Planning a Water Garden Pond? Plan My Water Garden Pond
Tell us a little about the pond you're envisioning and we'll help you determine the right system for your project.
With Backwashable Filter and Fish Safe Pond Skimmer
Proudly Made in the U.S.A
Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ 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" stainless steel lever shut-off valve
Piper HydroClean™ Pond Skimmer with stainless steel and nylon leaf net, Black Knight Filter Brush Rack, 6″ inlet pipe, three 2" dual female threaded outlet ports, and one ½" auto water fill valve port. Remote installation capable and fish safe.
Dolphin Series large pond kits are the Ultimate easy to install and easy to clean pond kits. These large pond kits feature the patented Dolphin Hydro Vortex™ backflushable waterfall filter with your choice of backwash: manual or HydroFlush™ backwash system. Also included with these large pond kits is a Piper HydroClean™ Pond Skimmer that is fish-safe, remote installation capable, and features a large capacity stainless steel framed leaf net, and the highest quality filter brushes. Our large pond kits also give you your your choice of pumps. Feature for feature, no other large pond kit on the market can compare.
These large pond kits are for water garden ponds with a 2' maximum depth.
Our Ultimate Pond Kits are Easier to Clean, Easier to Install, and Provide You with More Design Options
Compare and contrast our Ultimate pond kits with Aquascape, Easy Pro, Savio, Pond Builder, Atlantic, Little Giant, The Pond Guy - and any other brand you may find online.
Compare Benefits, Features, Value, Versatility, Ease of Cleaning, and MOST IMPORTANT - Cost of Ownership.
Keep on reading as we discuss each of those comparison points below.
Our Ultimate Water Garden Backyard Pond Kit makes building a water garden pond simple and easy. Everything needed to build a backyard water garden pond is contained in each Ultimate waterfall pond kit. No addition filter media required as with other brands of pond kits. No additional costs for a drain kit as with other brands of pond kits. Our Ultimate pond kits feature patented technology for the cleanest, healthiest, and freshest water garden pond possible.
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits Provide Ultimate Value
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits are Fish Safe. Each HydroClean™ Pond Skimmer included with all of our backyard pond kits has a completely unique and revolutionary inlet pipe. The inlet pipe not only makes attaching rubber pond liner far more simple, it also replaces the weir door that is found on virtually all other pond skimmers. Weir doors on typical pond skimmers let fish into the skimmer, but not back out. Fish often get fatally trapped inside typical pond skimmers. HydroClean™ Pond Skimmers won’t harm or kill your beloved fish. No other brand of pond kit comes with a pond skimmer as versatile, fish safe, and easy to clean as our HydroClean pond skimmers.
All HydroClean™ Pond Skimmers are remote installation capable for a more natural looking pond edge. You can have your pond on one side of a patio and the pond skimmer on the other side out of view. Only HydroClean™ Pond Skimmers can attach to PVC or ABS piping for remote installations away from the pond’s edge. No other brand of pond kit's pond skimmer can do this.
All Bio Media is Included with Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits. Each Hydro Vortex™ Waterfall Filterincludes all required biological filter media. Conventional bio fall type waterfall filter boxes included with most pond kits online require additional biological filter media that is not included with the pond filter. Purchasing additional biological filter media adds to the cost of the filter and pond kit. Additionally, conventional bio fall waterfall filters include polyesterfilter pads. These filter pads require replacement every few years – adding even more to the cost of the filter. Don't let the lower price of a waterfall filter and discount pond kit fool you, they ALL have hidden costs that add to the price of the filter and pond kit. With a little research on your part, you will understand that a cheaper price doesn't always mean a total lower price. A cheaper purchase price ends up having a much higher cost of ownership.
The Hydro FilterSilk™ biological filter media that is included with each Hydro Vortex™ Waterfall Filter is made from the same High Density Polyethene (HDPE) that the filter itself is made. Hydro FilterSilk™ never needs to be replaced with routine backwashing. Hydro FilterSilk™ does not break down, wear out, or fall apart like the filter pads in all other waterfall filter boxes.
Backwashable. Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filters are backwashable. This means that the filter can be cleaned and rinsed with low pressure pond water without having to be dismantled like typical bio fall type waterfall filters. A pond filter such as a Hydro Vortex™ Waterfall Filter that can be easily, and routinely rinsed with pond water will perform at peak efficiency at all times.
