Not all fish like the same environment. The Midwest can be a tricky habitat for some aquatic friends. But we’ve found some fish species that thrive in Kansas City:

• Japanese koi
• Shubunkins
• Orandas
• Sarasa comets
• Comets

There are some area nurseries and shops that carry fish who love the Midwest. The Water Garden Society of Greater Kansas City is a good resource, too.

When a pond doesn’t have enough oxygen in the water, plants and fish suffer. But an aerator can help.

When you add aeration, your pond is clearer and smells better. Here’s why:

• The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water goes up. Your fish and plants are less stressed. But these higher levels of oxygen are especially awesome for the beneficial bacteria in your pond. The bacteria will be more efficient and eat the gunk in various areas of the pond. And the bacteria won’t produce that icky rotten eggs smell. More oxygen = better smell.
• The pond water is no longer divided into warm and cool layers. Aeration circulates and mixes water. That means you no longer have warm water at the top and cooler water at the bottom. You have fairly consistent water throughout the pond, and that helps beneficial bacteria do their job cleaning. Those bacteria tend to live on the bottom of the pond, and typically thrive when water temps are warm.
• The water quality and clarity improves. When an aerator circulates the water and increases oxygen, the water looks clearer. Nutrients and debris are less likely to accumulate at the bottom of the pond. This gives the mechanical filtration a chance to remove this gunk.

The right aeration can help balance out a pond ecosystem. Want more detail? We’ve got you covered.

Of course! If you enjoy your water feature during the day, imaging being able to experience the beauty when the sun goes down. Night lighting transforms the ambiance around your water feature into a completely new atmosphere.

We think it’s worth it to have a professional install lighting in and around your pond. But if you’re dedicated to DIY, it’s not impossible. Here are two things to keep in mind.

Get the right equipment for the job. There are many kinds of landscape lights, but be sure to select a variety that’s designed to work underwater. Also pay attention to the area you want to illuminate. For smaller, compact spaces, use lights that are in the 1-2 wattage range. For larger areas such as the length across the pond or a wide waterfall, lights in the 3-6 wattage range would be ideal. And remember that water dissipates light. So, you may need more lights than you think.

Make tweaks after nightfall. Water can be tricky, and even experienced lighting designers make changes as they go. Don’t be afraid to highlight plants or focus lighting on a waterfall … or completely change things around as you experience your lighted pond at night.

Yes. We’ve worked with a number of clients who installed fountains years ago but weren’t satisfied with the location. The honest truth is that folks tend to get the most out of their fountains when the water features are close to the home and outdoor living space.

Moving a fountain takes some muscle. It requires you to carefully remove all the fountain components – the basin, the fountain and pump, and surrounding rocks. You’ll then need to stage these items at the new location and get working on installation. For water feature pros, it’s all in a day’s work. But depending on the size of the fountain, it can be a back-breaker for DIYers. Don’t be afraid to call in professional reinforcements on this job.

When you’re considering the location of your fountain, think about where you’ll be viewing the water feature. If you’re going to be sitting on your deck, there’s no point in putting the fountain in the far corner of the yard. Consider the terrain, too. Placing a fountain on steep ground can be tricky. Perhaps there’s a more stable option, or maybe a waterfall is a better fit.

Moving a fountain can transform your yard. Here’s a fountain relocation we completed for one family.

This is a common myth – but it’s not true. Most of our ponds in the Kansas City area are only two feet deep in the center, and koi do just fine in the winter. We also know contractors as far north as Canada who say that two feet is OK during the winter.

We do recommend a floating heater and/or an aerator fountain to keep a hole in the ice. This allows the water to still absorb oxygen from the atmosphere and prevents the build-up of toxic gases underneath the ice.

Predators can be a concern, but there are ways to minimize their impact. Around Kansas City, the main predators we see are herons, raccoons, and cats. To protect fish, we normally build fish caves into our ponds. These give fish a place to hide from danger. We have also found that heron decoys help keep herons away. In extreme circumstances, netting is an option.

To keep cats and raccoons away, we build steeper drop-offs into the pond. These animals typically don’t get into deeper water to hunt, so the drop-off is a natural deterrent. Fish caves are also an effective way to prevent hungry critters from snatching a meal from your pond.

No. It seems like gravel would cause these issues, but the opposite is true. Muck is a natural by-product of decomposing organic debris such as plant matter, dead algae, and fish waste. So, it will eventually accumulate in any body of water. Ponds without gravel can have more muck build up because they don’t offer the significant biological component that gravel provides: a home for muck-eating beneficial bacteria.

These bacteria are key to balancing any natural pond ecosystem. And as long as the water feature is properly maintained, ponds with gravel stay much cleaner than ponds without it. We always recommend using round gravel instead of gravel with jagged edges. Sharp corners could potentially puncture the liner.

Want to learn more? Here are additional details about the role rock plays in your pond.