Most Common Pond - Water Feature Problems We've Had To Fix | Rochester New York | NY Would you like to save a lot of money, time and headaches on your new project? Of course, who wouldn't right? Over the past 20+ years customers have come to us with all kinds of water feature problems throughout the Rochester New York area and beyond. An improperly designed waterfall can cause a great deal of water loss, or it may just look unnatural and need a face lift or rejuvenation. It's sad but true, our primary business is refurbishing and maintaining existing ponds to make them function properly. Some of these ponds installed by other "professional" pond installers or landscapers leave little to be desired, and loads of problems that drive people crazy and force them to look for help. If you are thinking to hire a professional, please be sure to research your contractor first. This could save a lot of frustration down the road. We've been hired numerous times to re-do a pond that was recently built. Water features are meant to help you relax and enjoy them, not get you frustrated. SOME OF OUR MOST COMMON WATER GARDEN ISSUES THAT WE HAVE HEARD OVER THE LAST 20+ YEARS
Your Water Feature Deserves The Best Care Possible
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls will ensure your pond is running as smoothly as the day it was installed. That way, you can enjoy the tranquility afforded by a water garden without the hassle of maintenance responsibilities. Some of Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls maintenance services include:
Some Helpful Links:
RENOVATIONS | INSTALLATIONS | MAINTENANCE
2 Comments
New Koi Pond Installation|Rochester|NY|New York|Near Me Project Showcase Of Michele & George's Backyard Koi Pond Oasis In Pittsford NYWe would like to share the transformation of this beautiful backyard retreat that includes a fish pond, stream, waterfalls and the addition of accent rocks & plants. With low maintenance in mind, we wanted to create an interactive water garden that would be fun for the whole family from both inside and out. Check Out This 5 Star Review By The Homeowners of Their Experience of Working With Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls"Tom turned a dream into reality. His vision, creativity and talent turned a shady patch of grass into a gorgeous pond, waterfall and stream. Such a pleasure to work with him and his team". - Michele & George M. Pittsford, New York (NY) Google Review Thinking About Adding a Little Bit of Paradise to Your Backyard (or Front) ? We Would Love to Hear From You!Some Helpful Links:RENOVATIONS | INSTALLATIONS | MAINTENANCEWhat Is The Importance Of Cleaning My Fish Pond This Spring?|Rochester|NY|New York|Near Me Spring is here in Rochester (NY) and we recommend that your pond receive a full cleaning at least once or twice per year by Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls to help maintain its low maintenance and beautiful appearance. Failure to perform an annual clean out could result in increased maintenance or fish health issues not to mention possible increased repairs for your pond or pump. |
Are you buying a home or have you recently purchased one that has a water feature or pond in Rochester or Western New York (NY) and would it be a good idea to hire a professional pond company to clean, assess, and educate you on the system you have? Having a true pond professional (Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls) figure out and explain everything to you regarding your new water garden and what it is that you need to do for maximum enjoyment can save a lot of headaches down the road. |
Peace Of Mind With Your New Water Garden
As we know not all ponds are created equal and having extensive pond knowledge will allow a good pond contractor to help guide you. Let's face it, "peace of mind" is everything! It is a state of mental and emotional calmness, with no worries, fears or stress. In the state, the mind is quiet and you can experience a sense of happiness and freedom. Escaping from the stress of life by a beautiful and enjoyable pond will definitely create "Peace Of Mind". |
The first step is to drain out all the water in the pond to see what is going on. All aquatic life(fish, frogs, etc.) are placed in large holding tubs. The plants remain in the pond. Once the water is out, everything in the pond is examined and explained to the homeowners. It is always important for one homeowner to be present to actually see and understand what is happening. This is time well spent as trying to understand through a phone conversation can be very difficult. The filters are also cleaned and inspected at the time of service. At the end of the cleaning Acorn Ponds provide the homeowner (a written report if desired) a report of all their findings. Basically, the Acorn Ponds team will explain to a new pond owner what they have, and what they can do to make it better and lower maintenance. |
We Recommend Fully Draining & Cleaning Your Koi Fish Pond At Least Once Every Year Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Can Help You, Call Us 585-442-6373
Other Helpful Links About Ponds:
Recreational Pond Build During Pondemonium 2017 - Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls of Rochester NY
4/12/2018
NY|Recreational Pond Build|Pondemonium 2017|Rochester|New York|Near Me
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls of Rochester (NY) travels to Chicago in August 2017 to help in the construction of another recreational pond as well as learn state of the art pond building techniques led by Brian and Ed from Aquascape Inc.