Typical bio fall type waterfall filter boxes in other brands of pond kits are marketed as only requiring “annual-cleaning”. They are typically sold with the idea of hiring a professional to clean the filter and pond every year for you. This adds tremendous cost to the filter and increases your cost of ownership.
As you can clearly see from the above video – Hydro Vortex™ filters can be cleaned and rinsed simply by turning two valves. No need to hire a professional to do it for you. This saves you money!
A filter – of any type or purpose – that can be kept clean will perform more efficiently. Pure and simple.
The Problems With Typical Pond Kits
All these typical pond kits require “annual-cleanings” of the pond and waterfall filter. All these typical pond kits have relatively lower purchase prices than Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits. But they all require additional biological filter media – at extra cost and require large annual pond cleanings – at extra cost, time, and effort. They don't include a filter drain kit - so if you want one, there is an extra charge for that too.
Typical pond kits have “hidden” costs such as additional biological filter media, additional drain kit for cleaning the bio fall filter, biological filter media replacement, and costly annual pond cleanings. All this adds up to a higher cost of ownership.
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits are a Better Value
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits have no “hidden” costs such as additional bio media. The Hydro FilterSilk™ biological filter media never needs replacement when backwashed regularly. The Hydro Vortex™ filters come complete with all media and a drain kit at no extra cost. Routine backwashing of the Hydro Vortex™ filter and simple routine pond maintenance eliminates the need for “annual-cleanings”. This makes the cost of owning an Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kit much less than the lower priced typical pond kits.
Before Purchasing ANY Brand of Pond Kit ….
Inquire as to the Cost of Additional Biological Filter Media What is the Cost of Replacement Filter Pads? How is the Filter Cleaned? What is the Cost of a Filter Drain Kit? How do you clean the pond?
Only Then Will You Know the REAL Price of the Pond Kit
You Get The Most Plumbing Options with with HydroClean™ Pond Skimmers
With their unique integrated round inlet pipes, you have the option to install your pond skimmer directly on your pond’s edge, or for the most natural looking pond edge – install the pond skimmer several feet away from the pond’s edge. HydroClean™ pond skimmers’ integrated round inlet pipes attach directly to PVC or ABS pipe for remote installation at any length you choose. With flexible PVC pipe, you can install HydroClean™ pond skimmers around corners or objects. No other brand of pond kits have pond skimmers with these capabilities.
HydroClean™ pond skimmers provide the most plumbing configurations with the 3 interchangeable integrated outlet ports. Dual female pipe threads on the Seagull, Piper, and Pelican HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers with all Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits. No large wrenches, hole saws, or special tools required to install a pump or pumps, mainline pipe or pipes, overflow pipe, or an auto water fill valve. HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers are pre-configured for an automatic water fill valve with a ½” female threaded inlet port to keep your water level topped off at all times. No other brand of pond kit comes with more pond skimmer plumbing options.
Unlimited Design Option are Yours with Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits and HydroClean™ Pond Skimmers
Quick and Easy Liner Attachment. Pond liner attaches to the HydroClean™ Pond Skimmer in all Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits with a simple “One-Nut” liner collar. Unlike typical pond kits with conventional skimmers that use a weir door face plate with dozens of screws to secure pond liner to the skimmer, HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers lock pond liner to themselves, or remote installation pipe with a rubber collar and just one Stainless Steel nut on the Stainless Steel collar clamp. This drastically reduces the installation time, as well as frustration. The typical pond skimmer face plate screws penetrate the pond liner in dozens of small holes that can eventually leak when they tear open due to liner settling over time. The HydroClean™ liner collar prevents these type of leaks.
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits feature Dry-Hands Maintenance. This means you’ll never have to put your hands in the water to clean your HydroClean™ pond skimmer. The large capacity heavy duty leaf net, Black Knight filter brush rack, and Stainless Steel filter baskets in these amazing pond skimmers and pond sieves are fully accessible above the water line for "Dry-Hands" servicing. Each of our pond kits come standard with a HydroClean™ Pond Skimmer.
Pond Kits with Conventional Pond Skimmers Ruin the Natural Look of a Pond
You’re researching pond kits. Now imagine admiring the pond built with typical pond kits. Your eyes follow the edge of the pond, and suddenly an obtrusive pond skimmer is right in your view. The natural appearance of the pond is completely ruined. The pond skimmers included with typical pond kits must be attached directly to the edge of the pond.
HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers feature Remote Installation Capabilities and are the only pond skimmers that can attach to standard PVC or ABS pipe and be placed away from the pond’s edge. Imagine a pleasant patio, walkway, or seating area next to the pond, and the pond skimmer on the opposite side of you – out of your immediate view! Only HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers included with all Ultimate pond kits offer you this advantage!
Pond kits with conventional pond skimmers attach to pond liner with square or rectangular face plates and dozens of screws that penetrate the liner. Not only are they difficult to install, these screws can eventually cause leaks and can damage and harm your beloved fish.
HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers feature a simple one-nut liner attachment – with that nut above the water line – saving you installation time and future headaches!
Pond kits with typical pond skimmer square or rectangular face plates also feature a floating weir door. Fish can easily swim into a common pond skimmer but the weir door prevents them from being able to swim back out causing harm and even death to your fish.
HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers’ completely unique round inlet pipe eliminates the need for a weir door, allowing fish that swim into the pond skimmer to swim right back out. Your fish will thank you!
Remotely Install Your HydroClean™ Pond Skimmer
HydroClean™ Professional Pond Skimmers included with Ultimate Pond Kits are the only pond skimmers that feature an inlet pipe instead of square or rectangular face-plates. The inlet pipes on our pond skimmers allow for direct attachment to pipe so you can install them away from the edge of your pond at varying lengths based on the pumps' flow rate. This provides you more design options than with any other pond skimmer and any other brand of pond kit.
How about having a nice patio next to your pond with the pond skimmer on the other side of the patio? How about landscaping and/or a bench next to the pond with the pond skimmer behind both? With Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits with HydroClean™ pond skimmers you can!
More Advantages with Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits: Hydro Vortex™ Patented Backwashable Waterfall Filters
Hydro Vortex™ Advantages:
Can be cleaned in as little as 2 minutes
Disassembly NOT required for cleaning as with pond kits with bio fall type filters
Requires less installation time than bio fall filters in typical pond kits
Installs with only a Phillips screwdriver – no special tools or big wrenches required
Becomes virtually invisible in the landscape
Long lasting components
Best purchase value – drain kit included and all biological filter media is included – no additional media required
Lowest cost of ownership – does not require media replacement like pond kits that use filter pads
Unique Hydro FilterSilk™ media polishes the water far superior to filter pads and other filter media
Lets you spend more time enjoying your pond and less time cleaning it!
Patented Hydro Vortex™ Waterfall Filters included with Every Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kit
Can you see the Hydro Vortex™ filter in this photo of the right? That is the beauty of its design .... it becomes invisible when installed! The filter's upper diffuser grate is perfect for placing stones to give the filter a natural spring look with water welling up through the stones. You can not see the filter, or the filter media.
Patented Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall filters are the starting point for the most natural looking waterfalls for your water garden pond. Hydro Vortex™ water fall filters blend seamlessly into the landscape, and contain a revolutionary Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media. Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media provides high surface area for large colonies of beneficial bacteria to proliferate and also polishes the water far superior to other types of biological filter media.
These bacteria metabolize ammonia, phosphates, and other algae causing organics out of the water. It also polishes the water far superior than other types of bio media, and rinses clean within the filter with pond water under low pressure to not harm the good bacteria. Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall filters are easy to clean – not requiring removal of the Hydro FilterSilk™ biological filter media for cleaning.
Quick and Easy to Clean Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall pond filters can be cleaned in 2 minutes or less without requiring an air blower or air pump to facilitate the backwash. Periodic backwashing of these pond filters improves fish health, reduces algae growth, and ensures that your pond will stay as clean and beautiful as possible .
Hydro Vortex™ Blend Seamlessly into the Landscape for the Most Natural Waterfalls. Place river rocks on the upper diffuser grate to hide the filter from view. Because Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall pond filters do not need to be dismantled for cleaning. You can leave those rocks and pebbles in place forever!
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits Have the Lowest Cost of Ownership
With regular backwashing, the Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media included with your Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall filter never needs to be replaced. This saves you money.
Filter pads in typical pond kits with conventional bio fall type waterfall filter boxes must be replaced every few years – costing you more money. Replacement filter pads in typical bio fall waterfall filter boxes can cost are expensive and typically require three or more filter pads! Filter pads typically require replacement every 2 to 3 years costing you hundreds, and even thousands of dollars over the life of typical pond kits.
Also note that with bio fall type waterfall filter included with typical pond kits DONOT INCLUDE all the required bio media. You’re required to fill media nets with additional bio media such as lava rock, bio balls, or other bio media – at additional cost.
