Welcome to
Alter Ecosystems

Long Island, New York's Pond Build & Pond Maintenance Specialists

Pond & Waterfall Design

Alter Ecosystems focuses 100% on water features, including ponds, Pondless Waterfalls and fountains. You can trust our 20+ years of experience with your next water feature design and installation. Just fill out our contact form to get started.

Pond Maintenance

We're dedicated to providing our customers with the most professional and comprehensive pond maintenance services available in eastern Long Island, NY. We specialize in pond repair, pond cleaning, seasonal maintenance and more. Contact us to get on the schedule.

Based in Sag Harbor, NY

We build ponds, waterfalls and fountains in the Hamptons area of Suffolk County, NY: Manorville, Riverhead, West Hampton, Quogue, East Quogue, Hampton Bays, Suffolk, Southampton, Watermill, Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, Springs, Amagansett, Montauk and more.

Ecosystem Ponds

An Ecosystem Backyard Pond works with Mother Nature to provide food, shelter and safety to the birds and wildlife that visit your landscape – not to mention the koi, goldfish or other creatures you add to it. These ponds develop complex ecosystems that keep the water clear and healthy, without lots of maintenance.

At Alter Ecosystems, we have decades of experiencing building ponds throughout Eastern Long Island, New York, including in the Hamptons and surrounding areas. Contact us today, and let us help you craft your dream backyard getaway.

Pondless Waterfalls

Do you want to enjoy the sight and sound of water in your yard, but you’re not quite ready for a full-fledged pond? A Pondless Waterfall might be right for you. These cascading waterfalls disappear into an underground basin, making a breathtaking and low-maintenance addition to any space.

Pondless Waterfalls make a fantastic addition to any Long Island, New York property, whether you want a breathtaking centerpiece for your yard or a hidden gem to tuck into an under-utilized corner. Disappearing waterfalls also look fantastic indoors or as an eye-catching focal point in front of a business.

Tell us what you have in mind, and we can build the perfect waterfall for your space.

Fountainscapes

Have a spot in your garden leaving you befuddled about what to put there? Maybe it’s a shady spot where grass struggles to grow. Perhaps the soil isn’t the best for nurturing healthy perennials and annuals. Or maybe you’re just interested in attracting a few more birds and butterflies. A fountain might be right for you.

At Alter Ecosystems, we design fountainscapes that add a stunning sight and sound of water to any space. Keep your design simple with a single large fountain, or put together an entire display to create a one-of-a-kind focal point. Want fire elements? Or custom fountain lighting? We do that too!

Long Island, New York Pond Builder and Pond Maintenance

We offer pond installation and pond repair for Eastern Long Island, New York, including Manorville, Riverhead, West Hampton, Quogue, East Quogue, Hampton Bays, Suffolk, Southampton, Watermill, Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, Springs, Amagansett, Montauk and more.

Our Service Areas Include Most Of Eastern Long Island, New York

Tour Some of our Favorite New York Ponds!

As Featured on the Greg Wittstock, The Pond Guy YouTube Channel & Pondcast

Long Island / Hamptons Pond Build FAQs

How much does it cost to build a pond in the Hamptons / Eastern Long Island, New York?

The cost to build a pond, Pondless Waterfall or fountain depends on the size and complexity of the project. A small goldfish pond might cost a few thousand dollars, while larger projects often range in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Remember: You’re making an investment into your property that will bring enjoyment for years to come. You can find people willing to install ponds on the cheap, but, well, you get what you pay for. Cheaply built ponds will fall victim to leaks, green water and debris build-up. Poorly built ponds also don’t make safe homes for fish, who need good filtration, aeration and shelter to survive.

Contact us to learn more about our building process and how we can design you the perfect, low-maintenance water feature.

We build ponds, waterfalls and fountainscapes throughout Eastern Long Island, including Manorville, Riverhead, West Hampton, Quogue, East Quogue, Hampton Bays, Suffolk, Southampton, Watermill, Sag Harbor, Bridgehampton, Sagaponack, Springs, Amagansett and Montauk.

Already have a pond, but don’t love the way it looks? We can give your pond the facelift it needs to bring your years of enjoyment and relaxation.

How hard is it to maintain a pond in Eastern Long Island / The Hamptons, New York?

Our Ecosystem Pond Design prioritizes ease of maintenance. Skimmers remove most debris from the pond, biofilters keep water clear and plants keep string algae at bay.

Typical maintenance for an Ecosystem Pond includes adding regular doses of beneficial bacteria – often via an automatic dosing system – and emptying the skimmer basket as needed. Fish, if you choose to add them, do best when fed about once a day during the warm months, but most will do just fine feeding on organisms in the pond for a little while if you’re away from home.

Your pond also needs a few seasonal services to keep the ecosystem balanced and koi, goldfish and other finned friends happy and healthy. This pond maintenance includes annual spring pond cleanings, fall netting and, in some cases, winter pond shut-downs.

Alter Ecosystems offers a full range of Seasonal Maintenance Plans to keep life easy. Contact us to learn more about how we can keep your Long Island / Hamptons pond looking its best year-round.

What kinds of fish can I keep in a pond in Eastern Long Island / The Hamptons, New York?

Koi and goldfish are the most common fish for decorative water features, but golden orfes, catfish and high-finned sharks can also thrive in New York ponds. Large fishing ponds and lakes offer even more options.

The best fish for your situation will depend largely on the size and design of your pond. Small ponds might only be able to house goldfish, while medium-sized and larger ponds offer enough space for koi. Even larger ponds can safely give a home to catfish and other varieties of fish.

How many fish can I keep in my pond in Eastern Long Island / The Hamptons, New York?

The number of fish you can keep in your Eastern Long Island / Hamptons pond depends largely on the quality of your filtration.

A small pond with fantastic skimming and biological filtration can safely house more fish than large pond with poor filtration.

The ponds we build at Alter Ecosystems use Ecosystem Pond Design – a time-tested style of building ponds that incorporates everything you need to keep a reasonable number of fish happy and healthy year-round.

Can a pond built in the Eastern Long Island / Hamptons, New York area stay open year-round?

If you build a pond in the Eastern Long Island / Hamptons area, you have the option to keep it open year-round or shut down the pump in winter. Even if you do choose to winterize your pond, you can still enjoy looking out over your icy oasis in even the coldest months.

We build our ponds using high-quality products that can withstand the region’s weather when maintained appropriately. Common pond fish like koi and goldfish can also survive the winter just fine, given enough water depth and aeration.

At Alter Ecosystems, we offer year-round pond service to keep your pond looking and working great year-round. Check out our winterization services to learn more.

Our Mission

Alter Ecosystems is NOT a “do it all” landscape company – and that’s just the way we like it.

We dedicate our time solely to building and maintaining beautiful ponds, Pondless Waterfalls and fountainscapes. This focus means we can pay attention to the details that matter.

We are water feature experts with years of experience crafting stunning, distinctive ponds, waterfalls and fountains for Eastern Long Island. Owner/Operator Ed Drohan is one of Long Island’s leading pond installers, with more than 20 years in the business.

Our water features combine nature, function and beauty to create a place where you and your loved ones can relax for years to come.

Master Certified Aquascape Pond Builder and Pond Contractor Serving Eastern Long Island, New York

Based In Sag Harbor, Serving The Hamptons & Surrounding Areas Of Suffolk County, NY

Welcome toAlter Ecosystems