Tom of Acorn has been attending conferences and pond builds every year since 2004 and "this was one of the best" says Tom. The pond was part of a backyard renovation is 30'x60' and 6' deep with a 75' stream, 15,000 gallon reservoir to capture rainwater and has a 15'x20' wetland filter and bottom up-flow system to keep the water crystal clear. Aquabloks and a 4” drain were installed under the pond as part of an Infrastructure that will protect the pond for years to come.
Also included in the design of this beautiful natural stone water garden/swimming pond were multiple waterfalls with diving rocks, led lighting system, a bubbling boulder, skim cove or intake bay with external pumping system as well as hardscaping and plantings.
Pond Construction Material Information & Specs
- More than 200,000 tons of rock were used.
- Water storage chamber can store up to 9 inches of water before discharging to street.
- 2 recirculating pumps totaling 30,000 GPH.
- Water is forced through gaps in the flagstone (on pond bottom) to create jets.
Construction Of The Pond
It is always a privilege working alongside some of the best pond builders in the world doing what we all enjoy most....building ponds! Here a few photos below that show the construction of this amazing water feature. I hope we have given you a few landscape ideas that might help you with your backyard project in Rochester NY.
Hire Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY) To Install Your Backyard Pond. Call Today! (585) 442-6373
NY|Pondless Waterfall-Water Feature Construction|2016 Pondemonium|Rochester|New York
The Q Center provides lodging and meeting space for seminars and conferences. The goal of the stunning waterfall was to create a spectacular view from the windows of meeting rooms and lodging spaces, and to draw visitors and attendees out to the expansive patio for networking and dining. Limestone boulders create two waterfalls converging into one.
The waterfall on the left is twice as long as the shorter, steeper waterfall on the right. Underwater LED lighting was added to each waterfall drop for dramatic, nighttime viewing.
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls - Commercial/Residential Water Feature Installers Rochester New York (NY)
Hire Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY) To Install Your Backyard Pond. Call Today! (585) 442-6373
Customer Review|Koi Pond Repair Services|Pond Company|Rochester New York|NY
"We called Acorn because our pond that was constructed by a different company had turned out to be a disaster for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately for us, the pond had to be totally reconstructed. Thank God we discovered Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls! From the first day we called and talked with Tom, his company has been very professional, showed up on time and their workmanship is second to none.
Tom is very passionate about his work and has shared his ideas on how to keep our pond looking good. The newly renovated pond is so much easier to maintain. I am very pleased with their work and highly recommend them with no reservations whatsoever! Tom, thank you for everything you've done for us. I am so grateful!"
-Carol M.
Penfield New York (NY)
Google+ Review
Build & Maintain Your Pond With Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York
Have A Backyard Water Feature Project In Mind? We’re Ready When You Are. Contact Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Today. (585) 442-6373
Koi Pond Design| Installing A Fish Pond| Rochester (NY)|Acorn Ponds
Great Tips For Installing A Pond In Rochester (NY) New York
Tip # 1 Location
Tip #2 Use A Pond Kit
Tip #3 Ecosystem
Tip #4 Add A Stream And Waterfall
Tip #5 Install A Fish Cave
Tip #6 Underwater LED Lighting
Have A Backyard Water Feature Project In Mind? We’re Ready When You Are. Contact Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Today. (585) 442-6373
Some Helpful Pond Info Links:
Koi Fish Pond Design|Caves|Tunnels|Rochester New York (NY)
YES! Your Koi Fish Will Need Places To Hide In Your Fish Pond In Rochester New York (NY)
Where Can Your Koi Fish Hide In Your Pond?
|
Build & Maintain Your Koi Pond Or Water Feature With Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls – Call Today! 585-442-6373
Some Helpful Pond Info Links:
Pond Sludge|Muck|Removal|Cleaning|Services|Rochester|New York|NY|Near Me
Sludge or muck is merely the organic waste of plants and animals that accumulates at the bottom of every pond. If you don't drain & clean your pond every year, the buildup of sludge can be overwhelming making it more difficult to get rid of. Sludge & muck buildup can lead to more pond problems as well as be detrimental or harmful to the health of your koi fish. |
The quickest way to get rid of the muck & sludge is to physically remove it. The pond must be pumped all the way down to the bottom and the muck can be removed with buckets, shovels, vacuums & power washers. There are chemicals available to aid in the removal of light muck buildup but will take time & patience working with the different products. |
How To Keep Muck & Sludge Under Control
- Keep your pond clear of organic materials such as leaves, sticks & twigs.
- Cut back aquatic pond plants in the fall.
- Add beneficial bacteria to your pond regularly.
- Drain & clean your pond at least once a year.
- Install a waterfall filter in your pond.