Contrast Ultimate Pond Kits with Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall filters that come complete with all the required bio media – and the Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media never needs to be replaced!
Why is Keeping a Pond Filter Clean So Important? A waterfall filter is just that …. a filter. A clean filter simply performs its job better when clean than dirty.
Think about it:
Do you routinely clean the lint trap in your clothes dryer?
If you ever swim in a swimming pool, do you wonder if the pool filter has been cleaned?
Hot tub filter?
Do you replace your car’s oil filter when getting an oil change?
You car’s air filter?
What about the air filter in your home’s heating system?
Your coffee filter?
Your drinking water filter?
Any type of filter, whether it be for liquids, or gasses performs at its peak efficiency when kept clean – pond filters are no different. What would happen to your clothes if you didn’t routinely clean the dryer’s lint trap? What would happen to your engine if you didn’t change the oil filter? What would the swimming pool look (or smell) like if you cleaned the pool filter once per year? How would your water or coffee taste if you didn’t use clean filters?
Everyone knows that filters either need to be kept clean or replaced to work effectively – pure and simple. You should RUN –not walk – away from pond kits with conventional bio fall type waterfall filters that are not backwashable or that boasts: “ only annual cleaning required“.
So what collects in the "annually cleaned" bio fall filter for an entire year?
The answer is fish waste, mulm & detritus (waste produced by bacterial colonies), small organic particles, algae, dissolved organic matter, and whatever passes through the pond skimmer or other pre-filter. All this “stuff” is commonly referred to as “sludge”.
Take a good look at the photo here on the right of the inside of a bio fall type waterfall filter included with typical pond kits. This is sludge. The filter pads and media nets filled with lava rock are completely saturated with sludge. How efficient do YOU think this filter is? Do YOUwant to clean this?
Any guesses as to what this smells like?
When sludge is allowed to build up inside bio fall type waterfall filter box in typical pond kits, the filter media becomes clogged and water will channel around the media. Water channeling around the filter media is no longer being filtered. If a filter no longer filters …. then what good is it?
Once the pond filter media is saturated as seen in this photo, the sludge breaks off and finds its way to the bottom of your pond where it adversely affects water quality and dramatically promotes algae growth. Additionally, areas within a sludge filled waterfall filter box that no longer have oxygenated water passing through them become stagnant and oxygen-deprived that adversely affect the good beneficial bacteria and encourage pathogenic bacteria to proliferate instead.
We're not making this stuff up folks. These photos are real. Our crew gets paid a lot of money to clean bio fall type filters and these types of ponds with "annual cleanings". There is a reason competing pond kits are so cheap online. If a picture is worth a thousand words - then what do these photos tell you about bio fall type filters?
Think about “annually cleaning” a pond filter for a moment. Can it be done? Yes. Should it be done? No! You could mow your lawn once per year. Your neighbors wouldn’t appreciate it. It will be a huge time consuming and difficult chore when you do decide to mow it!
What would happen if you “annually” flushed your toilet? Pond Kits that boast “annual cleaning” are not providing you with the most accurate information.
Pond kits with non-backwashable pond filters encourage excessive algae growth as well as Aeromonas and Pseudomonas pathogenic bacteria proliferation. The algae is extremely ugly, and the pathogenic bacteria are a real danger to your koi and pond fish.
Every filter included with Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits is designed to make them efficient and easy to clean. The unique patented design of Hydro Vortex™ Backwashable Waterfall Pond Filters combined with its patented backwash system enables the Hydro FilterSilk™ media to rinse clean within the filter itself. Dismantling the filter for cleaning is not required.
A clean pond filter performs at peak efficiency. Water enters the Hydro Vortex™ Backwashable Waterfall Pond Filter parallel to the radius (at a tangent) causing the water to whirl in a vortex within the circular filter body. This whirling water causes heavier particulate matter to settle down to the bottom of the filter’s settlement chamber. The settled particulate matter is removed from the filter via the drain located at the bottom of the settlement chamber.
There are many manufacturers of typical pond kits. Aquascape, Easy Pro, Atlantic, Pond Builder, Pro Line, Savio, and many others. They all have pond filters commonly referred to as bio falls, puri falls, aqua falls, fast falls, filter falls, cascade falls, elite falls, and many other names. Every one of them functions the same.
