Posts Tagged ‘Waterfall’

There is something magical about a waterfall, they can be either modest or spectacular, but the concept is still the same. Most ponds benefit greatly by the inclusion of moving water and a waterfall, even a modest one, can transform the scene into something quite breathtaking. The informal type of pond, with a rockery background, invites a waterfall. It is in keeping with nature, and beneficial to the pond inhabitants. Liner – When possible, use a liner in one piece, for both pool and waterfall. Be especially careful if placing rocks or stones on the liner that they do not tear or puncture it. Do not trim the liner until the waterfall has run for seven days to allow for any changes that may be needed after pool has settled. Cement – Pack soil firmly where the waterfall will be located. Lay tie rods and wire mesh reinforcement. Cement (using a fibreglass additive to mix) a four-inch thick concave trough into the pool. After the cement has hardened, place rocks and stones into place with additional cement. Submergible Pumps – To determine which pump would be best suited for your waterfall, determine how high the water must be pumped vertically from the bottom of the pool. Select a pump that will turn over the total gallonage of your pond at least once an hour at this height. This will give a pleasing proportion of water movement in relation to the size of pond. Be sure your waterfall, when running, will not have more capacity than the pond. Generally, the base pond should be four times the size of the waterfall. Waterfalls will make more “noise” if some of the rocks jut out with a hollow space behind the falling water. To incorporate gorgeous water features into a garden doesn’t mean that you must have a pond. Small gardens or those with very young children can still delight in a water feature by positioning a fountain over rock or stones to make an attractive, compact and safe means of enjoying moving water. A half-barrel can be used for water plants, a shallow dish with large stones arranged as a surround makes gives a reflection of the immediate area. A tiny spout, perhaps with a lion’s mask, mounted on a wall, the water falling into a dish that drains into an hidden reservoir to be pumped back up to the spout can look charming.

By introducing a garden pond waterfall in your back yard both elegance and ambience can be achieved to your overall landscaping. People like to hear the melody of water cascading by waterfall or streaming via fountains. A constant soothing background noise can ease stress and provide for a secluded escape. Visually there is no greater image than a fully rushing waterfall cascading down into a colorful garden pond. A garden pond waterfall can be installed in most back yards and additional features like fountains or pond aeration can be easily added. Reckon of the limitless beauty of a garden pond waterfall by including lilies, lotuses, irises, papyrus, water hyacinth, and water lettuce. Adding Koi fish to your garden pond waterfall will only enhance your back yard experience. Water’s intrinsic healing and protecting properties alone are benefits enough to entice one to make a garden pond waterfall. The notion to make a tropical paradise including tranquil sounds of flowing water is truly therapeutic in itself. There is a soothing presence which is brought to any environment when outdoor waterfalls are implemented. In today’s world, eliminating and reducing stress are at the forefront of our times and certainly ponds and waterfalls can help peel off the stress we live daily. Once we are fully relaxed the body is able to rebuild, regenerate and regroup. A pump is required to activate your garden pond waterfall which will recycle the water through the pond to keep the water moving and prevent stagnant water. Through our links at ponds-and-waterfalls we offer kits including preformed ponds, electric pumps with filter, tubing, fittings, etc. . . These kits have gotten very creative and can even resemble rock like structures for a really cool look. Typically you can find both submerged fiberglass and plastic pond structures which will fit your needs. Preformed pond starter kits start out at about $100. The pond liner offers greater flexibility to fit in the ground over its fiberglass counterpart. The fiberglass preformed pond, but, offers greater strength and durability for long use. Adding fish to your garden pond waterfall is a fantastic thought but keep in mind that you will need to maintain algae and bacteria levels. In addition to having add chemicals and nutrients to keep your fish healthy, you will also need to keep the water temperature right around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Improper temperature can often cause havoc to a new owner of Koi fish so hire a professional especially if this is your first approach to making a garden pond waterfall. Pending cold weather climate in your region, you may also require a heater to keep the water warm in the colder months. In some cases a de-icer may be necessary. Ponds-and-waterfalls again suggests the use of a professional to handle the addition of fish. Keep in mind that although you have a closed system you still must account for birds of prey (hawks, eagles, etc. ) which are exterior to your system. A rock overhand or floating log in the water is recommended so the fish can hide in the shade to adjust for potential predators.

i have an 1800 gallon koi pond with 10-13 koi and goldfish. . i have a bio filter and waterfall. what do i do in the winter? do i unplug the pump?? any more suggestions will be appreciated. this is my first winter with the pond.

