Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a “pondless
waterfall” and a disappearing waterfall?
You may have heard or seen the term pondless waterfall in a
pond store or on the internet. A pondless waterfall and a
disappearing waterfall are virtually the same thing. They both
refer to the fact that there is no pond at the bottom of the
waterfall.
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Why is the size of the catch basin so
important?
The catch basin must be large enough to hold the water
required for your stream. If your stream is long with a small
catch basin, the pump, which is located in the catch basin,
will run dry before the water can be pumped up to the top.
Also, when the stream is turned off, all the water from the
stream will drain into the catch basin. If the catch basin is
too small, it will overflow every time you turn off the
waterfall, requiring you to refill it when you turn it back
on.
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What does the 4” coex pipe in the catch
basin do?
Installing coex pipe in the catch basin, or pondless area,
will create more room for water to collect. Many people just fill the catch basin or pondless area
up with rock. By doing this you are taking up valuable space
where the water needs to collect. Consequently, you have to dig
a much bigger basin to hold enough water to run your system.
Using coex pipe allows us to have a smaller catch basin, while
still holding enough water to run the stream. For proper
installation of the coex pipe refer to chapter five in the
video.
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Where should I place my electrical outlet
box?
Most pumps have a 15 foot power cord. A regular 110 outlet
within 12 feet of the catch basin or pondless area will
suffice.
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Do I need an automatic fill valve?
No. An automatic fill valve is not required. You will lose
some water due to evaporation. Simply add water to the catch
basin about once a week to refill. The automatic fill saves
you the hassle of refilling the pond each week. It’s
convenient but not necessary. To see how an automatic fill is
installed, refer to chapter eight in the video.
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How do I know if I have a leak?
The easiest way to know if you have a leak, besides seeing
the water running outside your liner, is if you constantly
have to add water to your catch basin area. The basin of a
typical disappearing pondless waterfall should only have to be
topped off once a week. Any more than that could indicate a
problem. If you have an auto fill hooked up to your
disappearing pondless and it is constantly running, this is a
definite indication of a leak.
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What is the best way to find a leak?
The easiest way to detect a leak is to pull back the rocks
along the side of the stream and make sure the water is well
below the level of the liner. For more information, refer to
chapter eight in the video.
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How do I know what pump size to use?
When deciding what pump to use in a disappearing pondless
waterfall, two main considerations come into factor: What is
your total head height and what is the desired amount of flow?
To determine your total head height, (height of waterfall plus
length of run in hose) you must measure from the top of the
gravel in your basin area up to the highest point of your
waterfall. Every 10 ft of run of hose is equal to 1 foot of
head height. (Ie: 30’ of run equals 3’ of head height). For
example, I have a waterfall that is 3’ tall and has a run of
20’ feet. 3’ Height + 2’ Run = 5’ of total head height.
Once you figure out the total amount of head height, look
at the pump chart provided on the box your pump came in to
make sure your pump has adequate flow.
When you use slate as a spillway in your waterfall, use the
following equation:
- For every foot of spillway width you need a 1,000 gph
(gallons per hour) pump.
When using boulders as your spillway the equation is:
- For every foot of spillway width you need 1,500-1,800
gph.
To see the installation of both of these types of
waterfalls refer to chapter six in the video.
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Can I use an external pump to run my
disappearing pondless waterfall?
It is possible to use an external pump to run your
waterfall, however, often they are noisy swimming pool pumps which
are hard to hide and are not very energy efficient.
Submersible pumps are easier to plumb, easier to hide, and are more
energy efficient. For more information on plumbing the pump, refer to chapter five in the video.
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Before I turn on my pump how full should
I fill the catch basin of my disappearing pondless waterfall?
The water should reside a couple of inches below the gravel
level. For more information refer to chapter eight in the
video.
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How do I install an overflow drain in the
catch basin area?
Turn off your waterfall and let the water drain down into
the basin area. Make sure the basin is filled to the
appropriate level (a few inches below the gravel line).
Clear the gravel away from your liner where you'll use a
bulkhead
fitting to make a waterproof connection through the liner.