It doesn’t matter the manufacturer – the bio fall filters may look different, but inside – where it really matters – they are all the same! Filter pads and media nets are not backwashable, and must be disassembled for cleaning. The following photos show exactly how the filters in typical pond kits get cleaned – and what you’ll be cleaning if you own one or are planning to purchase one.
This is How to Clean the Bio Fall Filter Included with Typical Pond Kits and What They DON’T Tell You
The first step is to drain the bio fall filter.
Typical pond kits DON'T include a filter drain so you’ll have to disconnect the pump and have the dirty filter water empty into the pond skimmer and pond. Careful, it will be under pressure and can get all over you. Or purchase a second pump and hose to pump it out. Again, at additional cost to the original purchase price!
The second step is to remove the media nets.
Typical pond kits recommend that the media nets be filled with lava rock, but they can also be filled with bio balls or other form of bio media. Lava rock is the most commonly used media in these nets because the lava rock is heavy and holds the filter pads down inside the conventional bio fall filter.
These saturated media nets can be very heavy – so be careful lifting them out pond kits with bio fall filters. Small pond kits may have only one such media net, but the average pond kits contain two or three. Larger pond kits contain six or more media nets.
This is what you’ll be cleaning from the media nets with all typical pond kits. As stated earlier, this is “sludge” consisting of all sorts of smelly decaying things. Make sure to wear protective clothing and gloves when handling saturated bio media. Infections are common problems associated with cleaning pond kits with these types of bio fall filters.
Look at this lava rock. “Annually” cleaned pond kits keep this sludge inside the filter for an entire year! In the words of Howard Hughes: “Does that look clean to you?”. The pores in the lava are completely filled with sludge.
The only way to clean this is with high pressure washing. It is widely understood that using high pressure water to clean bio media destroys the beneficial bacteria living on it. Thus destroying the pond filter’s ability to perform its primary job of bio reaction.
The next step with typical pond kits is to remove the filter pads.
They too can be heavy. Typical bio fall filters contain two to three of these saturated filter pads. Again, it is recommended for your health and safety to use long sleeve rubber gloves and eye protection when handling sludge saturated filter pads.
Filter pads in typical pond kits that boast “annual” cleaning remain inside the bio fall filter for an entire year! How effective do YOU think they can be when they’re clearly saturated with sludge? Do you want your beloved fish to swim in water that is in contact with this sludge for even a minute - let alone an entire year?!?
Look closely at these photos. (Roll over the photo to view the second one) These photos are of an actual filter pad we removed from a bio fall filter for its "annual" cleaning. We can't believe that the manufacturers of these types of pond kits actually instruct you to clean the filter once per year! That is SUCH a disservice to you - and pretty much a death sentence to your fish!
We show you these photos to educate you about the "real" costs of those discount pond kits you find everywhere online. We will say it 'till we're blue in the face: "You get what you pay for!"
Filter pads inside bio fall filters saturated with sludge promote harmful pathogenic bacteria to proliferate and provide a huge food source for algae!
The next step in cleaning the bio fall filter is to pressure wash the filter pads and media nets
This can get a little tricky and a lot messy! For your safety make sure to wear rubber rain gear, long sleeve rubber gloves, and protective eye-wear. Make sure to keep your mouth closed! When pressure washing the filter pads, make sure you use enough pressure to clean the pad, but not so much that you disintegrate the pad! Filter pads tend to start falling apart during the second “annual” cleaning.
Replacement filter pads are expensive.
The Next Step is to Clean the Inside of the Filter Itself.
Typical pond kits don’t include a filter drain which makes this process very difficult. Wipe and rinse the sludge and muck from the walls of the filter and pump, or shop-vac out the slurry. If you paid extra for a drain, then rinse the sludge and muck out the drain, then shop-vac the remaining slurry that is below the drain (since the drain isn’t really a drain but a reversed inlet on the side of the filter – and above the bottom).
We hope that we're doing a good job of providing you with information about the problems associated with cheap pond kits with filters that are not backwashable. Do you actually want to do this type of cleaning every year? We're betting that you don't.
The next step required by typical pond kits is to drain and clean the pond bottom.
This is the costliest part of the “annual clean-out” or “spring-cleaning”. You’ll need a dirty water pump and enough hose to discharge the dirty water somewhere – make sure to not flood a neighbor’s yard!
You will also need a net to catch all your fish, a holding tank to store your fish while you’re cleaning the pond, an aerator for the holding tank to provide oxygen to your fish, and a net to cover the tank so your fish don’t jump out. That can cost you several hundreds of dollars.
