We have all the equipment you need whether you want to tackle a Pondless Waterfall yourself or you are a professional installer looking for a reliable setup.
What Is a Pondless Waterfall
It is exactly what it sounds like. A waterfall without a pond and without fish. Not everyone wants the maintenance that comes with plants, fish, and a full pond, but everyone loves the look and sound of moving water. A Pondless Waterfall gives you a beautiful waterfall and a relaxing sound without the weekly chores.
Advantages of a Pondless Waterfall
• Fits into small spaces
• Ideal for families or properties where safety or liability is a concern
• Very low maintenance. Refill the reservoir weekly or automate with an auto fill valve
• Great front yard alternative if a traditional pond is not practical
• No need to run the system 24 hours a day. Use a timer or shut it off while you are away
• No fish to care for
• Completely recirculating system
Why Would I Want a Pondless Waterfall
Think about hiking through the woods as a kid and stopping to watch a mountain stream tumble over rocks. You can still hear that rushing water in your head. A Pondless Waterfall brings that feeling home without the upkeep of a pond. If you live in the Ohio Valley area, you can call Meyer Aquascapes for an estimate at 877 780 1174.
Where the Water Comes From
A Pondless Waterfall works a lot like a pond but without the open body of water. A deep basin is dug and lined with underlayment and liner. Water Matrix boxes are added to create an internal support structure. These boxes increase the water capacity of the basin by creating open space below the rock and gravel. This reduces maintenance because the system holds more water and loses less to evaporation. A larger basin also allows the stream to run correctly.
Inside the basin sits a Pump Vault which houses the pump, check valve, and the centipede that directs water toward the pump. Extra underlayment is recommended so you can wrap the matrix boxes and prevent rock from settling into the gaps. After that, rock and decorative gravel are added on top.
A pipe connects the pump to the waterfall box at the top of the stream. The liner attaches to the waterfall box to form the start of your waterfall and stream. The pump pushes water up to the waterfall box, it flows down the stream, and it collects back in the basin. Since the water level never rises above the gravel, the feature looks like a natural disappearing waterfall.
Winterizing a Pondless Waterfall
This is important if you live in colder zones.
The manufacturer recommends that anyone living in Zones 1 through 6 remove the pump for winter. If your system has a check valve, release it from the pipe and remove the pump with the check valve attached. If you choose to leave the pump in the vault and turn it off, disconnect the check valve. Check valves can freeze and split, which causes leaks and low flow in spring.
Helpful note: Many Pondless systems do not require a check valve. The pipe can connect directly to the pump. Some older systems have check valves, so it is worth checking your setup. If you have a long stream and a powerful pump, a check valve may still be helpful because it prevents back flushing that could damage the impeller.
The pump should be submerged in water somewhere that will not freeze solid.
If you run your Pondless in winter, you will need to add water often. You lose more water during winter than summer because of the way ice forms and evaporates. If water gets too low, the pump can run dry and burn out.
If you live in a milder climate, you can simply disconnect the check valve and leave the pump in the water as long as the freeze line stays above the pump. Frozen pumps and frozen check valves are common problems, so make the call early before the basin freezes.
In simple terms, the safest option in colder regions is to shut the system down and remove the pump unless your area rarely drops below 20 degrees and only for short periods.
Happy Pondering
Aquascapes.com
877 780 1174
info@aquascapes.com
What if it overflows?
Thank you for contacting Aquascapes.com! Installing a check valve will prevent overflows.
Thanks!
Aquascapes.com