FAQ
1. How long have you been in business?
Tropical Waterscapes was started in June 2006 by The Waterfall Guy, Jason Harlow who had over 14 years experience in water feature construction and maintenance.
2. What does your warranty cover?
Our labor warranty covers any possible mistakes made during pond construction for one year, and the parts warranty covers all individual parts for the duration of the manufacturer's warranty which can be found by Clicking Here
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3. How much does a water feature cost?
Cost should not be the deciding factor alone on an investment such as a water feature. Often times lower cost equals lesser value. For example what good is a $5,000 automobile, if you have to spend $2,000 a year just to maintain it? It would make more sense to spend more money upfront to receive a better quality product, wouldn't it?
Depending on the size, complexity, and chosen options, a properly designed and installed water feature typically costs between $1995 for our entry level sizes, upwards to millions of dollars for the large scale commercial projects. On average a professionally installed water feature costs about the same amount as a hot tub.
In addition our company believes in selling based on quality work and superb customer service. We are not the "cheapest" company, nor do we wish to be. The value of our products and services far outweigh any monetary value.
4. How much does the pump cost to operate?
The standard pumps we use in most water features will run about $15-18 per month in electrical charges.
5. Did you go to school to learn how to build beautiful water features?
Believe it or not, the answer is yes. Each year the staff of Tropical Waterscapes attends Pond College where we learn the latest construction techniques, while brushing up on our existing skills. In addition we have several R&D ponds which we tear apart and rebuild to enhance our skills.
6. How much time does it take to maintain a water feature?
A properly designed and constructed pond should require less maintenance than the same size area of grass does.
During the spring time we recommend a Spring Cleanout and a fall shutdown during the late autumn months.
Our Pondless systems are virtually maintenance free, and typically require less the 2 minutes of maintenance per week.
7. What do I do with the pond and fish during the winter?
You have two options, either leave the pump running (moving water will not freeze), or shut the pump down, remove it and place in a bucket of water in a frost free location, and install a bubbler or small pump to keep a hole open in the ice for proper gas exchange. We do recommend removing the fallen leaves and trimming back all aquatic plants after the first frost to maintain optimal water quality.
8. Do I really need rock & gravel in my pond?
YES! Not only does it cover the unsightly liner, it provides surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize, which will break down organic matter. Believe it or not, gravel in a pond actually reduces the maintenance! Also contrary to what some local 'professionals' might tell you, removing the gravel from a pond each year to clean it in the spring is an unnecessary and false statement. Also gravel in a pond does not harm fish.
In addition to benefiting the filtration processes, gravel eliminates slick pond liner under your foot, if you ever need to get into the pond for maintenance. In addition a gravel bottom pond mimics a koi's natural habitat, allowing them to forage through the rocks for debris which they consume.
9. My pump is not working, what do I do?
View The Pump Troubleshooting guide by Clicking HereView The Pump Care Guide Here
If following these steps does not resolve your problem, please give us a call so we can further assist you.
10. My pond is leaking. HELP!!!
View The Troubleshooting Leaks guide by Clicking HereIf following these steps does not resolve your problem, please give us a call so we can further assist you.
11. I like to do projects by myself. Do you offer any assistance to people wanting to install their own water feature?
Yes we do! In addition to offering complete DIY kits on our online store, we also host several Build A Pond Day events each year where you can attend and learn directly from the pros.View The 20 Steps To Pond Success Guide By Clicking Here
View The DIY Guide By Clicking Here
12. My pond has a lot of algae. How can I get rid of algae?
First and foremost you must have a balanced ecosystem setup with sufficient plants, fish, rock / gravel, and proper filtration. We also suggest checking the pH of your water as high pH levels do help to grow algae. If you used limestone in the construction of your water feature, this will cause algae as well. Click on our online store for various water treatments.Algae needs 3 things to grow: sunlight, water, & nutrients. If you eliminate one of the 3 ingredients for algae (typically nutrients) the algae will die off.
