Clarke Koi Ponds

Established 1995

reviews: aquascapes

December 2007
Updated Oct 2008
Aquascapes is a company with aggressive marketing and a strategy to turn the average landscaper into a "master pond builder"

Unfortunately, the science just doesn't add up. Aquascapes ponds can function but should never be confused with a properly constructed pond

Remember, it's very easy to claim a product is great - but logically substantiating the claim with quantifiable data is another story

I will explain in logical terms the shortcomings of the Aquascapes System

The good
Originally the typical landscaper pond was constructed by placing the pump in the pond and the water was fed to the waterfall. Sometimes there was a canister or box filter, often the water was just re-circulating. For many reasons, this is the worst way to operate your pond (please see the chart on our Filtration page for more details). Problems like the pump clogging, the higher energy draw of submersible pumps, the poor aesthetics of seeing the pump & tubing and the fact that no larger debris can be removed with this approach all mean it can be categorized as poor design - by any standard

Aquascapes came along and to their credit, endorsed the use of a skimmer. Skimmers are a recommended piece of equipment for most ponds. They skim surface debris and as the pump is located in the skimmer, it seldom clogs. Their is some bio filtration, albeit not enough to support any larger bioload. The skimmer usually returns the water to a waterfall filter (ie. biofalls)

The waterfall filter specifications are not the best. It is difficult to clean, with no drain valve. Sure one can be installed, and their may even be a plug, but the fact is, its usually underground and difficult to access. A good filter is based first and foremost on settling solids for easy removal instead of removing them mechanically

Another good advantage to the Aquascapes system is it can be installed quickly. This means your pond is up and running in less than a week. The components also take up less space than the conventional larger filters that experience pond enthusiasts recommend. Initial construction costs are lower (but this is not always the case) but the ultimate cost of ownership is usually significantly higher as these ponds are rebuilt

Fundamental Flaws with Aquascapes 2 Foot Depth Frankly I'm shocked at this recommendation. Fish kept in these depths face a lot of adversity. First, there is a baseline level of stress that exists because the fish have no depths to retreat to if scared. Koi can appear skittish and over time this is a drain on their constitution. Of course predators like raccoons can catch fish in ponds that lack depth Another problem is the potential of rapidly fluctuating temperatures. Water has a high specific heat capacity but this resistance to temperature change is reduced in shallow ponds. Aquascapes Ponds can heat up and cool off quickly because they lack the stability that depth provides. Sunburn can be another issue in shallow ponds if there are no trees or waterplants to provide shade. Ultimately, there is a reason you do not find fish in shallow natural ponds Rocks on the bottom Aquascapes suggests that rocks on the bottom of your pond serve as a biodbed to provide all the nitrification you need. This is another shockingly overstated comment which really has little merit biologically. It is true that nitrifiers require surface and rocks provide this but lets look at all the facts. Because there is little movement on the ponds bottom (in an aquascapes system) and it is far from the surface, there is the potential for the lower layers of water around the stones to go anoxic (low oxygen content) Because nitrifying bacteria require oxygen to oxidize ammonia (NH3 - NO2 requires O2) they are going to be less efficient with less oxygen. It is true stone does provide surface area which bacteria will colonize, but gravel filters are an old technology. The reasons being that rock doesn't provide much surface area per cubic foot in relation to newer bio media's (ie. kaldnes and plastic bio balls), stone also tends to channel and subsequently develop anaerobic pockets as a result. Additionally, rock is heavy and difficult to clean - especially when located within the pond. Bottom line is that there are far better media's and approaches available today then in-pond filters All good filters operate on the same principles. Water is gravity fed or pumped through the media at a fairly high rate bringing food and oxygen to the bacteria. This in turn supports larger colonies of bacteria which provide lower levels of ambient ammonia in the pond. This flow does not occur at the bottom of a aquascapes pond which can be fairly stagnant. Aerated bio beds utilizing kaldnes have been properly tested and offer amazing ammonia conversion rates that trounce other media's An Over Reliance on Natural Processes You have read the Aquascapes copy and in truth, it sounds like it works and is in tune with the environmental sentiments of today. But the fact remains, this is a "fish pond" and a small closed system at that. The pond keepers goal is that all the creatures survive which contradicts the checks and balances that exist in the real world. The fact remains, natural systems are far more complex with a more extensive food web which has developed over a long period of time - don't expect to create a comparable ecosystem in your backyard The bio load is so unnaturally high in the typical backyard pond that it requires air compressors, pumps and properly designed filtration in order to function successfully in the long run. Dilution and naturally occurring bacteria will not necessarily provide the optimum and will certainly not match a proper gravity fed filter system. Remember, you can't rely solely on a natural process in an unnatural setting In extreme cases I have heard of rocks actually concreting themselves together and fish perishing as a result of the hydrogen sulfide buildup		Leaves not captured by the skimmer have to be removed manually in an aquascapes system. River stone makes this task difficult to accomplish
		The amount of detritus that builds up is startling. I have cleaned out quite of few of the aquascapes style ponds and only one had no debris build up like this