A pond waterfall can be a fantastic way to relax and more so at the end of a long and stressful day. It is as if all your worries will just get washed away once you sit by the waterfall at your pond. A pond fountain too can give you a different kind of relaxation as you feel the spray in your face. The flow of the pond waterfall can enthrall you into tender and pleasant thoughts that can be very inspiring. The sound of the rushing water can encapsulate you in peacefulness and harmony.   Just like the other pond supplies like the pond fountain, it is a part of the pond that can bring you fantastic joy both emotionally as well as visually. There are quite a few people who have added a pond waterfall or a pond fountain in their garden just so that they can hear the water cascading down or feel the spray of the water and also delight in the beauty that it adds to their garden and pond as they spend time there enjoying some drinks or entertaining friends at an outdoor party. If you are thinking of building a pond in your garden make sure you have a pond waterfall or a pond fountain as each of them has a lot of magical wonder which can help heal your body and soul. Just being in the lap of nature with the sound of running water or a spray falling gently in your face can make you forget all your worries. Add some fish to your pond so that you can pass some time watching them flip their tails. You can also get some pond plants; some people prefer the artificial kind as they require less maintenance. The pond waterfall and the pond fountain both make fantastic pond aerators which are vital to keep the environment of your pond not only gorgeous but also healthy.   A floating fountain or a pond fountain supplies additional oxygen to the water which in turn controls the growth of algae. When the algae die and start decomposing, the extra oxygen from the aerator allows the decomposition to happen properly and also provides oxygen to the fish in your pond. By sending jets of water into the air, it not only adds more oxygen but also helps in breaking down and diffusing gases like carbon dioxide which are produced in large amounts by the decomposing algae. If you are to maintain a healthy ecosystem in your pond then water movement is the solution and this is best provided by a pond fountain or a pond waterfall. A friend of mine installed a pond fountain in his garden some three months back. Yesterday, while partying there under a moonlit night we found that the green brown algae that were there on our last visit had nearly disappeared and the water had a clean and fresh look.

A well designed natural garden waterfall looks and sounds wonderful. Designing a garden water fall is simple to get incorrect. If you follow the specific principles to build your garden waterfall, it is simple to make functional and aesthetic garden waterfalls. In this article, you will learn some of the most vital design elements for making marvelous waterfalls. But first and foremost, lets look at the things you would need to make your wonderful garden waterfall. You will need the following materials:1. ) River worn stones, rocks of different sizes and shapes2. ) Rigid pond liners3. ) Tubing to run from pump to the top of the waterfall4. ) Level used by carpenters to determine the right level of construction5. ) Submersible pump6. ) Garden hose7. ) Large plastic flower pot or any similar container to house the tubing and hide it from view8. ) Shovel9. ) SandConsider two main structures in constructing a garden waterfall. These are the pool or pond where the water will fall and the slope where the cascading water will really run from the fall on its way to the pool. The slope must be a higher structure behind the pool. Pre-cast forms are available that will allow you to construct an artificial slope if there isn?t any natural slope in your yard. Here are the four most vital techniques to construct your garden waterfall!Rock formation Area: Preparing the area with well-placed rocks makes all the difference when it comes to designing a well-build fountain. Rocks will have to be placed in such a way that they are both above and below the water source. Water will flow over the rocks towards the pool below, or from one rock to another running over the surface before flowing into the pool. If you want the water to run under the rocks, the area around the waterfall structure must be in a slope towards the pool and all the surrounding area covered with liner. This prevents the water from finding its way outside the structure; that will drain the pool. Liner used under the pool does not necessarily need to be same as that used under the waterfall. What matters here is that it will prevent water from running under it. Selecting Rocks and Stones: There are rocks with irregular edge that will serve as a natural passage for flowing water. They provide excellent effects to flowing water but only few are convinced to use them. River stones that are flat are already water worn and best for man-made waterfalls. But not all river flats are applicable. A excellent one must have a slightly concave upper surface that slopes downward to the front and downward slanting face at an angle and a small convex bottom surface near the front edge. Water performs best on this stone as it reaches the edge, it runs down the face shortly and falls directly into the pool instead of going backward, sideward, or under it. This happens with any type of rock especially when the water flows lightly. It is best to select the right shapes and sizes for your garden waterfalls from a reputable stone yard. Natural effect of the waterfall is derived by using stones that are weathered. Arranging of Stones: It is best to look at and observe existing natural falls or well-built man-made waterfalls in botanical gardens or photos. Position the stones taking a look at the effect after each stone is placed, putting the stones from the bottom to the top of the waterfall. The stones must appear at a level with a series of flat slabs stepping down one beneath the other, the stone beneath protruding out further than the one on the top. This is the best way to do it. It is not excellent to see a waterfall that seems to be leaning forward because of too much slope to the rocks to ensure a excellent flow into the pond. Larger boulders added to the sides of the waterfall serve as support and help control spillways of the water. Smaller rocks are always a part of a natural waterfall; arrange smaller round rocks of different sizes at the sides of the larger boulders to cover the spaces and your construction is complete. Managing Size and Flow: The size of both the waterfall and the pond must be in proportion with each other. The amount of water that flows out into the pool should be in proportion with the size of the pool. If a lot of water is flowing into a small pool, it would look disproportionate. But, a large pond with a small stream of water is acceptable. By nature ponds are formed by small streams of water continuously flowing over a long period. In home-made ponds the full volume of water must circulate at least once every two hours. The pump used determines the volume of water, the distance and height where the water is pumped, and the diameter of the hose through which the water flows. The pump comes with a feature where you can regulate the outflow of water. Use the pump properly to prolong its life. To learn more about making your water features, look into the reference book “Water Features For Small Gardens: From Concept To Construction” by a celebrated designer Keith Davitt. This article references a lot of material from of this awesome book by Mr. Davitt. Plotting to construct a garden waterfall is fascinating and it will add beauty to an existing garden. To get the most out of it intense and thorough study is necessary so that it will work well and provide satisfying effects . . . pleasing to the eyes and soothing to the ears.