Elite Waterfall Installation Guide

Included Parts

• Waterfall Box
• Detachable Weir
• Landscape Lid
• (2) Filter Mats
• Media Bag
• Threaded Plug
• Male Adapter
• Black Silicone
• Self-Tapping Screws
• Liner Clips & Teflon Thread Tape

Step 1: Choosing a Waterfall Location

1a: Positioning The waterfall should be positioned so that the water flowing from it enters the pond opposite the skimmer to ensure proper water circulation. The waterfall is best positioned so that you can view it from the outdoor and indoor areas where you plan to enjoy your new water feature.

1b: Location Options You can position the waterfall right at the pond's edge or at the top of a stream.

Note: Refer to the Water Garden Elite Pond Installation Manual for overall kit instructions, including pond excavation, pond liner installation, and rockwork.

Step 2: Assembling Waterfall Plumbing

Your Blue Thumb Elite Waterfall Box has two spinweld fittings, one on each side of the bottom of the box.

2a: Feed/Hose Connection Choose which side your feed/hose line will come in. Use Teflon tape (included) on the male adapter and thread it into the side of the box. You can also add a bead of silicone (included) to the threads for added insurance against leakage.

2b: Second Spinweld Use Use Teflon tape on the threaded plug and install it into the spinweld on the other side of the box. This second spinweld can be used for a second pump line or for a back-flush system.

Step 3: Positioning the Waterfall Box

Compact the area where the waterfall box will sit to prevent future settling. The waterfall box should sit level from side to side and be tilted forward slightly (about 1/4 bubble on your level) to ensure that the water flows forward through the spillway.

Step 4: Flexible PVC Hose Hook-Up

4a: Preparation Wipe off any dirt before installing the flex hose into the male adapter using PVC cement.

4b: Curing Time Hold it in position for 60 seconds to allow the cement to set.

Recommendation: Flexible PVC pipe is very flexible and easy to work with.

• 14" & 22" Elite Waterfalls are plumbed to accept 2" Flexible PVC Pipe
• 30" Elite Waterfall is plumbed to accept either 2" or 3" Flexible PVC Pipe
• 40" Elite Waterfall is plumbed to accept 3" Flexible PVC Pipe

Step 5: Backfill Around the Waterfall Box

Check position again to make sure the waterfall box remains level during excavation. If installed off-level, water will not flow evenly over the weir. Tamping the area beneath the waterfall box will help minimize settling, which may create an uneven waterfall over time.

Excavated soil can be used to cover the flex hose, to build up your waterfall and stream, and to create a berm around and behind the waterfall box.

Recommended tools: cordless screwdriver, 5/16” nut driver bit, waterfall weir (included), silicone (included), stainless steel screws (included), utility knife (with new blade), and a clean rag.

Step 6: Attaching Liner to Waterfall

6a: Initial Placement Bring the liner up to the face of the waterfall box and check the positioning of the liner against the waterfall box. Use the liner clips (included) to temporarily hold the liner to the box. The liner should follow the contours of the pond edge or stream and the face of the waterfall box.

6b: Liner Slack It is a good idea to leave a little slack in the liner where it transitions from the pond edge or stream to the face of the waterfall box. This will ensure that the weight of the rocks used in the waterfalls will not pull down on the liner once it is attached to the waterfall box.

6c: Preparing for Sealant Kneel in front of the waterfall box and remove the liner clips and fold the liner back toward you, leaving it to rest on your lap. Using the clean rag, wipe down the face of the waterfall box around the area where silicone will be applied. Also clean the area on the liner that will be coming in contact with the area you cleaned on the waterfall box.

6d: Silicone Application Apply a bead of silicone along the sides and bottom of the opening on the face of the waterfall, keeping the silicone bead centered the entire way.