Aquascapes take on Bottom Drains
The impetus for me to write this page was perusing a competitors site and reading the company line on bottom drains. Apparently unnecessary and in fact, old technology. I found this diatribe to be illogical and incorrect on many levels. Here is the quote you will find on most Aquascapes websites :
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Bottom Drains
The only reason that we've included bottom drains in the water filtration section is that many filters rely solely on water that's circulated from the bottom of the pond. With older filtration systems, the water that was near the bottom contained everything that settled, including fish and plant waste. This contaminated water was then transferred into the filter system that was intended to eliminate wastes.

To use here at Aquascape Designs, bottom drains represent one of yesteryear's pond construction techniques. With modern pond filtration techniques, a bottom drain is not only unnecessary, but counterproductive. The rocks and gravel on the bottom of the pond are covered with billions of tiny bacterium that break these wastes down and convert them to useful plant fertilizers. When installing most bottom drains, a hole needs to be made in the lowest part of the water garden. If the seal around the bottom drain fails, all your water will drain out of your pond leaving your fish high and dry. The risks involved in bottom drain installations outweigh any potential benefits that they may have
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First, the tone of their comments are disparaging and lack objectivity. In the first line alone is ridiculous - it's actually their systems that rely solely on one point of re circulation - the skimmer. Proper ponds incorporate bottom drains and skimmers and a whole lot more. Dissecting their copy from this angle is too banal and not productive

Skimmers do a good job, but they obviously do not capture everything that lands in the pond. So inevitably, debris does end up at the bottom. Plants also break down and fish defecate - these wastes are usually not collected by the skimmer and sink to the bottom as well. It is very important to remove this organic debris. Lets put this in simple terms - caged animals kept in unhygienic conditions usually get sick - a pond is a cage

The last line of the first paragraph attempts to cast doubt on the function of a filter mainly because Aquascapes doesn't have a filter (unfortunately the biofalls filter doesn't count). The first line of good filtration is to remove larger particulate with a vortex. This separates waste from the water column which is easily purged from the system by opening a gate valve. Box and canister filters (a category the biofalls is part of) require manual cleaning and because there is no provision for settlement, the sponges can be saturated rather quickly as they needlessly capture large particulate - resulting in more maintenance. If this debris is not removed, it can create turbid conditions which reduce clarity of the pond. Of course, it is also a breeding ground for pathogens

It is rare to see a bottom drain leak - in fact aside from a couple bad installs, I have never seen a drain leak after the installation. They are pretty easy to install and the liner actually works like a gasket which seals the pond well. The suggestion that your pond will be devoid of H2O when you return home one afternoon is absurd. If a leak somehow did develop, the percolation rate of soils is so slow I would suggest it would take days for the pond to drain completely - and that's if at all. Ponds that leave fish "high and dry" are ones which have a submersible pump in the pond and have the return to the pond is compromised. Experience tells me that when someone calls panicked that their pond has lost a lot of water, I tell them its a pump out situation. In all my pond servicing experience I have never received a call about a leaking bottom drain, but I have rebuilt numerous aquascapes systems to incorporate them

