Pond and Water Feature Service

  Predators Can Come By Land, Air Or Water But Using Decoys, Alternate Food Sources, Repellents, Hiding Places and Netting Can Help Keep Your Fish Alive And Well! When you have a backyard pond or outdoor space, it's only natural to expect Mother Nature to swing by for a visit.  This is especially true if you keep your pond stocked with fish.  Predators looking for food will naturally be drawn to such convenience to hunt but there are a few ways you can protect your fish. First of all, it's important to know who the predators are and where they are coming from.     Land - Find out from your local animal control or fish and game department what predators are prone to your region.  You can have variety of predators such as: raccoons, muskrats, beavers, otters, foxes, opossums or bears that enjoy hunting fish.  Fences may keep larger predators at bay but smaller creatures can sneak into many backyards. Water - Take note if you have a creek, lake, rive...

  As Fall Approaches, Install Pond Netting Across It To Keep Falling Leaves, Debris And Even Predators From Entering Your Water Features And Putting Your Pond Health At Risk! Autumn can be beautiful with the changing leaves but it's those very culprits that can put too much stress on your pond and harm your plants and fish.  Most ponds should have a net installed over the top to keep leaves and other organic debris out.  As leaves decompose, they disturb the water quality of your pond and can significantly harm the health of your fish and promote algae growth.  Always remember that an unbalanced pond affects everything in your ecosystem. Another reason for netting is to keep predators out.  Spring and fall are when local predators are most active.  Get to know which animals are most common in your area by contacting your local animal control or even your state fish and game department.  The most common backyard pond hunters are coyotes, bobcats, foxes ...

Summer is in full swing and Covid-19 restrictions are easing.  This is the perfect time to start planning those barbecues and swim parties to gather those you hold dear.  You shouldn't have to spend this quality time worrying if your pond or water feature looks great or if you serviced it correctly. Whether you just need someone to check your work and make sure all systems are in proper working condition or you want that water feature to look stunning throughout the season, Laughing Waters Pond Maintenance can help. Our trained experts have been taking care of Chicagoland's water features for nearly two decades.  It takes time, energy and serious commitment to keep those ponds looking gorgeous and our specialists are here to take on the heavy task.  With our passion and dedication to ponds and water features, we take pride in the work we do to keep your unique aquatic space in peak condition.  We focus on the details and gritty work so you can spend mor...

Having a water feature or pond can really make your outdoor space a beautiful, relaxing hideaway throughout the summer months.  Unfortunately, it takes hard work, dedication, a little know-how and a lot of time to keep those ponds, fountains and waterfalls healthy and working properly.  Whether you need a pro to diagnose issues with your feature or you simply need a steady, patient hand to keep it up with routine maintenance, Laughing Waters summer services might be perfect for you. Every water feature is different and we take the time to customize a maintenance plan that fulfills your specific needs, budget and unique space. With decades of experience tackling design, build and support issues for the water features and ponds of Chicagoland, we have seen and maintained it all, big and small.  Our Laughing Waters Pond Maintenance specialists provide: residential and commercial services start ups and clean outs pump and filtration repair, support and installation ...

Summer is the best time to feature and enjoy your beautiful ponds and water features.  This is the prime time for your pond to be in full splendor but it is also critical to keep it healthy during the hottest months.  Ponds need regular maintenance in the summer to prevent plants from taking over and to stabilize the delicate ecosystem.  It's also important to remember that all ponds will green a little in the heat but, if everything is properly balanced, the water should clear in no time! One of the top priorities for pond health is that it's properly aerated and maintaining steady oxygen levels.  Essentially, you need to make sure that oxygen is circulating properly throughout your pond.  Larger waterfalls help with this as well as outdoor aeration systems.  Another way to increase oxygen is by using aquatic plants.  They can keep the water clean and provide necessary oxygen but aquatic plants need to be meticulously maintained so they don't ov...

