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Robert Townsend began his career began over 30 years ago with his own landscaping business. Always on the lookout for new challenges and opportunities, in 1991 Rob built his first pond. So satisfying was the planning and execution of this project, his mind was made up to enter a new phase of landscaping design. He began his search for information on Pond Ecosystems.

In 1996 Rob attended what would be the first of many seminars presented by Aquascape Inc. The show so impressed Rob, it took little time for him to make Water Gardens...

I am the manager at Aqua Scapes of CT, LLC. I’ve worked in the pond industry for over 10 years and have had my own pond for almost 20 years. If you have a pond problem, I have a solution.

I have a bachelors degree in Multimedia Web Design and Development from the University of Hartford, class of 2014.

Our staff is knowledgeable when it comes to ponds and pond maintenance. We take pride in our customer service, work ethic, and workmanship. And while we might not always have the answer to every pond problem, we do our best to lead your pond in the right direction.

Pictured - Tucker Rozevink and Gavin Sullivan

Aqua Scapes of CT, LLC is the leading distributor of professional pond products, koi fish and aquatic plants in Connecticut. We have a six acre aquatic nursery in Portland, CT where we stock the full line of Aquascape pond and waterfalls kits, fountains, maintenance supplies, replacement parts, pumps, and water treatments.

Our company foundation was built on a simple premise... keep it simple, and work with nature, not against her. The relationship between building a pond, and respecting how nature intended it to work, is fundamental...

If you suspect your fish might be sick, add a water conditioner (detoxifier), boost aeration, and do a 25% water change (at minimum). It is imperative to monitor sick fish and their symptoms. Sick fish generally show outward signs of illness; if nothing appears wrong on the outside, odds are your issue is water quality.

Water Quality

Ammonia - High ammonia, a byproduct produced by fish, can be deadly if not treated properly.

Parasites

External Parasites -...

As a disclaimer, we are located in Zone 6, so some of the following information might not apply to everyone. These are aquatic plants we like planting in our ponds and on our installations.

Pot or No Pot?

If you have a gravel bottom pond, plant your aquatic plants directly in the gravel. Take the plant out of the pot, rinse off any soil, and plant directly in the gravel. Use large boulders to stabilize taller plants while preventing koi from pulling them out.

If you have a liner/preform pond, keep...

Did you know we offer complete Fall netting services? Let us do the work for you! It is important to take certain precautions when it comes to closing your pond until Spring arrives. Our netting services aid in this process. We will trim back your aquatic plants, clean out your filters, remove your pump(s), and net your pond or pondless waterfall to help keep out falling leaf debris. Netting your pond can also help keep unwanted critters and the dreaded heron from feasting on your fish.

In addition to netting, we also have aerators...

There are a few reasons a pond might become foamy. Although often harmless, it is important to monitor any build up of foam on the surface of your pond as it can require immediate maintenance for ponds with fish.

Fish Breeding

Are your fish more active than normal? Are your smaller fish chasing around your larger fish? Does your pond smell...fishy? If that's the case, your fish are most likely spawning. This usually happens from May to July. When spawning, fish expel gases (ie ammonia) which creates foam on...

Lotus grow up and out of the water. Water lilies grow on the water's surface. Lotus are tubers. Lilies are rhizomes. Plant your lotus plants in a mucky substrate a few inches below the waterline. Lotus prefer a dirt/sand substrate and should be fertilized to promote larger foliage and more blooms.

Water lilies grow well in 18" of water and love sunlight. The more muck & sludge in the pond, the bigger they will grow.

I cut off my lotus pod about a week after they lose their flowers. When the seeds start drying up in the pods, its been too long.

After I remove the seed, I set them aside for a few weeks to dry out; then I sandpaper or cut into one side, not too deep, but enough to puncture the outter skin. I put the seed in about an inch of water, in a shady spot.

They start sprouting in 4-7 days usually. The seeds should look similar to the one in this picture, dark, plump, and should feel firm.

Koi.

If you spend the money to build an expensive koi pond, why cheap out on the fish?

There is a big misconception that koi are hard to care for, but with an adequately sized pond and proper filtration, koi are actually better for your pond than goldfish. Koi spend most of their time bottom feeding on both algae and debris while goldfish primarily eat, sleep, and poop.

Koi also love eating plant roots, thus eating most of their fertilized eggs resulting in fewer babies. Goldfish don't. This is why...

Pond Leaks, Pump Issues, Green Water

Did you buy a house with a pond and have no idea how to care for it. Or maybe you have a pond that that loses water constantly. Is your pond always pea soup green? Are predators eating all of your fish?

These are common pond problems we see everyday.

When it comes to caring for your pond fish in winter, the most important thing is to always keep a hole in the ice on the pond's surface. This allows oxygen into the pond and prevents toxic gases from building up. The following options will keep a hole in the ice.

One thing to think about is that products can/do fail. Therefore it is important to always have a backup option. We recommended using 2 of the options listed below, plugged into separate GFI outlets. This way if one option fails, or trips the GFI, you have a backup...

To stop predators from getting your fish, it is important to have a hidy cave in your pond so your fish can hide from dangerous predators. A few round rocks with a flat stone on top will make a natural yet adequate spot for your fish to hide. It is also important to have good plant coverage (ie water hyacinth, pond lilies, and marginal plants) on your pond's surface to provide extra coverage.

Net Your Pond

Although not the most aesthetically pleasing, netting your pond is the best defense against herons. Pond netting...

Coming Soon

- The less you clean your filters (unless you have a canister filter) the better.

- Only clean Filter / Bio Media once a year, at the beginning of the year.

- Get your pond up and running in April or May. This way, your pond ecosystem will have a chance to get established before the weather gets too hot.

- It is common to get an algae bloom a week or two after a pond cleaning. This is because your pond has not had enough time to build up a strong colony of Beneficial Bacteria.

-...

This year we are dedicating our display to a close relative and friend, Charlie Dyer, the epitome of charm. Our landscape pays tribute to his legacy and all those who were fortunate enough to have known him. In our display, a nine foot tall stairway waterfall drifting from the clouds represents a Stairway to Heaven. We are using a variety of Charlie’s favorite trees, shrubs and plants which are just waking up to help set the tone for this year’s theme, “The Charm of Spring!”

Charles E. Dyer, Jr. 88 years young, of Waterford,...