Trying to create a pondless waterfall

[JustinRyson]

I have no experience building a pondless waterfall. I want 2 directions for the water to flow into the Aquablocks. I have one area carved out to the right and another carved out to the left for the waterflow.

Will a 5000 GPH pump be enough for this?

Is this a decent pump: https://www.thepondguy.com/product/the-pond-guy-rapidflo-clear-water-pump/?

Should I use a pump vault for this small area? Are there any -decent- cheap pump vaults?

The picture attached is a work in progress.

 

[bagsmom]

Welcome! I have no experience with pondless waterfalls - but there are some wonderful videos out there from the pros! I would suggest going to YouTube and going to the channels for Team Aquascape, Atlantis Water Gardens, and others. I haven't had enough coffee just yet to come up with more names!

 

[RobAmy]

This has a good calculator to help determine pump size. Scroll down to step one and select pondless.

Waterfall Pumps

Looking for a waterfall pump? Follow our three steps to help choose the right waterfall pump for your project.

www.aquascapeinc.com

 

[j.w]

@JustinRyson

 

[JustinRyson]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome.

 

[Lisak1]

I'm a bit confused - how would you NOT use a pump vault? Unless you mean just dropping a pump into the lined basin? What would you cover the pump with? I have seen people use aquablox for the pump - drop the pump inside the block and then put the final side on to close up the box. But I'd be a bit concerned about keeping rocks out of the pump space. You could use something as simple as a 5 gallon bucket with a lid drilled full of holes.

You do plan to use EPDM, right? Maybe a dumb question, but we've had people here complaining about leaky waterfalls only to realize they thought they could make water flow over rocks without liner underneath...

 

[JustinRyson]

Ideally, I would leave it next to the Aquablocks. Place pump netting around it, to keep large voilage out. I thought about creating a makeshift vault, but I don't think it would hold up over a long period. I am going to have to spend about $300 on a vault due to the weight of the rocks on top of the vault.

I am using 45 mil EPDM; with pre-pond liner fabric. What do we use to seam two pieces of pond liner together?

I am also looking for a spillway that's able to dispense at least 5000 GPH if anyone has suggestions. So far the 24-inch Aquascape spillway looks to be decent.

I used the pond pump calculator -thanks for the link.
I'll upload another image once I've made some progress.

 

[JustinRyson]

Has anyone used this vault pump? Or can recommend one in the $200 - $350 range.

EasyPro Pro-Series Small Pump Vault

EasyPro Pro-Series Pump Vaults are:Built heavy duty to withstand the pressure of being buried under rockThe slots cut in the sides allow water into the pumpIntake tubes available for JAFM and JAFV to increase flow capacity

webbsonline.com

 

[Frevis]

Have you ever thought about using a air lift pump?
You could dig a hole in the ground for the long tube.
Just a cheap DIY idea.

 

[GBBUDD]

@Frevis I DO WISH THEY WULD DELETE THAT VIDEO THAT POND WAS DRAINED like a year after that video was made,

There is an other video out there where they make vortex airlift tubes that work much better. But in order to use these with a wetland your area needs to surpass the swim area

 

[Frevis]

@Frevis I DO WISH THEY WULD DELETE THAT VIDEO THAT POND WAS DRAINED like a year after that video was made,

There is an other video out there where they make vortex airlift tubes that work much better. But in order to use these with a wetland your area needs to surpass the swim area

It was drained?
So the filter system on it just didnt work well enough?

I will see if I can find the video on the Vortex Airlift Tubes

 

[GBBUDD]

It was drained?
So the filter system on it just didnt work well enough?

I will see if I can find the video on the Vortex Airlift Tubes

You did find them on the videos above maybe I'm labeling them incorrectly. But yes as far as I know that pond was drained I belive he tried again within that foot print. But he did another that I belive worked better.
There are also air lift ponds that look like a swimming pool with decking all around it but it's actualy a down flow bog filter. They seem to work though I have never seen someone claim they love it after 5 or ten years I just don't know.

 

[JustinRyson]

Thanks for the link to the videos.
I read having right angles helps reduce the flow rate of the pump (something I am trying not to do).