HydroPure™ Dolphin Series Customizable Pondless Waterfall Kit - 25" Waterfall

Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless System
Pondless Waterfall Kit

Easier to Install. Easier to Maintain. More Creative Freedom.

Russell Pondless Systems™ is now: HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems

Base Kit Includes:

• Proudly Made in USA
• Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ Patented easy to clean backwashable waterfall filter with 25″ wide waterfalls
• Filter cleanout kit with 10′ of heavy duty black 1½” flexible PVC pipe, and 1½” drain valve
• Stainless steel hardware
• 7.32 cubic feet of Hydro FilterSilk™ easy to clean filtration media
• HydroSieve-PF™ pre-filter with stainless steel filter basket
• HydroChamber™ all-in-one pump chamber and water storage tank
• 25" heavy duty black 2” flexible PVC pipe
• 5′ x 5′ 45 mil EPDM rubber liner
• 25 sq. ft. 15 ml geotextile underlayment
• 2” Cam-lock check valve assembly

Pump Options:

• SH-4020 submersible
• SH-5100 submersible
• C-3540-B external centrifugal
• C-4620-2B external centrifugal
• C-5700-2B external centrifugal

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

Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless System

Create a stunning, easy-maintenance backyard water feature with a customizable Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System. This innovative pondless system features a 25" wide cascading waterfall flowing downward approximately 30", before disappearing through the advanced HydroSieve™ pre-filter into the underground HydroChamber™ water storage system.

Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems professional pondless waterfall kits are designed for easy cleaning and long-term performance

• ✔ No gravel pits
• ✔ No messy cleanouts
• ✔ No hidden maintenance problems 

Just clean, clear, beautiful water — made simple.

Instead of disappearing into a large rock-and-gravel reservoir, water flows through the HydroSieve™ pre-filter before entering the underground HydroChamber™ pump chamber and water storage tank.

And unlike many conventional pondless waterfall systems, filtration doesn't stop there.

Every customizable Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System includes a Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ backwashable biological waterfall filter to continuously process the water as it circulates through your waterfall.

The result is a pondless waterfall system designed from the beginning to be:

• Easy to clean
• Fully filtered
• Modular and flexible
• Smaller excavation - less digging!
• Easy to maintain
• Beautiful to own

The Reason for
Pre-Filtration + Biological Filtration

A pondless waterfall may not have a visible pond, but its water is still exposed to the environment.

Leaves, blossoms, dust, pollen, bird waste, animal debris and other organic material continually enter the water. Some debris can be physically captured. Other organic material remains suspended or dissolved in the circulating water.

Without proper filtration, that organic load can contribute to cloudy water, odors and algae growth.

That's why Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems provide filtration before and after the pump.

HydroSieve™ Pre-Filter

The HydroSieve™ pre-filter captures leaves, blossoms and other debris before it reaches the pump and water storage chamber.

Instead of allowing debris to become trapped deep inside a rock-and-gravel reservoir, collected debris can simply be removed from the HydroSieve™.

Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ Backwashable Waterfall Filter

The Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ filter provides biological filtration to help process organic waste and nutrients in the circulating water.

It helps improve water clarity and quality while reducing the organic load available to feed algae.

Best of all, the Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ filter is designed to be backwashed instead of torn apart for cleaning.

Choose manual backwashing or add the optional HydroFlush™ Backwash System for even easier routine maintenance.

Why Does a Pondless Waterfall
Need a Biological Filter?

A waterfall spillway or a waterfall starter distributes water to create a waterfall.

It isn't a biological filter.

Water circulating through a pondless waterfall continually collects environmental contaminants such as:

• Dust and pollen
• Bird and animal waste
• Airborne organic material
• Nutrients carried by rain and irrigation
• Decaying plant material

Without Adequate Biological Filtration

Dissolved organic waste and nutrients continue circulating through the system and can contribute to algae growth, odors and reduced water clarity.

The Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ gives your pondless waterfall a dedicated, easy-to-clean biological filtration stage.

"Because cleaner water makes for a more beautiful waterfall."

Two Ways to Build a Pondless Waterfall

HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System Water Storage
vs.
Rock, Gravel, Matrix Block Pondless Basin Water Storage

HydroPure™
Filtered Pondless System

• Requires a much smaller excavation
• HydroSieve™ pre-filter captures debris before the pump
  
• Filtered water flows into the HydroChamber™ combination water-storage tank and pump vault
• Pump operates with pre-filtered water
• No rock-and-gravel reservoir to clean
• Simple routine maintenance without tearing apart the waterfall basin
• Modular water storage can be sized to the waterfall's needs

Conventional Pondless
Rock & Gravel Basin

• Requires a large, liner-lined excavation
• Uses matrix blocks covered by rock and gravel to store water
• Pump is located inside the basin under rock and gravel
• Leaves, sediment, and organic debris can enter the water-storage area
• Debris can accumulate within the rock, gravel and matrix blocks
• Cleaning may require draining and flushing the basin
• Larger excavation means more digging, liner, rock, and labor

The Difference

Instead of storing dirty water inside rock, gravel, and matrix blocks

HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems filter the water first—then store the filtered water in an accessible underground, combination pump chamber and water storage tank.

