Pondless Waterfall Build Questions

[msr0459]

The blue rectangles are the aqua blocks you'll want to knotch the 18 inch pipe so it fits over and around the blocks. That way your pump sits at the bottom of the pit. So in red is part of the circle if it were the cap but placed on the bottom that way you havexa flat smooth surface supporting the pipe. Thevred area cuts cut out of the cap so it now looks like a pizza with a slice missing. The pipe needs to be cut up to the top of the blocks so it can be supported and aligned..
Sorry don't know how else to say it. Go to my showcase you'll see in the cistern what I'm talking about. Way down in the blog

Got it, makes sense now. I had been thinking on those similar lines, as illustrated by this crude drawing. I was going to stagger the two double stacked rows of blox. The red showing the area that would be cut out of the pipe, and the blox pushed in. Is anything wrong with this approach?

Also, would anything be wrong with leaving the bottom lid in tact, letting that portion, along with the pumps sit a little lower than the blox,... then cutting ABOVE the lid by around 5" or so, then sliding the blox in.

The difference being that the bottom of the pipe would remain sealed, much like a commercial vault I guess. Would that inhibit the GPH available?

 

[GBBUDD]

Your culvert pipe should be cut from the bottom of the g e blocks to the top .

Placing a cap on on the bottom uncut you can do then have the corner of the block sit I n part of the cap /lid.

 

[msr0459]

Your culvert pipe should be cut from the bottom of the g e blocks to the top .

Placing a cap on on the bottom uncut you can do then have the corner of the block sit I n part of the cap /lid.

Here's the lids I've found online. Look at the 4th picture down, I shows an open grate. If I can mount that piece by itself on the bottom of the pipe, seems like that would be the best of both worlds. A smooth surface for the pipe to sit, and an open grate so water will be flowing from below as well.

Is there a down side to putting both pumps in the one 18" pipe? I've seen it done with I think an aquascape vault, just not sure if the culvert would different some how.

Thanks!

 

[GBBUDD]

water will be flowing from below as well.

Don't see why it would be needed or beneficial honestly. A cap / lid cover or end plug would do the job. That way you have a solid base under the pump so when dropping the pump I n it won't hurt the liner. Imo

 

[GBBUDD]

Don't see any problem with Teo pumps on a snorkel #

 

[msr0459]

Don't see any problem with Teo pumps on a snorkel #

Thanks for all your advice.

 

[msr0459]

Need some flex pvc, spillway advice please. I received my flex and spillway today, and am dry fitting everything, before the excavator shoes up tomorrow morning.

I apparently didn't leave enough room behind the spillway for the flex to make the turn easily. I'm planning on having the spillway sunk below the level of the first spill rock, so as to appear like a spring coming out of the ground.

The depth of the bank behind on each side of the spillway is 17". I order for me to be able to push the spillway back far enough (to leave room for the spill rock in front) creates more bend and thus a lot if tension in the flex pvc.

I plan on trenching out some as well, which will help,.. but I was wondering if anyone has had to " bend" flex pvc thus much without issue.

I could also maybe angle the spillway downwards, and support the rear with roxks or whatever, thus decreasing the bend on the bulkhead?

The only "elbows" I've seen online are a rubber looking material, connected with hose clamps.

Any ideas?

 

[RMaynard]

if you need to add an elbow, or even a short extension, you should be able to user regular PVC fittings/pipe. It doesn't NEED to be 100% flex pvc.

ETA, those "elbows" are probably fernco fittings... used to patch waste pipes in the real world, they are strong enough for the pressure of pond pumps usually and make an easy disconnect, plus add a bit of flex to a hard pipe system.

 

[msr0459]

if you need to add an elbow, or even a short extension, you should be able to user regular PVC fittings/pipe. It doesn't NEED to be 100% flex pvc.

ETA, those "elbows" are probably fernco fittings... used to patch waste pipes in the real world, they are strong enough for the pressure of pond pumps usually and make an easy disconnect, plus add a bit of flex to a hard pipe system.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking.

I was going to create the sunken spillway design I've seen some "Team Aquascape" videos do,..but couldn't even get Aquascape Tech Support to sign off on it. They said that I was watching contractors doing custom creations, etc. I had another pond liner tech support point out that, while that could work ok, I'd have no way of knowing if the submerged Aquascape spillway was leaking at the liner to bulkhead connection,..and would consequently be eroding from underneath. So I figured why risk it. I'm going to set it up the traditional way, with a rock just covering the bottom lip, then stack rocks or whatever over and around it.

I still need to use those pvc connectors though, to alleviate strain on the flex to spillway connection.

The boulders will be placed (if it doesn't rain) tomorrow. Good times!

 

[combatwombat]

You can relieve strain by putting a schedule 40 pvc elbow in. 22.5, 45, 90. Whatever angle it takes to get the pipe into the bulkhead without strain.

 

[msr0459]

You can relieve strain by putting a schedule 40 pvc elbow in. 22.5, 45, 90. Whatever angle it takes to get the pipe into the bulkhead without strain.

Hey @combatwombat, where've you been !? Lol Thanks. Crazy how things work out. My excavator guy couldn't make it today, and is coming 1st thing tomorrow. I just happened to receive the spillway, flex pvc, and pumps. So now I've changed up my spillway plans, and can also verify the 2 OASE pumps will fit inside the 18" culvert with no issues. Both of which could have potentially been an issue if we'd been placing boulders, and digging the basin today.

AND the guy was apologetic and said since he had to cancel today, he'd give me more time if needed tomorrow. Now it just has to NOT rain.

 

[Lisak1]

Hey - we’re doing the rain dance daily here in the Midwest! I guess we could hold off for one more day…

 

[msr0459]

@combatwombat, do you also agree that putting both pumps in one 18" culvert vault is ok to do? There's plenty of "wiggle" room. I'm about to order 2 lids, and just wanted a 2nd opinion, as shipping is involved just in case I need to order 4 lids for 2 culverts instead.

Thanks!

 

[msr0459]

Hey - we’re doing the rain dance daily here in the Midwest! I guess we could hold off for one more day…

Lol,.. mine is expected to roll in around 3 pm.. and NO WAY he can crawl up and down my back yard if it's slippery. So hopefully we can knock all this out before then. My concern is when we start strapping and placing rocks,.. I've mastered the strapping part, but I can see me placing,..walking away and viewing, "nope, let's try another", could take forever! Lol

 

[combatwombat]

@combatwombat, do you also agree that putting both pumps in one 18" culvert vault is ok to do?

Yep.