Pond Design – Modern Design Aquascaping

The Top 5 Components Every Ecosystem Pond Needs

Ecosystem PondsBy John G. Adams March 23, 2026

People often tell me that they want to have an ecosystem pond, and then they’ll say something like, “But I want to skip the fish,” or “I want to skip the plants.”
That’s sort of like saying, “I want to have a digestive tract, but I want to leave out the stomach or the intestines.” LOL
An ecosystem pond is very simple. The reality is, I have a statement that sums it all up in a nutshell: You’re trying to recreate Mother Nature with an ecosystem pond.

Ecosystem Pond 101: The Complete Beginner’s Guide

Ecosystem PondsBy John G. Adams March 18, 2026

I’ve been building ecosystem ponds professionally for over 25 years, and this is where I think every beginner should start.

The Top 5 Design Mistakes People Make With Ecosystem Ponds

Ecosystem Ponds, PondsBy John G. Adams March 13, 2026

After more than 25 years of building water features, here are the five biggest design mistakes I’ve seen people make.

Aquascape Artist of the Year: The Story Behind the Trophy That Changed Everything

About UsBy John G. Adams October 13, 2025

We didn’t apply. We didn’t even know we were being considered. But one unforgettable project changed everything. This is the real story of how we became Artist of the Year — and what it means today.

In 2013, we were named Artist of the Year by Aquascape— the highest honor in the world of water feature artistry.

But we didn’t apply. We didn’t submit. We didn’t even know we were being considered.

A vendor visited one of our builds, had their mind blown, and told someone at Aquascape. That person dug through our portfolio — and what they found spoke for itself.