HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems
HydroPure™ Ahi Series Customizable Pondless Waterfall Kit – 16" Waterfall
Build a Customized
Ahi Series™
Easy-to-Clean
Pondless Waterfall Kit
16" Wide Waterfalls
Professional Filtration. Easier Maintenance. More Creative Freedom.
Russell Pondless Systems™ is now: HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems
The same professional filtered pondless technology, under our new HydroPure™ brand name.
- Proudly Made in USA
- Ahi Hydro Vortex™ patented backwashable waterfall filter with 16" wide waterfall opening
- Hydro FilterSilk™ biological filtration media (1.83 cu ft)
- HydroSieve™ pre-filter with stainless steel filter basket
- HydroChamber™ all-in-one pump vault + water storage tank
- Stainless steel hardware
- Heavy-duty black 1½” flexible PVC pipe
- Filter drain kit with 10' heavy-duty black 1½” flexible PVC pipe, PVC fittings, and drain valve
- PVC glue, primer, silicone sealant, foam sealant
- Geotextile underlayment
- 45 mil EPDM rubber liner
- 1½" Cam-lock checkvalve assembly
Pump Options:
Upgrade Options:
- HydroFlush™ patented self-cleaning backwash system
- Remote Installation Kits
- Choice of optional Auto Water Fill Kits
Ships by motor freight on a pallet with lift-gate delivery
Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System
Create a stunning, low-maintenance small backyard water feature with the Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System. This compact system features a 16" wide cascading waterfall flowing downward approximately 18", before traveling to and disappearing through the advanced HydroSieve™ pre-filter into the underground HydroChamber™ water storage system.
The best pondless waterfall kits are designed for easy cleaning and long-term performance. That's exactly what you get with the Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System.
- ✔ No gravel pits
- ✔ No messy cleanouts
- ✔ No hidden maintenance problems
Just clean, clear, beautiful water — made simple.
Why This Pondless Waterfall Kit Is Different
Unlike conventional pondless waterfall kits that feature rock and gravel covered matrix blocks, the Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System includes:
- HydroSieve™ Pre-Filter - Captures debris for easy routine removal
- HydroChamber™ System - Combination pump vault + water storage in one compact unit
- Ahi Hydro Vortex Backwashable Filter - Patented design removes dissolved organics and fine particulates
Conventional pondless waterfall kits utilize rock and gravel covered matrix block basins for water storage. The rock, gravel, and matrix blocks trap debris and are extremely difficult to clean.
👉 The truth? They can only be cleaned by hand - if at all.
HydroPure™
Filtered Pondless Systems
No Gravel Basins.
No Maintenance Headaches.
Conventional pondless waterfall kits and systems use rock and gravel to filter debris - but:
- Debris gets buried deep in the gravel
- Organic matter breaks down into sludge
- Water turns brown or green and smells terrible
- Algae growth increases rapidly
And cleaning it? Nearly impossible.
HydroPure™
Filtered Pondless Systems
Eliminate this Problem Entirely
All pondless waterfalls collect:
- Dust and pollen
- Bird waste and feathers
- Animal hair and dander
- Leaves, blossoms, and organic debris
- Airborne pollutants and phosphates
If you have a pondless waterfall without both a pre-filter and a waterfall filter, what do you think happens to all this windblown debris?
Without proper filtration, debris remains in the system to rot, decay, feed algae, and degrade water quality.
That’s why every kit includes both a Hydro Vortex™ Waterfall Filter and HydroSieve™ Pre-Filter:
Advanced Filtration = Cleaner Water, and Less Algae
- Captures windblown debris for easy routine removal
- Traps fine particulates for easy routine removal
- Processes dissolved organics
- Improves water clarity and odor
- Polishes the water for maximum sparkle
- Reduces algae growth
Modular Design = Unlimited Installation Flexibility
The Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System gives you complete creative control.
Install components:
- Together
- Or remotely in separate locations
✔ Place your HydroChamber™ water storage tank anywhere
✔ Hide your HydroSieve™ pre-filter out of sight
✔ Connects easily with standard 4" pipe
No other brand of pondless waterfall kit offers this level of flexibility.
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems = More Design Options. More Creative Freedom.
With modular installation, you can:
- Build waterfalls in one area
- Locate the pre-filter away from the waterfall
- Locate the water storage tank near existing electrical or water supply outlets
- Integrate landscaping, patios, and hardscapes in between
Design without limitations.
Easy to Clean = Lower Ownership Cost
Hard to Clean = Higher Ownership Cost
Before buying any brand of pondless waterfall kit, for your own peace of mind - ALWAYS ASK: 👉 “How do I clean it?”
With common rock and gravel basin pondless waterfall systems:
- You'll spend hours trying to hand clean the gravel
- Or pay for expensive annual draining and pressure washing
With the Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System:
- Debris is captured and easily removed
- Patented waterfall filter is backwashable
- Less digging - easier to install
- No mess
- No stress
- Lower cost of ownership
A clean system is a beautiful system.
