Action Water Gardens

47 Hartford Tpke, (Route 30) - Tolland, Ct 06084

As Of April 1st. Store Hours: Tue-Fri: 9AM - 6PM: Weekends 9AM - 5PM: Monday by appt.
Waterponds & Waterscapes, Fountains and Fountainscapes, and all pond supplies and fish accessories

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Plants Around the Pond FAQ
What are the best plants to use close to the pond?
Anything that forms well into the rocks like creepers or mosses and different kinds of ground covers seem to work the best. Although if you would like to you could have your grass right up to the pond's edge. It is always more attractive to have plants around your water garden.
How should the plants be positioned around the pond?
If you organize your plants around your Action Water Gardens pond with the shortest ones up close, the medium sized plants and bushes in the middle, and the tall plants with long swaying grasses in back, you’ll be on the right track.
Is it possible to over-plant the area surrounding my Aqua Water Garden?
There is always a possibility of over planting. In order to keep that from happening a new water gardener should watch out for over planting in the first year. Many of the plants you locate around your pond can grow quickly, turning your water garden in the second and third year into a jungle. You need to be extremely careful not to let that happen, remember that a water garden is intended to develop and mature over time.

Plants In the Pond FAQ
Do I have to have plants in my pond?
Yes you have to in order to keep the ecosystem well balanced. If you don’t have aquatic plants your pond may become over run by algae. The pond will become low maintenance because mother nature does most of the upkeep when there are plants in the pond.
Will my aquatic plants survive through the winter?
Like regular plants aquatic plants are divided into two groups. Perennials, which come back every year also known as hardies and annuals, otherwise known as tropical plants that you have to replant every year. The only way to avoid this would be to take them out and store them in a warm place for the winter.
The leaves on my water lilies are too small? Is there anything I can do?
Unfortunetly there isn't much that you can do. What you need to do is get them growing by putting fertilizer tabs in the soil.
My pond gets to much sun/shade? Is that bad?
For water gardeners the sun is both friend and foe. The plants that we love to grow and watch bloom require a certain amount of sun to thrive. However, algae also loves the sun and thrives in its presence. A quality water garden should strive for a happy medium between shade and sun.

Pond FAQ
About how much electricity does a pond use?
This all depends on the size pump used and the cost of electricity in your area. A high-efficiency pump, producing 3000 gallons per hour will cost an average of $21 per month. Smaller high-efficiency pumps will cost less and larger or non-efficiency pumps will cost more.
Are Small Water Features Less Work?
As water Features get larger believe it or not they become easier to maintain. Aquarium hobbyists know it's much easier to achieve a healthy, stable tank with more water then less. Small water features rarely have the flow or capacity necessary for long-term stability and soon need a lot of maintenance, the same is true with ponds. In this case, bigger is always better.
Is maintaining a water garden a constant headache?
Ecologically balanced water gardens let Mother Nature do the heavy lifting as long as you work with Mother Nature and not against her. This includes mechanical and biological filtration, majority of aquatic plants, fish, active bacteria and plenty of rocks turn a high maintenance headache into an enjoyable water garden experience. Check out our products page for more information.
It is ok to have algae in my Pond?
Green algae, in moderation, is beneficial to plant life. Fish eat it and it's part of the ecology of any living, healthy, pond. However on the other hand too much algae is not good. Too much algae has two simple causes: too much accessible nutrition and too much sunlight. This is why a well-designed pond includes plenty of aquatic plants and fish to compete for the available nutrition in addition to shade from trees and aquatic plants.
Does my pond need daily water testing and corrective treatment?
Since your Action Water Garden pond is not chemically dependent, there's nothing to test for. Mother Nature never tests her water, and she doesn't use any store bought chemicals.
Will my pond be a breeding ground for Mosquitoes?
Mosquitoes breed in still standing water. A well-designed backyard watergarden has moving water in which mosquitoes don't like to breed.

Pond Design FAQ
Where is the best place to locate my water garden?
Try not to put your water garden in the back corner of your yard where water tends to accumulate when it rains. The best place to locate your pond is near the area where you spend the most of your outdoor time. Try to situate the pond, stream and waterfalls so they are visible to different living areas inside the house, so you can enjoy its beauty. By bringing the pond up close to the house, you’ll get the most out of your your purchase.
How tall should the waterfalls be?
The size of your waterfalls depends on many factors. If your yard has an existing slope, it’s best to utilize it. Just remember, the further the water travels vertically, the less power you will get out of your pump. You may need to increase the size of you pump to get the correct water flow. If your yard has little or no slope, then the waterfall height should be no more than 2' to 3' tall. Unless you are willing to create a massive wall of dirt and a retaining wall behind the waterfall, it tends to turn out looking like a volcano coming from nowhere in the middle of your flat yard. A three foot waterfall can easily be blended into your yard and will look much more natural.
What’s the best way to get natural looking color into the surrounding landscape?
It depends on when the bloom times are in your area. For example if you plant bulbs they only bloom in the spring and give you a variety of colors. Another example would be annuals like impatiens and petunias. Impatienses in particular, love the water and grow nicely in the pond or the stream; blooming late into the year giving you a season-long bloom.
What is the best shape for a pond?
You can shape your pond in any configuration your imagination and budget can handle. As long as you are building a flexible liner pond. Preformed ponds are limited to shape of preformed liner that you purchased, and once they crack that’s it. When laying out your pond, try to use existing landscape and features to help shape the pond. Unless you are looking for a formal pond, stay away from straight or perfectly circular lines. Try using sweeping curves instead of tight, angular ones. You want the current from the stream and waterfalls to be able to travel through the pond to your skimmer.

Fish FAQ
Does my pond need to be deep in order to have fish?
Two feet deep is sufficient enough to have fish. Fish including Koi, hibernate in ponds just two- feet deep through winters as cold as Minnesota's zone 4 bone chillers. A small, circulating pump and pond heaterare all you need to keep a "breathing hole" in the ice and oxygenate the water for your fish.
Will predators eat my fish? How can I prevent it from happening?
Yes, sometimes animals can come and eat your fish but there are many ways to prevent this from happening. An effective method is adding false to frighten the real ones. One predator can be a blue heron; this heron shows the other heron's that this is my territory. Then there is the gator decoy that moves as a predator, and we also have the scarecrow. The ScareCrow is attached to your house and sprays the animal, which is invading your pond, waterfall or garden. If all else fails you can even use a invisible pond netting over the top of the pond.
Do I have to have fish in my pond?
No, you don’t have to. But a true Aqua water garden isn't complete until you have added fish. A Koi pond is good for the pond's ecosystem and can help the pond run better and flow smoother.
If I have fish, do I really need to feed them?
No, the fish are scavengers and can generally live off of anything they find in the pond, including the algae. Of course you can feed them if you wish.

For More Information Call (860) 875-2359 or Fax (860) 872-3790
NEW LOCATION: 47 Hartford Tpke, (Route 30) - Tolland Connecticut 06084
Store Hours: Tuesday - Friday 9AM - 6PM
Saturday and Sunday 9AM - 5PM
Monday by appt.
Contact Us: sales@actionwatergardens.com