Add those additional costs to the price of low cost pond kits you see everywhere online!
Typical pond kits require you to pump out ALL the pond water, pressure washing the entire pond, waterfalls and streambed.
Do you own a pressure washer? Have a rental yard nearby?
Non-backwashable pond kits require you to pressure wash all surfaces in the pond. Every waterfall, the streambed if you have one, every square foot of pond – bottom and sides …. every single rock! While you’re pressure washing, you’ll be pumping out the slurry water. (Where is that dirty, foul smelling muck water going?)
A friendly reminder from experienced pond servicers: When performing an “annual” pressure washing ….. muck splatters everywhere …. so cover your patio furniture, your patio or deck, your fire pit, barbecue, landscape lights, trees, plants, shrubs, fence, retaining wall, your pets, …. anything within 10′-15′ of the pond. Don’t forget to wear protective clothing and eyewear.
When finished you must re-fill the entire pond with fresh water. Depending on the size of your pond, the water bill can be quite high.
For your "annual" cleaning, you'll have to purchase tools and equipment before you can clean your pond - or you can pay a professional who already owns the required equipment a lot of money to do it for you.
ALL Pond Kits that market “Annual” Cleanings – Add These Annual Costs to the Purchase Price of the Pond Kit
Secondary sump pump
Sump pump discharge piping
Temporary fish holding tank
Holding tank net to prevent your fish from jumping out
Holding tank aeration system to keep your fish alive while you drain the pond
Fish catching net – catching them by hand is difficult unless you’re a bear
Hip waders so you can wade into the pond when catching your fish and to keep their poop off you when you pressure wash the pond
Totally new pond water plus the cost of the water used for pressure washing – hope there isn’t a drought
Dechlorinator/Slime Coat Enhancer/Stress Remover for your fish – cleaning the pond is a traumatic experience for them
Pressure washer – or rental and delivery
Bi-annual bio media replacement
You must factor in this large annual cost when looking at pond kits. All these “hidden” costs add up to lots of $$$$$ over the life of the pond.
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits Require NONE of That! Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits SAVE You Thousands of $$$$$
Above is a scan of an actual owner's manual from a popular pond kit manufacturer. We blurred out their name and filter brand because the brand doesn't matter, their waterfall filter boxes all function the same. Isn't it better to see their manual prior to spending any money on their pond kit? There is a reason they don't put this information on their website - you wouldn't buy their products! Every brand of pond filter and pond kit that boast "annual cleaning" will have similar instructions. As we've stated before: "They're all the same!"
Pond kits by Aquascape, Easy Pro, Atlantic, Pond Builder, Savio, Little Giant, Pro-Liner Danner, American Pond, and many others all state they only require “annual-cleaning". All of their owner's manuals have similar instructions as the one we showed you here. As we've stated before, the may look different on the outside - but on the inside they're all the same!
"Annually" cleaned pond filters get clogged with sludge and then pass sludge to the pond where it settles to the bottom. This requires the pond to be completely drained and cleaned every year at a large annual expense. Ponds built with these types of pond kits experience excessive algae growth, become unsightly very quickly, and create non-ideal living conditions for koi, pond fish, and other aquatic life.
Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits can be Routinely Cleaned Throughout the Year Eliminating “Annual” Cleanings, Draining the Pond, and ALL EXPENSES RELATED TO ANNUAL CLEANINGS
Here’s how:
Empty the HydroClean™ pond skimmer as needed throughout the year
Backwash the Hydro Vortex™ Waterfall Filter monthly or more throughout the year
“Fluff” the pond at least quarterly throughout the year (details on “fluffing” are below)
Add HydroFloc™ after each pond “fluffing” to settle cloudy water into the Hydro Vortex™ filter
Backwash the Hydro Vortex™ filter after every “fluffing”
With Ultimate Pond Kits from Russell Watergardens - you never have to catch your fish, drain the pond, or disassemble the filter for cleaning. No other brand of pond kit can say that.
What is “Fluffing”, why do it, and what do you do it with?
“Fluffing” your pond is like fluffing your pillow. When you “fluff” your pond, you’re simply using water to fluff up any debris that has settled in your pond. You “fluff” the pond with your garden hose and tap water from your home. The tool is an inexpensive tool you make with a hose nozzle and ¾” PVC pipe you can get at any home improvement store.