- Install a skimmer in your pond.
- Use aeration when needed in the summer.
- Don't overstock your pond with fish, koi & goldfish.
Have Your Pond Professionally Built & Maintained By Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY) (585) 442-6373

How To Clean A Pond In Rochester New York (NY)
Items Needed Should You Decide To Do It Yourself
For a thorough pond cleaningand to protect yourself and your fish efficiently, we recommend using the following equipment (pictured in illustration to the left). |
Steps Involved For A Successful Pond Cleaning.
- Drain your pond down until there are just a few inches of water. Store some of the pond water in a holding tank and keep tank covered & aerated.
- Carefully collect your koi & fish and put them in the tank with the pond water.
- Drain the rest of the water out of the pond and remove large debris.
- Power wash the rock & gravel in the entire pond and remove all sludge & muck.
- Trim & deadhead all aquatic water plants.
- Vacuum out the waterfall filter & skimmer.
- Clean & rinse all filter media(replace filter pads every year) & inspect the waterfall pump intake.
- Adjust any dislodged rocks & inspect your lighting system.
- Start adding water to the pond as well as de-chlorinator.
- Acclimate your pond fish and re-introduce them to the pond.
Click here to get more pond maintenance & cleaning tips for koi or fish ponds
Hire A Pro To Clean Your Pond In Rochester New York (NY)
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Call Us Now! (585)-442-6373
We Recommend Fully Draining & Cleaning Your Koi Fish Pond At Least Once Every Year Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Can Help You, Call Us 585-442-6373
Outdoor Spaces & Gathering Area Ideas In Rochester New York (NY)
Have you been looking for some ideas on how to make that space in your Rochester (NY) garden a little more beautiful? Would you like to add a focal point or create an oasis right in your own backyard where you can escape and relax? Here are a few possibilities for improving your outdoor space with water features. |
Aquascape's spillway bowls and patio water features are a great way to get your feet wet with water gardening. They can be used as by themselves or installed/combined into an existing water feature. |
Interested in incorporating fire with your water feature? These fire features are ideal for city rooftops, balconies & patios where space is limited. Enjoy the outdoor water feature lifestyle from almost anywhere! |
Enjoy a professionally installed koi pond that you can enjoy from your backyard patio. We have all sizes available from small to large. Whether you want to transform a small space or your whole backyard...we can help! |
Try out our pondless waterfalls that are great for any area in your yard. We can even install one right by your front entrance. Your guests won't want to leave and you can begin to relax from the minute you get home from work. |
Have A Backyard Water Feature Project In Mind? We’re Ready When You Are. Contact Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Today. (585) 442-6373
Fish Pond Installation Review Of Pond Contractors Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls - Rochester New York (NY)
10/11/2015
Fish Pond Installation Review|Pond Contractors|Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls|Rochester New York|NY
Have Your New Water Feature Or Backyard Pond Professionally Installed By Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY) 585-442-6373
Some Helpful Pond Info Links
Goldfish Pond Installation|Pond Company Review|Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls|Rochester New York|NY
Project Price Range: $1,000 - $9,999
I cannot rave enough about Tom and his talented crew that created a backyard paradise for me (and my goldfish!) on my teeny patio. They were a pleasure to have working at my home and I am totally thrilled with their finished product! I would not hesitate to recommend Acorn Ponds and Waterfalls. Top notch!
Nancy G.
Rochester, New York (NY)
Have Your New Water Feature Or Backyard Pond Professionally Installed By Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY)
10 Tips For Fall Pond Care|Rochester|New York|NY|Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls
What Should I Do With My Pond In The Winter?
Gardeners across the country take precautions to protect their landscapes from the harsh reality of winter. Water features in the landscape require special consideration when putting your pond to bed for a long winter's nap. For Rochester, Monroe County NY pond owners, Pond maintenance chores in the fall and winter are not that difficult but are important to ensure the health of your ecosystem water garden.
Here are some basic guidelines to help your aquatic plants and finned friends weather the chill of Mother Nature. Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls can help you with these fall pond maintenance and winter preparation tasks if you live in the Rochester, Monroe County New York (NY) area. Be sure to contact us early to ensure a spot on our schedule.
- Decaying leaves and foliage produce toxic gases that can harm your fish so you want to remove this debris before winter rolls into town. You don't need to remove every single last leaf, but try to remove the majority.
- If you put protective pond netting over your pond before the leaves started to fall, your job is easy. Carefully roll up the net and discard the leaves that were caught.
- If you didn't use a net over the surface of your pond, you'll need to remove the build-up of leaves from the bottom of the pond. Use a long handled pond net to scoop them out.
- Check yourskimmer basket and remove any leaves that are still caught inside.
