Pondless Waterfall Build Questions

[msr0459]

Have you tried to lift the rock. Pull back the slack. From above or below? Hopefully there is some. Is there a chance of getting 4 guys on the rock WITH STRAPS so they can be standing away from where you'd like to work on

I had thought of that, and went back out to examine. It's very difficult to see where I could reclaim some liner. There is one sitting above the area that "may" help,.. but it looks like if I pulled the liner from that area, it would greatly diminish my available liner for the edge. There's another one on the side that's VERY heavy,..about 3.5' long 1.5 wide and deep. That one's freaking glued down! Lol Sigh, what a mess!

I'm still back to considering just finding some thinner, flat, and reasonably light rocks to lay back against that area,..making sure they're not pressing in on the liner too much. Laying them in that manner will take away the ability for the cascade above to fall straight down,..but I could route the water above to exit away from that part, since the wall over towards the other side is stil mostly fine.

 

[msr0459]

Now on to a happier result. I successfully cut the opening in the culvert (vault) to allow the matrix blox to sit in. That was very tedious process! You'll of course have to imagine the blox and vault upright, instead of laying on its back.

The lids for the culvert will arrive tomorrow. I still need to drill out for the two pumps plumbing to exit. I'm thinking maybe just drill with maybe a 2.5 or 3" round hole bit,..but maybe 3 of them side by side, then saw them out to create a rectangle of sorts. That way both 2" plumbing/pvc pipes could exit the same hole. Seems easier than make 2 separate holes.

Just not sure yet where exactly to have the hole at the top. Is it critical at all? I've seen that in most of the Aquascape videos the plumbing exits the vault, and lays basically right on top of the matrix blocks. Is this for extra support? That will be difficult in my situation due to the hillside I had to dig out for the basin. Meaning, if I have the plumbing hugging the blox, even with the flex pvc, I'd likely have to put another elbow upwards to accommodate the extra height on the wall.

 

[combatwombat]

What a beautiful vault. A piece of art if there ever was one!

Just not sure yet where exactly to have the hole at the top. Is it critical at all?

Not really. Wherever it's most convenient to put it to route your plumbing where you want it to go. That's why you always see the plumbing coming out and laying across the aquablox in the Aquascape videos. That's where it's easiest to do it and make your plumbing as short as possible.

If you have to use some elbows to get where you're going, that's not a big deal but try to get the longest sweep fittings you can find. Those will certainly be DWV fittings with the shallower hubs, so just don't try to bend the hose where you have a glued fitting. You can get some very long sweeps in electrical conduit, but those are quite expensive last I checked.

 

[msr0459]

What a beautiful vault. A piece of art if there ever was one!

Thanks, I needed a win! Lol

 

[GBBUDD]

greatly diminish my available liner for the edge

That sounds like the easiest area to add a piece of rubber ,seem on a piece there

 

[GBBUDD]

I'm still back to considering just finding some thinner, flat, and reasonably light rocks to lay back against that area

you got nothing to loose, protect it as best you can and move on

 

[msr0459]

you got nothing to loose, protect it as best you can and move on

Yep, if lifting the rock above doesn't gain me any slack, I'll will indeed do just that.

 

[msr0459]

Once I finish the vault and then get the basin squared away, backfilled, etc., when I plumb the pump,..is ok to lower the pump into the vault via the pvc extension coming up from the pump? Because of the deeper vault I won't be able to just reach down inside.

 

[msr0459]

Also, should the rear of the pumps (intake?) face towards the matrix blox. In this diy vault, it's sitting at the very end of all the blox, if that matters. I realize the vault will fill with water, but wondered if the pumps would function better right beside where the blox are inserting into vault.

 

[combatwombat]

.is ok to lower the pump into the vault via the pvc extension coming up from the pump?

Yeah, just be gentle and don't swing it around. I used rigid PVC for all my risers directly off the pumps.

Also, should the rear of the pumps (intake?) face towards the matrix blox.

If they'll fit in that configuration, yes. If not, probably not a big deal as long as the intake isn't jammed up against a wall. You want the whole intake area to be able to draw water.

 

[msr0459]

Last question of the day! Lol,.. this pic is of the discharge pipe from the check valve. I had to cut and end off, and it left this small imperfection. Will this matter when gluing into a fitting?

 

[GBBUDD]

Once I finish the vault and then get the basin squared away, backfilled, etc., when I plumb the pump,..is ok to lower the pump into the vault via the pvc extension coming up from the pump? Because of the deeper vault I won't be able to just reach down inside.

The electrical cord should have a mount holding the cord to the unit put a rope to that. Odds are the pump will be fine lowering it that way but yeah never know

 

[GBBUDD]

Last question of the day! Lol,.. this pic is of the discharge pipe from the check valve. I had to cut and end off, and it left this small imperfection. Will this matter when gluing into a fitting?

not at all

 

[GBBUDD]

But if you are using flex pvc you will want to use pressure fittings the standard drain fitting you won't like at all they have a much smaller collar to glue too.

 

[msr0459]

I'm working diligently trying to get this basin finished, and still have questions:

First, how the heck have you guys delt with muddy conditions! What a pain. I've been getting some rain nearly every day. So, I can clearly see that when I start laying in my protective layers, then the liner, etc.. I'll for sure wind up with some muddy footprints inside/on top of the basin liners. This will obviously wash down into the pumps eventually. Is this going to cause issues with the pumps?

I'll be making holes for plumbing on my diy vault this morning, so it'll finally be ready to place inside the basin, and tie into the matrixblox, as per my previous pics. While digging the basin, there were numerous huge rocks, which forced me to shift the entire footprint down a couple of feet,...which left a large dug out area past where the vault will now sit. Once all is in place, and liners are burrito'd over top, is it OK to pack dirt up to and around the vault? I've seen where most use rocks to fill the voids left on either side of the vault, which I'll do, but I've not seen anyone pack loose dirt up to and around the vault.

I know, I'm likely over thinking this one, but just trying to ease my trepidation.