Quote:
Originally Posted by sanddrag
I need to make a waterfall. The water will begin falling at about 13 feet from the ground, be caught and spilled out again at 10 feet, again at 7 feet, and reach a final landing at 3 feet off the ground, where it will be collected and pumped back to the top. I'm looking for a flow in the range of about 6,000 GPH. I have selected a pump, but am having a little trouble with the rest of the components.
I was looking at one of these for the very top, but what I'm having trouble finding is something to cath it in and then release it again. I was thinking maybe there is something like this but with a wider spillway. Haven't found anything though. Should I build a wooden box and cover it in pond liner? I want all three falls to be somewhere in the range of about 24 inches wide.
Thanks.
EDIT: Rethought it, and perhaps I don't want the water to come out perfectly flat. But yeah, still looking for ideas on the "catch and release" part of it. It's hard to try out until I actually have the pump. |
A couple of things:
First, I know you picked your pump already but make sure that it is rated for that flow rate into the 13+ foot head. Pump manufacturers are notorious for giving flow rates into 0' head and then saying that it 'can' pump into a 'x' foot high head (but they give no flow rates for that elevation).
Secondly, building it out of wood and then using pond liner will work very well as long as you plan your spillway properly and put a baffel in (and gravel in the bottom) to create laminer flow. If this is going to be a permanent structure do not use trash bags as they will not survive very long and will begin to leak, however if this is for a short term project then trashbags should be fine. An alternative material could be the plastic bins used in 'Stack Attack' a few years ago. You can heat the sides with a heat gun (do this outside, as it will smell) to make the spillway.
Also if you are using gravel anywhere (and even if you are not, it's a good idea) make sure your pump inlet has a fine screen in it, and that the screen is easy to clean. The screen will restrict the flow (so your GPH will decrease) but its better than getting the impeller jammed.