- Add Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria to the pond once the temperature drops below 50 degrees. Use twice weekly for two weeks, and then once per week until the water starts to freeze.
- Stop fertilizing your aquatic plants after the first frost.
- Trim back hardy marginal aquatic plants to 2" above the water to keep the dead foliage from drooping over into the pond.
- Trim back waterlily leaves and stems to 2-3" above the base of the plant. This keeps dead foliage from decomposing in the pond.
- If you left hardy waterlilies in their pot, drop them into the deepest part of the pond to over-winter. Do not bring them indoors as they need a period of dormancy.
- Bring tropical waterlilies indoors if you want to over-winter them. Keep the pot in 50-degree water or take them out of the pot and store in sand. Be advised, even trained horticulturists lose a lot oftropical waterlilies when storing them indoors, so you might simply want to treat them as annuals.
- Once temperatures drop to 50 degrees, stop feeding your fish. They need to get ready to hibernate and you'll want to avoid any metabolic complications. You can feed them Cold Water Fish Food until the temperature drops below 50 degrees.
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Can Help You With Fall Pond Maintenance & Winter Preparation, Call Us 585-442-6373
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Offering Fall Pond Maintenance Services & Landscape Ideas For Rochester, Monroe County, NY
Looking for Fall Pond Maintenance or Landscape Ideas In Greece, NY? If you don't see your town below, give us a call 585.442.6373 Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Fall Pond Maintenance Service Areas: Rochester, Monroe County, New York, NY Pittsford, Penfield, Brighton, Fairport, Irondequoit, Perinton, Victor, Mendon, Webster, Greece, Chili, Scottsville, Bushnell's Basin, Rush, Henrietta, North Greece, East Henrietta, West Henrietta, East Rochester, Bloomfield, West Webster, North Gates, Honeyoye Falls, Gates Chili, Bergen, Palmyra, Charlotte, Palma, North Chili, NY |
Pond Service|Review|Rochester New York|NY
Click here to see review on Houzz
Project Date: May 2015
Project Price Range: $1,000-$9,999
I hired Tom after interviewing a few companies regarding my existing two-tiered pond with waterfall that had become overgrown with algae and a maintenance nightmare. Most companies offered a maintenance program to clean periodically as the solution, but Tom offered a solution that required limited maintenance.
While the other solutions would have been less costly they didn't get to the root of the problem and were more of a Band-Aid approach. Tom's Aquascape solution made more sense to me in that it included an ionizer, beneficial bacteria doser, skimmer and BOG filtration system. I did question the cost of his solution during the process, but now feel I received fair value for the solution he brought to the table. It has been 2 months since he completed his work and I'm very pleased with the results. The ionizer after finding the correct setting and beneficial bacteria dozer has kept 95+% of the algae away. I get the occasional string of algae that is easy enough to rake out and allows me to see and enjoy the beautiful Koi that I have.
The skimmer has trapped all the debris that falls into the pond after the last few windy months that would have settled on the bottom. While I am grateful for all that and it has truly allowed me to enjoy my pond again, my favorite thing Tom did was install the BOG filtration system, as it has turned the second tier of my pond into a thing of beauty with the incredible plants he put up there. I know that the filtration system is also helping with the algae problems I had, but I really didn't expect to enjoy the beautiful plants up there that give the whole pond a softer look than just looking at a lot of rocks. I also want to communicate that Tom kept his commitments in regards to the timing of the project and has been available if I have any questions.
Even when I don't have questions he has followed up multiple times to make sure everything is going well and to see if I needed anything. All in all, Tom and his guys surpassed my expectations and I would highly recommend working with him and his company.
Have Your New Water Feature Or Backyard Pond Professionally Installed By Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY)
Click here to see more reviews for Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls
Summer Pond Maintenance|Tips|Services|Rochester New York|NY
Summer Pond Maintenance Tips For Rochester New York
Pond Owners
Record high temperatures in the Rochester, Monroe County, New York (NY) area create a number of challenges for people, pets, plants, and yes, even your water garden. You’ll want to keep a close eye on your pond, especially when the water temperature reaches 80 degrees or higher. Warm water has a low capacity for holding oxygen, so you may start to see your fish gasping for air close to the water’s surface, or especially close to a fountain or waterfall. In addition, warm pond water leads to increased activity and that means your fish require more oxygen at a time when it’s least available. |
You’ll also want to stock your pond with a lot of plants to provide shade for the fish. A good rule of thumb is to provide plant coverage of approximately 1/3 to 1/2 of the pond’s surface area. Waterlily pads provide great coverage, but if your pond lacks the proper amount, you can easily add floating plants such as water lettuce until the waterlilies fill in. |
Perhaps one of the most important parts of pond design is circulation. If possible, you’ll want to place your biological filter and mechanical filter across the pond from each other, so that all areas of the pond are skimmed and the water circulated. And keep in mind that waterfalls, streams, and even fountains play a huge part in the oxygenation of the water in your pond. If you don’t already have a waterfall cascading into your pond, you might want to invest in a fountain that can be added without any construction to the pond. |
- Add oxygen to your pond by placing an aerator or AquaForce® pump in your pond. You can also install a fountain with a pump if your pond doesn’t have a waterfall or stream built in.
