Pond Waterfall
Pond waterfalls are some of the most relaxing and elegant features that one can add to their fish pond or water garden. These features are easy to create and have the added benefit as acting as a type of aerator. One can truly let their creativity shine in this endeavor and, provided that one chooses the right supplies for the task, the pond waterfall feature may well prove to be the standout aspect of their pond.
Pond Waterfall Supplies
The most important supplies needed for a pond waterfall are a pump and a length of hose. There are two basic pump styles from which one can choose: submerged and above water. The submerged varieties offer reliable service and, because they are underwater, their noise levels are minimal. The above water varieties are easier to service but are noisier.
If one is using a submerged pump for their garden pond waterfall, place it on a milk crate or another porous surface under the waterline so that, in the event that something goes wrong, the pump does not pump all of the water out of the pond. The magnetic drive pumps on the market have several advantages over the other types. Principally, if the engine should fail there are no coolants or oils which will leak into the water.
The pump must be adequate for the pond waterfall you aim to create. It should circulate the entire volume of the pond once per hour. Pond pumps will be rated in gallons per hour, abbreviated GPH. To determine the amount of water in one's pond, multiply the length, width and depth of the pond and multiply the result by 7.5. The GPH of the pond should be a bit above that figure.
Also keep in mind that the pond pump will be rated as able to lift a given amount of water one foot in elevation every hour, this is a very important consideration depending on the pond waterfall height. For every 10 feet of hose, there is the equivalent work of 1 foot of elevation for the pump. Gardening stores will have charts that make this conversion work very easy for all garden pond waterfalls.
The size of pond waterfalls is important. For every one inch of spillway on the pond waterfall, 150 gallons of water will pass over every hour. Therefore, for a 4 inch spillway, one should anticipate that 600 gallons of water will go over the feature every hour. This will also factor into pump selection.
There are pumps which are designed specifically for the features of waterfall ponds and these are, by far, the best choices. The most powerful pumps will be rated in horsepower. This can be converted to gallons per hour by using the supply house's charts.
One will need electricity to power the pump, of course. The outlet used for this should be a minimum of 6 feet away from the pond and absolutely must have a ground fault interrupter installed as a safety feature. This ensures that the circuit will be broken if water somehow reaches the outlet or if the extension cord becomes compromised.
Pond Waterfall Building Materials
Creating the actual garden pond waterfall is probably the most enjoyable part of this task. One can use pieces of slate or stone to create the spillway and pile rocks around the edges to control the flow of the water. This is really an opportunity to let one's imagination run wild. Remember that a very large spillway will require a very large pump, so be sensible when creating this feature.
Most individuals choose to create the spillway at the pond's edge. Simply place a piece of stone over the lip of the pond and secure it in place with dirt or other stones. One may also choose to have an open artificial river that leads to the pond waterfall though this makes the task much more complex and requires a more powerful pump.
One can also place plants at the edges of the pond waterfall to conceal the mechanics used and to add a nice natural touch. Adding some aquatic plants next to the garden pond waterfall also adds a nice aesthetic feature.
One will need to conceal the hose for the most pleasant look. This can be done with rocks and dirt or, if the pond owner chooses, the hose leading to the pond waterfall can be buried completely in the Earth. Remember that a buried hose is harder to maintain if something goes wrong. This choice is entirely up to the gardener. Keep the gradient as gentle as possible and keep the hose length as short as possible to avoid having to purchase a very expensive and powerful pond waterfall pump!
The spot where the hose exits the water can be concealed with landscaping rocks. To make it is an unintrusive as possible, place the pond waterfall hose in an area away from where people generally view the pond. One can encourage people to stay away from this hardware simply by putting seating fixtures and other decorations on the side of the pond farthest from the waterfall pond.
Some individuals like to add lighting to the pond waterfall to make it more dramatic at night. This can be a nice touch though some look for a more natural setting in garden pond waterfalls. Either way, the sound of running water is psychologically very relaxing and pond waterfalls create a nice white noise that can block out the typical mechanical noises that characterize our modern environment. For the sound feature, remember that a larger spillway and more water volume will create a more noticeable sound. A higher plunge into the pond on the part of the water will also create more sound.
Make certain that the construction of the pond waterfall features are stable and secure before turning on the pump. The spillway should be in no danger of falling into the water and the hose should be stable and not under any tension which may wrench it from its position. The landscaping rocks used should present no danger of piercing or kinking the hose and there should be no water leaking out of the fixture, of course. Once all of this is taken care of, turn on the pond waterfall and enjoy the results of one's labor at this project!