debris net and filter brushes on the skimmer, and, if you have a Pondless Waterfall, the fact that the water has to pass through layers of gravel in the basin.

Note: The filter mat may have a slot cut into it so that it fits around the discharge pipe. Install the filter mat correctly so the slot fits around the discharge pipe. Skimmer filter mats are designed to last for about two years. Filter mats may be discolored and appear dirty and old, but will work just fine in your skimmer and BIOFALLS filters, or MicroFalls. Replace old filter mats if they begin to tear or fall apart. ​

​The Pump

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​On occasion, you may see a reduction in the water flow over the waterfall in Carlisle, Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey PA . This could be a sign that it is time to clean the filter screen on the bottom of the pump. This process should take no longer than five minutes. Simply unplug and remove the pump from the skimmer or Pondless Waterfall Vault and physically remove any debris found on the bottom of the pump. You may also want to physically remove any debris with your hands that may have found its way to the bottom of the skimmer or Pondless Waterfall Vault, where the pump sits.

BioFalls Filter

The BioFalls filter is the starting point of your waterfall. The filter mats and media provide a home for the beneficial bacteria that help clean the pond. It is designed for once-a-year cleaning when used in combination with a Signature Series Skimmer or Pondless Waterfall Vault prefilter, ensuring that large debris is filtered from the water before it reaches the Signature Series BioFalls filter.
 
Most ponds don't require the filter mats or filter media bag in the BioFalls Filter to be cleaned more than once a year. Cleaning them, especially with chlorinated tap water, more often will reduce or kill the beneficial bacteria growing on these filters. Replace old filter mats after several years, when they begin to tear or fall apart. The filter mats can be removed for annual cleaning through the wider opening at the front of the rack.
Need your filters cleaned
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Features found on the Signature Series 2500 & 6000 Biofalls Filter
  1. More advanced installers will love the reversible waterfall lip option, which provides the flexibility of using a natural stone spillway and large accent boulders along the front of the unit (for 2500 and 6000 model filters)
  2. Removable upper tray can hold rocks, plants, and gravel, helping to
    naturalize the BioFalls® Filter into the surrounding landscape
  3. Media net (BioBalls™ sold separately)
  4. Corrosion resistant non-cross-threading hardware stands up to the elements
  5. Two Poly-Flo ESA biological Filter Mats provide 50% more surface area than traditional filter mats
  6. Two bulkhead ports provide plumbing options
  7. Filter support rack ensures evenly distributed waterflow through filter mats
    and provides structural strength to the walls of the filter
  8. Circular shape provides maximum strength and makes it easy to
    camouflage into the landscape

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8 SPRING MAINTENANCE TIPS FOR YOUR POND in Mechanicsburg, Harrisburg and Hershey

3/21/2016

Comments

 
Spring is here and it’s time to get a little maintenance done on your pond. These maintenance tips take little time and effort and can help prevent future problems from arising throughout the pond season. Some pond enthusiasts enjoy performing their own maintenance but always know that you have the option to get in contact Gordon’s Pond Utopia a Certified Aquascape Contractor to give you a hand!

8 Spring Pond Tips to help you!!!

​1. Clean out your pond, whether that means a full clean-out or just picking up a bit and rinsing things off.
​ 2. Check your pump to make sure that it’s clean and functioning correctly. Your pump is the heart of your water feature and needs to be in tip-top shape at all times. Learn more about water feature pump maintenance   
Picture
 
 3. Fix any leaks in your water feature. Constantly adding tap water to make up for a loss of pond water means the constant addition of nutrients which will eventually promote algae growth.
​4. Remove algae, leaves and other debris left over from the season before. This is crucial because an excess of decaying debris will add to the nutrient levels and the algae in the pond.
5. Start adding beneficial bacteria treatments and continue to do so regularly throughout the season. It competes with the algae for available nutrients, starving the algae of its food source.  Use Aquascape’s Automatic Dosing System to avoid the hassle of consistently adding and choosing the correct water treatments for your water feature.
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 6. Add plants to control algae. Since plants directly compete with algae for nutrients, they are the most important addition to the pond. Using a wide variety of plants will not only add to the natural look of the pond, but will reduce algae growth as well.
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 7. DO NOT overfeed your fish. Fish food that is not eaten will add more nutrients to the pond, helping feed the algae. See our 5 Tips for Feeding Fish article for more information. 
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​ 
 8. Last but not least, have fun with your water feature! Spruce it up with new landscaping, add a fountain within your feature, add lighting or just change up some of the rockwork! Get creative because after all, your water feature is your masterpiece to enjoy and show off to others.
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What do I get with my spring fish pond cleaning?

1/20/2016

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10% off if paid by March 1

What you get when you have Gordon's Pond Utopia
Clean your Pond 

Certified Aquascape Contractors
  1. Drain your pond down to about 6"-12" deep and fill up our tanks, one for fish and extra pond water.
  2. Carefully remove your fish and put them in a holding tank with a pond aerator.
  3. Remove all organic material from the pond, stream and waterfalls.
  4. Power wash the pond, stream and waterfalls and pump out all the water from washing. (Some algae on the rocks will help prove beneficial in developing your ecosystem)
  5. Remove any debris from the bottom of the skimmer, clean the pad and inspect the pad.
  6. Remove any debris from the bottom of the biofalls, clean the pads, and lightly clean the bioballs.
  7. Add Aquascape Pond Detoxifier which will help neutralize ammonia and take the chemicals out of the water.
  8. Fill your pond with the water from your pond, and then top it off from your hose.
  9. Return your fish back to their clean home.
  10. Add Aquascape Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria to start your ecosystem off.
  11. Start  up your pond to make sure it is up and running for you to enjoy!!!!       
Click here and fill out the form to get on the list for Spring Pond Cleaning
10% off if paid by March 1 
Gordon's Pond Utopia will leave your yard in the same or better shape when we are done.
​Quality is our Strength!!! 
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    Author

    Love to make custom water features.  I  am the owner of Gordon's Pond Utopia. Doing what I love building ponds and water features. 

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