Save Money with a Smarter System
The HydroChamber™ and HydroSieve™ pre-filter replaces:
- Slotted pump vault
- Matrix blocks
- Multiple layers of underlayment
- Rubber liner
- Lots of rock and gravel
This means:
- Smaller excavation
- Faster installation
- Less labor
- Less materials
- Lower overall cost
Why dig a bigger hole than you need to?
Conventional rock, gravel, and matrix block based pondless waterfall kits found everywhere online lead to:
- Sludge buildup
- Brown or green foul-smelling water
- Difficult or impossible cleaning
- Poor water quality for pets and wildlife
- Expensive annual cleanings that require repeated draining and pressure washing
There's a reason most manufacturers don't explain how to clean their systems.
👉 Because you can’t.
The Better Choice:
Ahi Series
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System
✔ Easy to install
✔ Easy to clean
✔ Modular and flexible
✔ Unlimited design options
✔ Crystal-clear water
✔ Long-term value
✔ Lowest cost of ownership
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems:
Designed for Beauty. Built for Routine Maintenance.
"A pondless waterfall is only as beautiful ...
as it is maintainable."
With the Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System, you get:
- Unlimited design flexibility
- Easy installation
- Lower cost installation
- Macro and micro filtration
- Simple, quick and easy routine maintenance that eliminates annual draining and pressure washing
- Underground water storage
- Compatible with submersible and/or external pumps
- Increased pump longevity
- Long-term performance
- Unlimited design flexibility
Save Money with a Better System
- Smaller excavation = lower install costs
- Simple, easy routine maintenance
- No expensive annual clean-outs
- No gravel replacement or teardown
An easy-to-clean pondless waterfall is the most affordable one to own.
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems formerly known as Russell Pondless Systems.
Benefits of an Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System 16" Pondless Waterfall Kit
16" wide Waterfalls up to 3,000 GPH (50 GPM)
The Ahi Series™ HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems are engineered for maximum design flexibility, easy maintenance, and cleaner water - something conventional rock and gravel basin based pondless systems simply can't match.
Unlimited Design Flexibility
With a fully modular pondless waterfall system, you're no longer locked into one design layout.
- Place your waterfall anywhere in your landscape
- Install the HydroSieve™ pre-filter remotely and out of site
- Position the HydroChamber™ near your power source
- Or install everything together - it's your choice
"Design without limits. Build without compromise."
Why Conventional Pondless Waterfall Kits Fall Short
Gravel-Filled Reservoir vs.
Pre-Filtered Water Storage
Most pondless waterfall kits - regardless of the brand - use rock and gravel-covered basins that:
- Must sit directly under the last waterfall
- Trap debris and organic waste
- Cannot be easily cleaned
- Promote algae growth and odors
- Offer zero design flexibility
Pondless waterfall kits sold online commonly include “waterfall starters,” “waterfall spillways,” or “scuppers.” Regardless of the name, these components are water diffusers—not water filters. They simply spread water as it exits a pipe and provide no mechanical or biological filtration.
If you can't easily clean it, it won't stay beautiful.
How the Ahi Series
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System Works
The Ahi Series uses a true filtration system, not a gravel trap:
- Water is pumped from the HydroChamber™
- It enters the Ahi Hydro Vortex™ patented backwashable waterfall filter
- Water flows up through the Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media, removing dissolved organics and fine particulates
- Clean, polished water cascades over your waterfall
- Water travels downstream into the HydroSieve™ pre-filter, capturing leaves and debris in a Stainless Steel filter basket for easy removal
- Clean water returns to the HydroChamber™ and repeats the cycle
Result: Cleaner water, less algae, and better performance.
True “Pondless” Operation
When the system is off:
- Water is stored underground inside the HydroChamber™
- No standing or visible water remains
This makes it safer for children, pets, and wildlife, while maintaining a clean landscape appearance.
Hydro Vortex™ Filter Easy-to-Clean Backwash Options
HydroFlush™ Self-Cleaning Backwash System (Fastest Option)
- Turn pump off
- Open the Hydro Vortex™ filter's drain valve and let the filter completely drain
- Turn the HydroFlush™ valve to the BACKWASH position
- Restart pump to self clean the filter
- When water flowing out of the drain runs clear, the filter is clean
- Close the drain valve
Manual Backwash (Simple & Effective)
- Turn pump off
- Open the Hydro Vortex™ filter's drain valve and let the filter completely drain
- Rinse filter from the top down with a garden hose (no need to disassemble the filter as the bio media rinses in place)
- When water flowing out of the drain runs clear, the filter is clean
- Close the drain valve
- Restart the pump
Either way - cleaning takes just a few minutes, not hours.
The #1 Problem: Algae in Pondless Waterfalls
Traditional rock and gravel basin pondless waterfall systems fail because they:
- Trap debris in the rock and gravel basin
- Recirculate dissolved organics
- Lack proper filtration
This leads to:
- Algae blooms
- Sludge buildup
- Poor water quality
The Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems Solution
The Ahi Series eliminates these problems with pre + post filtration:
- HydroSieve™ pre-filter removes debris before breakdown
- Hydro Vortex™ filter removes dissolved organics and fine particulates
- HydroChamber™ simplifies storage and pumping
Cleaner water. Better clarity. No odors.