The Depth Of Your Pond Should Be Determined By If You Want Plants And Fish, Space And If You Plan To Hire A Professional Maintenance Co. Or DIY. One of the most important decisions you can make about your pond is the depth.  If you plan on having fish or aquatic plants, you need to have a deeper pond area to accommodate growth, ample living space or, in the case of certain plants, if they need less sunlight to thrive.  For Koi ponds, you should have at least 3 feet of depth or more to not only supply them enough room but to have a larger volume of water to combat any polluting effects on the pond that the fish may trigger. Some ponds need to be a bit deeper so fish have a chance to hibernate in winter.  Research the types of plants and fish you would like, if any, and follow the recommendations for a healthy volume of water they need to thrive in. Another factor to the depth of your pond comes down to the issue of maintenance.  In general, larger ponds ...

When it comes to caring for your pond and water features, don't settle for subpar service or flaky contractors.  Routine maintenance and repairs are critical for the delicate ecosystem you have built in your pond.  Weather, nature and regular wear and tear put strain on your systems so you need professionals you can rely on to keep them running in peak condition. At Laughing Waters Pond Maintenance, our number one priority is addressing each and every one of our customer's water feature needs.  Our trained technicians are trained in the latest industry strategies and protocols for proper pond care and have spent nearly two decades servicing the Chicagoland community.  We have seen, fixed and maintained it all! Our pond specialists are there when you need them and utilize best practices and innovative solutions to provide courteous, amazing and professional service for ponds, waterfalls, jets, bubblers and so much more.  With affordable pricing and flexi...

When Picking The Right Site, Keep In Mind That Your Pond Should Get At Least 6 Hours Of Sun Per Day, Avoid Ample Tree Overhang And Have Access To Power And Water. Many factors go into selecting the perfect spot for your backyard pond so here are a few things to consider before you make a final decision. SUN - A choice spot should get at least six hours of sun each day.  Preferably, you'll want to catch the morning sun but provide shade in the afternoon.  Shade is crucial to keeping the water cool and providing algae control so try to estimate where in your outdoor space can you take advantage of each sun phase. TREES - Be cautious about placing your pond underneath the overhang of trees. Fruits and leaves fall into your pond and can clog the system so unless you plan on performing or hiring someone for daily maintenance, choose carefully.  If you have no choice but to use a tree to provide afternoon shade, take into account what falls from your trees and ...

The most common problem with both residential and commercial ponds is algae growth or the accumulation of muck.  Your water being cloudy or dirty-looking can be a result of many different factors but, for a majority of pond owners, it is simply a breakdown of sludge that releases nutrients which tip the scales to create murkiness or algae blooms.  This is why regular maintenance, especially a proper Spring start up, are so crucial to the ecosystem of your water feature. A Spring clean out is like a fresh start for your pond and allows for clearer water and better health for fish or aquatic plants.  Your pond should be drained and power washed annually to remove harmful buildup.  This is also the perfect time to check on aquatic plants and see what needs to be divided and re-potted, to check the soil and liner, fill gaps, adjust landscape, remove all debris and check all filter and plumbing systems.  All filter systems need to be thoroughly inspected, repa...

With the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent quarantine to prevent the virus spreading, there is a lot of misinformation, confusion and fear swirling around.  Namely, many folks are left wondering how this Coronavirus affects ponds, streams and our own drinking water. According to the CDC, there is no scientific evidence to support that a person can catch Covid-19 from water - such as ponds, swimming pools or hot tubs  They caution that even though the chances are almost non-existent, taking precautions to properly clean or manage your water features and pools is ideal.  Using the right chemicals and keeping these features well-maintained should be more than sufficient during this time to inactivate or remove the virus that causes it. There has also been no Covid-19 detected in drinking water supplies and current disinfection methods are more than able to properly remove or inactivate the virus as well. At Laughing Waters Pond Maintenance, we put the health and saf...