6e: Securing Liner and Weir Bring the liner back up into position against the face of the waterfall. Hold the liner in place again with the liner clips to help keep it from moving around as you prepare to attach the waterfall weir. Gently run your fingers along the liner over the area where you applied the silicone and flatten the bead out slightly. This will help ensure a more even distribution of the silicone as you compress it when you screw down the weir.

6f: Weir Positioning Bring the waterfall weir into position. The weir has a return edge that will make it easy to hold it against the waterfall box in the correct position.

6g: Attaching Weir Once in position, begin driving the stainless screws into place. Start with the top screws, on the left and right, to hold the weir in position. Continue driving screws into the remaining pilot holes on the weir, with your next screw going into the middle hole on the weir.

6h: Creating Water Channel Carefully trim out the section of liner inside of the waterfall area to open the channel where the water will flow through.

6i: Final Seal Use the remaining silicone to run an additional bead along the joint where the waterfall box, liner, and weir come together. Smooth out the bead using your finger.

Step 7: Seal all Gaps Around Rocks

After rockwork is in place, use Black Waterfall Foam (sold separately) to fill in the gaps in the rockwork leading up to the waterfall box. The foam will force the water on top of the rockwork and give you a much more dramatic waterfall display!

Step 8: Installing Filter Media

The Elite Waterfall Kit includes two green Matala filtering mats and a mesh media bag. Position the filter mats horizontally in the bottom of the waterfall box. Fill the media bag with biological media of your choosing (not included) and place it on top of the filter mats.

Recommended Media Option: We recommend using Bacti-Twist Biological Media. This media is lightweight, easy to fit, and provides the surface area to grow beneficial bacteria necessary to keep water clear and healthy.

Step 9: Install Landscape Lid

9a: Lid Placement The Blue Thumb Landscape Lid allows you to make the open top area of the waterfall box disappear into the landscape. Position the landscape lid on the waterfall box.

9b: Disguising the Box The most popular method of disguising the waterfall box is to plant aquatic plants within the channels of the landscape lid. Add pea gravel to fill the rest of the channel and landscape lid area. There are holes in the bottom of the landscape lid that will allow water to wick up to the root system of the plants. Other options include hiding the waterfall box using mulch or gravel. Adding in some driftwood is a nice touch as well.

Creative Ways to Cover Your Waterfall Box

Visual examples show various naturalistic designs integrating the waterfall box into the landscape using rocks and plants.

Suggested Products

Blue Thumb recommends the following products that are compatible with Blue Thumb Biological Waterfall Boxes:

• Bacti-Twist® Media
• Black Foam Waterfall Foam
• Pond Cleaner® beneficial bacteria

You can find these items at ShopBlueThumb.com.

Maintenance and Start-Up

Skimmer Maintenance

When necessary, remove and clean the net and mat located in the skimmer. If the water level where the pump is located is lower than the water level in the pond, the skimmer mat and net need to be cleaned. This typically needs to be done every 10-14 days but will vary depending on the amount of debris falling into the pond, fish load, and feeding regimen.

Winter Maintenance: Remove the pump in climates that have prolonged freezing periods, then store the pump in a bucket of water where it cannot freeze. This will help keep the pump seals from drying out. Rinse out your media mat and net and store for the winter.

Waterfall Box Maintenance

Usually once per year, remove the filter media located in your waterfall box and clean thoroughly to remove debris that has collected over time. This should only be done when water temperatures are coldest or below 50°F. Clean and rinse the media using water collected from the pond when possible. Chlorinated tap water can kill the beneficial bacteria living on the media.

Evaporation

If you are not using the Blue Thumb Automatic Fill Valve, you will need to occasionally replace any evaporated water. This can be done using a garden hose. If you are using tap water that contains chlorine and you have fish, be sure to add Blue Thumb's Purify to the pond as you add water. Add water until the water level reaches to within 3/4" - 1" below the opening of the skimmer box.

Spring Start-Up

Reconnect your pump and reinstall any media that was removed for winter storage. It is generally a good idea to drain the pond and clean any debris that has accumulated out each spring.