Conventional pondless waterfall reservoirs require large excavations containing:

• Multiple layers of underlayment
• Rubber liner
• Slotted pump vault
• Water matrix blocks
• Rock and gravel

 

The HydroChamber™ combines water storage, water filling, overflow outlet, and pump access into one compact underground tank.

That means the water reservoir can require a significantly smaller excavation with fewer components to install.

"Why dig a larger hole than you need to?"

Less excavation can mean less labor, less material handling and lower installation costs.

HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless Systems Feature ...
No Gravel-Filled Water Reservoir to Clean

 

Rock-and-gravel reservoirs collect leaves, seeds, blossoms and other organic debris carried into the system.

As that material works its way deeper into the reservoir, it can decompose and accumulate as organic sludge.

Cleaning it means hand-picking debris, draining the system and pressure-washing slime and algae from all the rock and gravel.

That is a big, messy, expensive job.

 

HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless Systems
Take a Different Approach

The HydroSieve™ captures debris where you can easily reach it, while the HydroChamber™ provides water storage without requiring underlayment, liner, matrix blocks, a slotted pump vault, and hundreds of pounds of rock and gravel.

"Routine maintenance is designed into the system from the beginning."

Put the Waterfall Where You Want the Waterfall

One of the biggest advantages of the HydroPure™ system is something you may never see:

The filtration equipment doesn't have to dictate the design of your waterfall.

The HydroSieve™ and HydroChamber™ are modular and can be installed together or independently.

Install them directly beside the waterfall, at the end of a stream—or remotely locate them elsewhere in the landscape. Standard 4″ PVC piping connects the components, allowing you to design:

Waterfall here.
Pre-filter there.
Water storage somewhere else entirely.

Landscaping, patios, walkways and other hardscaping can separate the components.

Instead of designing your landscape around a large rock and gravel reservoir, you have the freedom to design the waterfall around your landscape.

More Creative Freedom

Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless Systems give homeowners, landscape designers and professional installers more flexibility to create the water feature they actually want.

The waterfall and stream can become the visual centerpiece while the mechanical components are positioned where they are easiest to access and maintain.

That's particularly valuable when working with:

• Patios and outdoor living spaces
• Tight landscapes
• Slopes and elevation changes
• Existing landscaping
• Difficult excavation areas
• Locations where filtration equipment should remain out of sight

Your filtration system should
accommodate your design—not dictate it.

Before Buying Any Pondless Waterfall Kit or System, Ask One Question:

“How Do I Clean It?”

Every pondless waterfall collects debris.

The important question isn't whether you'll eventually need to maintain it.

It's how easy that maintenance will be.

A system that costs less initially can become expensive to own if routine maintenance requires draining the reservoir, removing debris from rock and gravel, pressure washing, or hiring someone else to do the work.

HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless Systems are designed around a different philosophy:

Capture debris where it is easy to remove.
Filter the circulating water.
Make routine maintenance simple.

Lower Cost of Ownership

Purchase price is only part of the cost of owning a pondless waterfall.

Installation labor and ongoing maintenance matter too.

HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems help reduce those costs in two important ways:

Smaller Excavation

The HydroChamber™ eliminates the need for a large rock-and-gravel covered matrix block water storage basin, reducing excavation and material handling.

Simpler Routine Maintenance

The HydroSieve™ captures debris for easy removal, while the Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ biological filter can be backwashed.

No routine gravel clean-outs.
No gravel replacement.
No tearing apart the biological filter.

That makes an easy-to-clean HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System more affordable to own over time.

The Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Difference

Every Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless System brings three professional filtration components together:

HydroSieve™ Pre-Filter
Captures leaves and organic debris before they reach the pump and water storage chamber.

HydroChamber™ Pump & Water Storage Tank
Provides compact underground water storage and pump access without a large rock and gravel-covered reservoir.

Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ Backwashable Waterfall Filter
Provides dedicated biological filtration for cleaner, clearer water with easy routine maintenance.

Together, they create a complete pondless waterfall system designed around water quality, easy maintenance and creative freedom.

Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Customizable Filtered Pondless Systems:
Designed for Beauty. Built for Routine Maintenance.

"A pondless waterfall is only as beautiful ...
as it is maintainable."

With the Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Customizable 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 are
formerly known as Russell Pondless Systems.

Back to top of page

Benefits of an Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Pondless Waterfall Kit

25" wide Waterfalls up to 8,100 gph (135 gpm)

The Dolphin 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 Dolphin Series
HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System Works

The Dolphin Series uses a true filtration system, not a gravel trap:

1. Water is pumped from the HydroChamber™
2. It enters the Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ patented backwashable waterfall filter
3. Water flows up through the Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media, removing dissolved organics and fine particulates
4. Clean, polished water cascades over your waterfall
5. Water travels downstream into the HydroSieve™ pre-filter, capturing leaves and debris in a Stainless Steel filter basket for easy removal
6. 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 Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless Systems Solution

The Dolphin 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 Dolphin Series HydroPure™ Filtered Pondless System offers:

• Smaller excavation = lower install costs
• No expensive  and messy 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.

Back to top of page

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.

Top of Page