- If you feed your fish, feed them in the morning and be careful not to overfeed. Uneaten food decays faster in warmer water and can pollute the pond.
- Be sure to remove dying leaves and flowers before they have a chance to decay in the warmer water.
Demand The Best, Have It Installed Right... The First Time!
Summer Pond Maintenance By Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY)
Looking for Ecosystem Pond & Goldfish Pond Services or Pondless Water Feature Ideas In Pittsford, NY? If you don't see your town below, give us a call 585.442.6373 Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Water Feature Service Areas: Rochester, Monroe County, New York, NY, Pittsford, Penfield, Brighton, Fairport, Irondequoit, Perinton, Victor, Mendon, Webster, Greece, Chili, Scottsville, Bushnell's Basin, Rush, Henrietta, North Greece, East Henrietta, West Henrietta, East Rochester, Bloomfield, West Webster, North Gates, Honeoye Falls, Gates Chili, Parma, Palma, Charlotte, NY |
Cleaning A Fish Pond In Rochester Monroe County NY (New York)
In Rochester, Monroe County NY, The best time to clean a fish pond is the early spring, before your water garden completely awakens from its winter dormancy – ideally before the water temperature in the pond creeps above 55º F. If a clean-out is performed when the water is warmer, after bacteria colonies form, the balance of the ecosystem will again be thrown off and your pond will go through another “green phase” before the bacteria colonies re-establish themselves again. |
When should I clean my fish pond?
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls highly recommends that you clean your pond every spring. If there is a layer of “crud” at the bottom of the pond and the water is dark in color, it would be a good idea to do a full clean-out.
Some Related Fish Pond Info:
Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls- Offering Rochester, Monroe
County, NY-Spring Pond Cleaning Services & Landscape Design Ideas
Looking for Spring Fish Pond Cleaning Services or Landscape Design Ideas In Brighton, NY? If you don't see your town below, give us a call 585.442.6373 Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Pond Cleaning Service Areas: Rochester, Monroe County, New York, NY Pittsford, Penfield, Brighton, Fairport, Irondequoit, Perinton, Victor, Mendon, Webster, Greece, Chili, Scottsville, Bushnell's Basin, Rush, Henrietta, North Greece, East Henrietta, West Henrietta, East Rochester, Bloomfield, West Webster, North Gates, Honeyoye Falls, Gates Chili, Bergen, Palmyra, Charlotte, Palma, North Chili, NY |
Call Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls Of Rochester New York (NY) 585-442-6373 To Clean Your Fish Pond
Author
Landscape Designer / Pond Contractor, Tom Warmerdam has been designing, installing & maintaining koi ponds, water features, patios, landscape lighting & creating outdoor living area paradises all around Rochester, New York (NY) for over 30 years. His company Acorn Ponds & Waterfalls was awarded by Aquascape Inc. as one of the top 100 in North America in 2014. He has been attending conferences at Aquascape headquarters every year since 2004 in Chicago, Ill to maintain his Certification(Certified Aquascape Contractor) status.
Archives
July 2024
June 2024
May 2024
April 2024
March 2024
February 2024
January 2024
October 2023
July 2023
June 2023
May 2023
April 2023
March 2023
February 2023
January 2023
March 2022
January 2022
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
June 2020
April 2020
February 2020
January 2020
September 2019
July 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
March 2019
February 2019
December 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
December 2017
September 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
October 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
June 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
Categories
All
Aquatic Pond Plants
Backyard (KOI) Ponds
Bog Filtration
Commercial Features
Customer Reviews
Fire Features
Garden Fountains
Green Pond Water
Landscape Design
Landscaping Ideas
LED Pond Lighting
Pond Algae
Pond Cleaning
Pond Construction
Pond Contractors
Pond Design
Pond Filtration
Pond (KOI) Fish
Pondless Waterfalls
Pond Maintenance
Pond Repair
Pond Tour
Pond Water Treatments
Pumps & Plumbing
Recreational Ponds
Waterfalls
Water Features
Water Gardens
Wildlife