Make sure this bulkhead is placed about 1” above your water
level. Now connect your pvc pipe to your bulkhead and run it
away from your basin area. To see the what a bulkhead looks
like and how it’s installed, refer to chapter two in the
video.
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What types of lights are best to install
in a disappearing pondless waterfall?
The best types of lights to install are 10 watt submersible
pond lights. Usually the lights in your stream will not be
completely submersed. Anything brighter than a 10 watt
light can get too hot and cause the bulb to burn out early.
For more information, refer to chapter five in the video.
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Can I run my disappearing pondless
waterfall all the time?
Yes, just make sure you are using a pond pump that is rated
for continuous duty. Also, check out how much energy your pump
uses so that at the end of the month you are not surprised by
a large electrical bill.
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Will I get mosquitoes in my disappearing
pondless waterfall?
As long as you run your pump a couple of hours a day, you
will not get mosquitoes. Mosquito larvae prefer stagnant water.
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How do I winterize my disappearing
pondless waterfall?
To winterize your disappearing pondless waterfall, remove
the pump from the catch basin area. When plumbing your pump, a
union should have been used for easy removal. (A union is two
pieces that screw together that allow you to remove the hose
without cutting it.) Once your pump has been removed, place
your pump in a dry, safe area away from the elements, ie:
garage or shed. Next, take a shop vac and remove all the water
from your catch basin area. For more information on how to
plumb your pump correctly, refer to five chapter in the video.
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How do I maintain my disappearing
pondless waterfall?
Add algaecide to your water once a week to keep the slime
and algae from building up. If no auto fill has been
installed, use a garden hose (once a week) to top off your
basin. Lastly, when leaves build up in your stream and basin area, turn off the pump, let the leaves dry, and then
remove the debris with a broom or blower. For more information
refer to chapter eight in the video.
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How tall can I make my waterfall?
There is no limit on how tall a waterfall can be. The
determining factor is the amount of area you have to work
with. On a flat yard we like to make the waterfall no taller
than 2.5’ tall. Anything taller than this looks unnatural and
often has the volcano effect. If you are working on a natural
hillside, the terrain lends itself to making the waterfall much
taller. Just remember, the catch basin has to be able to hold
enough water to run the waterfall. For more information on
catch basin vs. stream length, refer to chapter one in the
video.
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What types of rocks are best to use in my
waterfall?
This depends on what rocks are being used in the rest of
your landscape. It also depends on what rocks are native to
your particular area. Whatever rocks you use, make sure they
have no sharp edges that can harm the liner. For more
information on choosing the rocks for your disappearing
pondless waterfall, refer to chapter four in the video.
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Why do I use expandable foam in my
waterfall?
The reason why foam is used in creating a waterfall is that
it helps create a water tight seal between the rocks and your
liner. This is important in making your water flow efficient
through your spillways. For more information on how to
properly use expanding foam, refer to chapter six in the video.
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Do I need to use mortar or concrete in my
waterfall?
Mortar or concrete is only necessary if the rocks that
you’re placing in your waterfall are precarious and need to
be completely secured into place. Typically, expandable pond foam
is all that is needed.
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How much gravel will I need for the catch
basin area?
It all depends of the size of the basin you’ve dug. The
larger the basin, the more gravel you’ll need to fill it. Often
4” coex pipe is used in amongst the gravel to take up space
and create more area for water to collect. For more information,
refer to chapter five in the video.
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Is it necessary to have a filter for a
disappearing pondless waterfall?
No. Most of the debris that collects in a disappearing pondless waterfall collects on top of the gravel making it
easy for removal. The reason why we use a filter box at the
start of the waterfall is that it is an easy way to create a
nice, natural look to the waterfall. A common mistake people
make is to just put the hose at the top of the waterfall and
diffuse the water with some rocks. In doing this the
water splashes everywhere and the water is uncontrollable.
When you use a filter box, the filter box fills up from the
bottom thus reducing the pressure of the pump.
For more information on plumbing in a filter box, refer to
chapter two in the video.
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