In Summary
First, I want to make it clear I have no axe to grind with Aquascapes. They have filled a niche and their ponds can function quite well. I do take issue with the stretching of the science and people need to be aware of the limitations and shortcomings. I think potential pond owners should take their time and learn the facts. If they prefer to have less maintenance and a quantifiably better system, they will install more equipment and make the pond deeper. In my experience rebuilding ponds and talking to pondkeeper's, there are common threads of discontent with the aquascapes system

Aquascapes is built on a money making formula. The principle concept is to make ponds easy to build so that landscapes can learn the techniques required by attending a 1-2 day seminar. They pay for the seminar where they are taught to purchase the aquascapes line of equipment - some of which is decent, some not. Most of these installers have limited knowledge in regards to fishkeeping and pondkeeping and proof of this lies in the bad advice they provide on their websites. Because these systems are less involved, they are much easier to build with less potential for construction related challenges and problems

The magic of bottom drains is the gravity fed principle which feeds a filter via a 3 or 4 inch diametre conduit. This enables the removal of heavy debris from the pond. This muck accumulates surprisingly rapidly and poses a health threat to the fish. As it can go anaerobic, many pathogens (Aeromonas for one) will breed and thrive in these conditions. These bad bacteria cause ulcers on koi with often deadly consequences. Lets face it, animals kept in poor hygienic conditions get sick, that is why we clean the cage they are housed in. A pond is a cage

Without a bottom drain, you will have to clean the pond annually. This means fish are going to have to be captured and removed to a suitably sized holding tank and this is stressful for them, particularly in the Spring when this cleaning is typically performed. The costs and time commitment for a pond cleanout are substantial. This cleanout is great for your landscaper, not so good for your pocketbook and your koi. Also, be prepared to potentially lose small fish which panic and hide in amongst the rocks as you try to net them out. In contrast, a system with a bottom drain never needs to be drained and cleaned, the bottom drain is in essence is a 24/7 vacuum, not allowing the accumulating of debris to begin with

The bottom line is Aquascapes systems usually work well enough for the beginner pond keeper. Just don't buy into this system thinking it's the best because it has fundamental flaws which are undeniable. Good ponds have bottom drains, external filtration AND skimmers which create a better environment, clearer water and require far less maintenance. Ultimately many choose to rebuild their ponds properly once they experience the operational shortcomings first hand - as a result, the total cost of pond ownership is much greater

Still not convinced ? Do some reading on the web and pay particular attention to those who are knowledgeable and have advanced pond systems with good quality koi. Although they may vary slightly in design and implementation, they all rely on solids removal from the pond and advanced bio filtration. I would venture to guess none employ the aquascapes system. Please consider all of these facts before you drink the kool-aid

The Verdict
Aesthetics - 7/10
Aquascapes ponds usually look pretty nice and I do like the look of the stone in the water. This is invariably covered with algae (as with all healthy ponds) which can diminish the look of course

Construction - 6/10
Very rarely is a concrete collar installed or footings for waterfalls. Usually the ponds I have seen are merely "okay" with some minor defects. In some cases we have seen larger stone caving in

Design - 5/10
Aside from the skimmer, the design is very rudimentary and the lack of depth is unjustifiable. They do not incorporate any of the plethora of great products now available on the market

Maintenance - 3/10
Unfortunately, there is a lot. Of course, the aquascapes builders are glad to do it as it is part of the formula but it will cost you. It will also stress the fish which is never a good thing

Cost - 2/10
This is an interesting question. I have seen comparabley sized ponds (with no depth) that cost more than we would charge - without any real equipment. Other quotes I have heard are outrageously low so it will be initially cheaper to get that pond you alwasy wanted. The bottom line however, in most cases is it will cost you more - eventually. Remember, when you enter any hobby at the lower end, it invariably does

Unfortunately we must give Aquascapes a failing grade when everything is considered

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