Easy Maintenance = Better Waterfalls
A pondless waterfall is only as beautiful as it is maintained.
- Easy to clean systems get cleaned regularly
- Clean systems drastically reduce algae growth
- Clean water stays clear, fresh, and safe for humans, pets, and wildlife
"Routine maintenance shouldn't be a struggle - it should be simple."
Save Money with a Smarter System
Compared to rock and gravel basin pondless waterfall kits, the Ahi Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System offers:
- Smaller excavation = lower install costs
- No annual draining and pressure washing
- Longer-lasting performance
- Lower cost of ownership
An easy-to-clean pondless waterfall costs less to own over time.
Why HydroPure™ Pondless Systems
are the Better Choice
- Modular, flexible design
- Easy-to-clean filtration system
- No gravel pits
- No sludge buildup
- Cleaner, healthier water
- Lower cost of ownership
You get what you pay for - and this system is built to last.
Final Thought
Before buying any pondless water kit, ask one simple question:
"How do I clean it?"
If the answer isn't simple .... it's not the right system.
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems
Make Pondless Waterfalls
EASY to Clean!
Unlike pondless systems that store water beneath rock and gravel, HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems are designed for simple, routine maintenance — without draining the entire system, removing the pump, or pressure washing a gravel-filled reservoir.
Here’s how easy it is:
1. Rinse the Waterfalls and Stream
With the waterfall pump running, use an ordinary garden hose to rinse leaves, debris, and fine particulates downstream from the waterfalls and stream down into the HydroSieve™ pre-filter for easy removal.
There is no need to remove the pump for routine cleaning or maintenance as with conventional rock and gravel based pondless systems. Pump removal is only necessary when winterizing the pondless waterfall.
2. Empty and Rinse the HydroSieve™ Pre-Filter
Open the lid of the HydroSieve™ pre-filter.
Grab the stainless steel filter basket by its handle, which remains conveniently above the waterline. Lift out the basket, empty the collected debris, rinse it clean with a garden hose, and place it back inside the HydroSieve™.
That’s it — no reaching into a dirty underground reservoir to clean or remove the pump.
3. Drain the Hydro Vortex™ Waterfall Filter
Turn your pump off and then open the drain valve located at the bottom backside of the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter and allow the filter to drain completely.
You’ll see dirty water and trapped particulates being flushed from the filter.
Every Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter includes a drain, drain pipe, and drain valve for easy cleaning and backwashing.
4. Backwash the Hydro Vortex™ Filter
Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filters can be cleaned with the HydroFlush™ Backwash System simply by turning two valves and letting your pump do all the work for you, or manually with an ordinary garden hose.
HydroFlush™ Backwash System
With the pump off and the filter's drain valve open, turn the HydroFlush™ valve to the BACKWASH position and turn on the pump.
Water is redirected to the Froth Jet at the top of the Hydro Vortex™ filter, where it shoots upward before falling back down onto and through the Hydro FilterSilk™ media. This flushes accumulated debris downward and out through the filter drain.
Continue backwashing until the water exiting the drain runs clear.
Close the drain valve and return the HydroFlush™ valve to the FILTER position.
Manual Backwash
With the pump off and the filter's drain valve open, rinse fresh water with an ordinary garden hose from the top of the Hydro Vortex™ filter and down through the Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media.
There is no need to remove or disassemble the filter media.
Continue rinsing until the water exiting the drain runs clear. Then close the drain valve and restart the pump.
Hydro Vortex™ Filter is Clean
When water flowing out of the drain valve runs clear, the Hydro Vortex™ filter, and the Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media inside are clean. Close the drain.
5. Replace the Backwash Water
If your HydroPure™ system is equipped with an automatic water-fill float valve, it will automatically replace the small amount of water used during backwashing by refilling the system inside the HydroChamber™.
Without an automatic water-fill valve, simply add the replacement water with a garden hose.
6. Turn On the Waterfalls and Enjoy!
Turn on the pump and enjoy your clean, clear pondless waterfall.
That’s it. You’re done.
No draining the entire system.
No removing the pump.
No pressure washing a gravel-filled reservoir.
No tearing the pondless waterfall apart just to clean it.
Maintain your HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System with HydroClear™ water treatments.
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems
The Easy-to-Clean Pondless Waterfall System
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems are designed from the beginning around one simple idea:
Your pondless waterfall
should be easy for YOU to maintain.
Empty the HydroSieve™ whenever needed. Backwash the Hydro Vortex™ filter in minutes. Rinse your waterfalls and stream with a garden hose as often as you like.
You decide how pristine you want your pondless waterfall — and how often you want to maintain it.
There’s no need to wait for an expensive annual clean-out or pay someone to dismantle and pressure wash your pondless waterfall.
With simple routine rinsing, pre-filtration, and backwashing, accumulated organic debris is removed from the system instead of being allowed to collect beneath the rocks and gravel.
Before You Buy Any Pondless Waterfall,
Ask One Question:
“How do I clean it?”
Because after the installation is finished, it will be your pondless waterfall.
Make sure it’s one you can easily clean yourself.
