New waterfall and stream build

[GBBUDD]

The cement boards tree roots will chew up and spit out as the metaphor would be. azek has no pours is very smooth and pretty solid stuff. now if you were to not have is backed up then its not that strong at all . It's like hitting vinyl siding in the fat area as it sits against plywood . you'll break your hand. now hit on the corner where there's air behind it and the siding will crack

 

[fishlips]

For easy checking you can use a rod just like a cars dipstick. or get a little fancy and use a Drum gauge.

May be build a planter with a hidden door and lock with a shelf to hold chemicals/test kits safe from your kids.
That's all I got beside put a fake rock over it.

 

[Miami Al]

Regarding a skimmer, what type would you suggest? Also, do I need a gravel bog if I'm not having any fish? I don't get a lot of leaves falling in that area but do get a few here and there. No deciduous trees left in my garden

I bought something like this from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Hayward-SP1091WM-Dyna-Skim-Above-Ground-Skimmer/dp/B002KMIK26/ref=sr_1_4

The above ground meant it was connectable to vinyl for a pool.

I use buckets like these for my pumps:

https://www.amazon.com/Hudson-Exchange-Container-2030-2206-2/dp/B09C8ZFHMJ/ref=sr_1_1_sspa

Basically the pipe from the drain or skimmer is plumbed to the stop of the bucket but below the water level. So the water flows into the bucket. Then a submersible pump pumps the water out.

For water level checking and as a pump vault I'm planning on using the 30 gallon heavy duty bin you can see in the picture... I haven't dug the pit for it yet but it it will sit on the edge of the main pit. It has a standard lid but considering using something else like a manhole cover or large grate supported by the surrounding ground for it as safer and more solid.. Something with a hatch would be ideal for easy checking. any suggestions?

Main issue is if your water level drops, you want to KNOW it dropped, you don't want to wait until you check on it. That's a good way to burn up the pump.

 

[Miami Al]

Here is a video from a few weeks ago showing my pond systems.

You can see the spillover bogs. They are resin pots, plumbed like a bog from here, filled with pea gravel and plants. Works great.

 

[Miami Al]

If you are doing no plants and no fish, you can do very simple mechanical filtration (for leaves) and chlorine to keep it super clear. You're basically running a small pool

Next best (but way less work) is Mechanical/Biologic filtration. Catch the leaves, run through a bog is the easiest, but the OASE 1600 is discontinued but tiny and available on eBay for $100. Even if you spent $100 on shipping, it'd be a way to have super clear water. Includes a UV filter. Leaf catch (mechanical) -> UV -> Biological filtration -> Waterfall and you will have about 5 minutes of maintenance every few weeks/months and virtual zero algae.

The least work is the bog approach. In this case: Leaf Catch -> Bog -> Waterfall... and a well done bog filter is gorgeous.

Bog approach: create a 12 raised area before the waterfall. Pipe from the bog container to the waterfall - LOTS of big pipe space - near but not AT the top of the bog area.

Fill the bog from the bottom: Ideally a skimmer pumps the water into the bottom of the bog where a pipe framework distributes the water. The water then flows up through the pebbles (biological filtration), then over to the waterfall. In the waterfall you can do more biological filtration, or chemical filtration (bags of activated charcoal), or whatever your hearts desire. Then you fill the pebbles with marginal plants and you're done.

I think that a commercial system may work really well for you for this system. They are certainly smaller. With zero fish you shouldn't have to clean that often, and it's straight-forward. The bog is lower maintenance, and it's not clear that you care about the super polished water you can get with commercial filtration, making the bog stupid simple. The bog should have zero maintenance. I'd put a cleanout port in the back to empty from time to time, but if you don't do it, it most likely won't matter.

 

[Will130]

Hi guys, bit of an update for those following. The reservoir hole is done, just need to tidy it up a bit and do a proper levelling job on the bottom then she's ready to fill.

I did end up sawing the "legs" off the milk crates which will go on the bottom to create a flat surface, much better.

I have created the artificial hill for the falls and started carving terraces into it with the help of some old curved bricks I had lying around and a few cinder blocks. Still a work in progress obviously. Once that is done, time to create the stream bed and finish off a few last bits of earth work before I get the geo and liner down and start testing flow. Few pics below

 

[GBBUDD]

This could be a great setting / oasis but I'm not following how your stream is going to work without liner being exposed.
I'd take a look at how this stream was built and how the naturalized it with wood and plants.

