- Joined
- Apr 5, 2022
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 102
- Country
The space gets almost permanent sun all summer. I am working on solutions to that challenge. More soon.
In over my head, building a huge waterfall. Need pointers.
- Thread starter Tjsherrill
- Start date
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2022
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 102
- Country
Ok I have a few questions and just general "what am I missing". See the image below for reference.
The current pond is not big enough. Running tests, the pond gets more than half-emptied with water in motion. That said, I have not cobbled the pooling areas, or bibb liner'd some spots that will get that. So my water-in-motion volume will be less as I wrap things up.
This was originally going to be a pondless (I knew nothing). So I have ten aqua blocks and a pump vault. So my thought is to use those and increase my pond volume by using those in the intake bay.
My questions:
The current pond is not big enough. Running tests, the pond gets more than half-emptied with water in motion. That said, I have not cobbled the pooling areas, or bibb liner'd some spots that will get that. So my water-in-motion volume will be less as I wrap things up.
- The longer purple line is my current pump line, it's 3" flex PVC.
- The shorter purple line is what I am proposing for a second smaller pump to increase flow halfway down.
- The longer red line is the plan for the pond. It's going to be 2.5 x the outer diameter and we are going to increase the depth as well as make sure the bottom is as large as I can to increase volume.
- The red circle is where I am proposing to put an intake bay. The skimmer I bought can be seen in the bottom right. I hate it. Don't like the fake rock top...
This was originally going to be a pondless (I knew nothing). So I have ten aqua blocks and a pump vault. So my thought is to use those and increase my pond volume by using those in the intake bay.
My questions:
- Any opinions or recommendations on the intake bay? How do I size it, or should I just make it as big as I can?
- Due to the volume of water in motion, its hard for me to imagine what level to put the weir on for the intake bay? Any ideas?
- Any other ideas about how to increase water volume in the pond? I need all I can get without making the whole backyard a pond.
- What am I missing, what should I be thinking about here?
Yes but it is called a negative edge. !
With a large waterfall and mountain stream that requires a good deal of water to get the falls running. Then imo i would step to a negative edge the level in the pond will stay constant ALLWAYS. it will not fluctuate until your reservoir is run dry.
Having an area that works like a intake bay is fantastic but as you found out on the days the pump starts or stops you'll have an issue.
The negative edge is a low edge in the intake bay water is still pulled into the area but instead it works like a skimmer pulling from the surface. When it drops over it can do two things it can land on gravel and drip down into the aquablocks , or land into a small pool that then feeds the aquablocks
This option can allow you to have a underground cistern/ pump house and with the investment you have spent thus far . the cistern/ aquablocks can be completely buried and not take up lawn space or even a patio area.
this is very similar to what i have built the whole thing is in my showcase toward the bottom
There is another option if you really don't want to increase the foot print. That is the now ponds size if you were to install the reservoir under the pond. have the negative edge drop into the the gravel bed before it trickles down to the cistern
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2022
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 102
- Country
@GBBUDD I am almost done sealing it all up. We get an excavator in 2 weeks to dig the pond and intake bay. That'll take like a week and then we should be able to plug it all in.
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2022
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 102
- Country
Hoping to triple the pond size, make the deepest point as significant as it can be to increase volume, and then I am going to go with the intake bay using the 10 aquablocks I have. So that will be ~300 more gallons.
I've toyed with the idea to use aquablocks as columns then use plastic pallettts as a roof . Less blocks needs and I recently saw plastic pallets at 10 bucks each throw abric and linerover the top add gravel and you got a cistern 3 times the size
@Tjsherrill how's the project coming along
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2022
- Messages
- 129
- Reaction score
- 102
- Country
Excavator shows up tomorrow. Rocks next Wednesday. Right now trying to track down some liner in a hurry. My local place jumped to $2.15/sq ft. I need a 20X20 piece and a 15x15 piece...
Try justlinersTC
I just spoke with Dan with Underwaterwharehouse.com who has provided Me with just about everything for my pond at often with short notice. He is in PA. Call him 2152444300 tell him Scott sent you he has it in stock he needs a address to give you a shipping cost quote.