I'd take those retaining wall blocks and use those along the stairs and make your stream like they do in the video.

you can find all kinds of ideas here

Some very impressive pond builds

https://whttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TOMbsvXjX8 ww.youtube.com/watch?v=Hc36HtktJD0

www.gardenpondforum.com

 

[Will130]

This could be a great setting / oasis but I'm not following how your stream is going to work without liner being exposed.
I'd take a look at how this stream was built and how the naturalized it with wood and plants.

I'd take those retaining wall blocks and use those along the stairs and make your stream like they do in the video.

Thanks! I do love that fall in that video, def inspirational.

When you say you're not sure how it will work without the liner being exposed, is that because it's narrow? Given the room I have at that point, the falls were always going to be narrow there. Shortly after the bottom step the plan is to change from falls to a flowing stream.

At this point I am just trying to make some steps in the hill and planning to cut some shallow pools inside them. Obviously everything will be framed with rocks, soil and plants which I thought should be able to conceal the liner?

 

[GBBUDD]

IF YOUR MAKING JUST REALY SMALL POOLS IN THOSE STEPS THATS CLEARLY ONE WAY TO DO IT " sorry for caps" But if you making a stream with pools youll want to have the liner under everything and then direct it to where you want. having small pools at the top and bottom of each falls is certainly one way to make it look natural as well as interesting.

 

[Lisak1]

I had the same question as @GBBUDD - your construction looks solid and neat, but it's basically the opposite of what you want. Your stream needs to cut into the hill, not sit on top of it, if that makes sense. In nature, water cuts into the landscape - it doesn't glide along the top. Essentially - think concave.

 

[Will130]

Thanks My plan was to use these steps as the "bed rock" of the artificial hill, cut pools into the steps and build up the sides with rocks gravel and more soil. That would essentially result in the same thing? The sides of the falls will be built out with a lot of rock so the whole structure will end up being a fair bit larger than what you see at the moment and the bottom of the concave channel would sit on those steps. Sorry if that's not clear, but if it is and I'm talking junk then please let me know

 

[GBBUDD]

I have not built a lot of ponds but what i have built says your idea has some tricky applications to work out. Trying to have a pool within the cinder blocks then come over the top of them, all the while having part of the cinderblock exposed while the same wall in a short span in covered by the rubber that edge alone is the concern on how to keep it waterproof and how to hide the liner. Go watch all the pond less waterfalls and watch how they do it

 

[YShahar]

I have created the artificial hill for the falls and started carving terraces into it with the help of some old curved bricks I had lying around and a few cinder blocks. Still a work in progress obviously. Once that is done, time to create the stream bed and finish off a few last bits of earth work before I get the geo and liner down and start testing flow. Few pics below

Hi @Will130,

I tend to agree with @GBBUDD regarding the hill being hard to build on. I think if this were my build, I would keep your design, but take out the middle couple of blocks going all the way down, then dig a basin in each level, piling the excess soil around the outside of each basin.

You could then cut a U-shaped channel going down the hill, maybe staggering it from side to side to get your water to twist and turn a bit. Below is a photo of what I'm suggesting with the cut-outs shaded in darker colors:

Once you have your channel dug, it will be fairly easy to disguise the edges of your falls with flat rocks to make it look natural. You could also use the blocks that you remove to build up the sides between the terraces on each side of the channel to help direct the water to where you want it to go. Much easier when you've got the ground already "stream-shaped" than having to build up later on.

Just my two shekels worth! ;-)

-Yael

 

[GBBUDD]

 

[Will130]

Thanks guys! I will have another hack at it once things dry out a bit. We have just had biblical deluges here in Auckland NZ. Friday was the wettest day on record, massive flooding, people dead, etc. We've had 40% of our annual average rainfall this year so far and 800% of average January rainfall (summer here). We get 45 inches a year so it's not a dry place either.

My hole filled with water so was wondering how best to include an overflow pipe or similar? Or do you guys just let it overflow into the garden? I assume a pipe would have to go through the liner?