Parts for the Fluffing Tool:
Your existing garden hose
10′ x ¾” PVC pipe
¾” PVC male pipe adaptor
¾” PVC female pipe adaptor
Sweeper Nozzle
Total Fluff Tool cost is just a few dollars. Compare that to the enormous cost of just one “annual” pond cleaning.
Periodic “Fluffing” Your Pond Eliminates Draining the Pond to Keep it Clean
(Roll over the photo)
Attach your garden hose to the Fluff Tool and squirt water into the gravel and rocks of the pond. If you have a stream, start there first. Keep your waterfall pump running and simply rinse the stream down into the pond with the Fluff Tool.
Your fish will swim through the rising debris in the pond eating bits of algae, bugs, and worms before they've had a chance to rot. If you do this on a regular basis, there won't be time for pathogenic bacteria to grow.
If you don’t have a stream, start “fluffing” the pond at a point farthest from the HydroClean™ Pond Skimmer. The water WILL CLOUD UP. This is normal.
After you fluffed the entire pond, add the proper dosage of HydroFloc™. HydroFloc™ is a concentrated flocculent that will cause all the material that is clouding the water to bind together and get trapped in the Hydro Vortex™ filter. The pond water will be clear in 24 hours.
The more often you “fluff” the pond, the less cloudy the water will become and the faster it will clear up into the Hydro Vortex™ filter.
After 24 hours simply backwash the debris out of the Hydro Vortex™ filter! Ta-dah …… a clean pond without getting dirty or draining the pond! Simple, quick, and incredibly inexpensive!
Instructions that come with typical pond kits instruct you to NOT perform simple inexpensive routine pond maintenance in favor of costly and difficult “annual” cleanings. They tell you that because if they told you HOW you'll have to clean their filter, or the pond it is filtering …. they know you wouldn’t buy their product!
Inexpensive … (i.e. cheap) ... pond kits try to fool you with a low purchase price. Why do you think they are discounted so much everywhere online? Because a low price is their only feature worth talking about. But they conveniently leave out the “hidden” costs and the huge annual cleaning costs.
Hopefully we’ve done our job of explaining the truth about typical pond kits. This is why our company founder: John Russell invented and patented our products - he hated cleaning typical waterfall filter boxes and dirty ponds. So he did something about it, and simply made "a better mousetrap". His inventions make owning our pond kits much less expensive over the life of your pond. Simply put, for you to enjoy your pond more. Ponds are supposed to be fun and beautiful and not maintenance nightmares.
Our Ultimate Water Garden Pond Kits may cost a little more up front, but will SAVE YOU THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS in a few short years of owning your pond.
Pamela was a huge help with pre-order sizing and instructing me via email/phone during the install when I had a few questions. I actually got a custom kit with a 40' liner and the larger SH-4020 pump. The install was pretty "by the book" per the install instructions she provided. I was able to complete the entire project by myself. Everything is working great. I am so glad I went with the Russell system rather than having to deal with cleaning out muck from rocks and matrix boxes. I just clean out the skimmer basket and backwash occasionally.
After months of research, I found that the filtration, cleanout, backwash and pondless capabilities of this system was the ideal solution for my situation. The service was exceptional, very helpful and responsive.
Just installed an 11' high pondless waterfall with 66 feet of water course. The Hydro Sieve Pre-filter, Vortex Filter and Hydro Chamber system is the simplest and most common sense system out there. The Russell Water Garden website is informative and makes it easy for any DIYr. And the customer service from Pamela is top-notch, always quick to respond and great answers to my questions. Definitely recommend this company and their products.
Very impressed with the quality of the waterfall, stream and water garden pond kit. I’ll be happy to share pictures once it is finished. So looking forward to watching our grandchildren splash in the stream and catch frogs in the pond.
I chose the Ahi kit as it was the perfect size for our yard and the look we wanted with both a waterfall and small pond. Pamela at Russell Watergardens was incredibly helpful with my many questions before and after purchase. She was generous with her time and sent me videos/photos to give me ideas on fountains built by others so I could be confident about building our own. Russell Watergardens also has a wealth of information on their website and YouTube for “How to Build it,” Maintenance, and Tips. We are really pleased with the results and look forward to adding sod and a few native plantings to the surrounding area next spring. I highly recommend Russell Watergardens if you want the best DIY water feature.
The Marlin products are straightforward to apply. Pamela was great about clarifying any questions I had. Mine is a large feature with an eleven foot high waterfall and 66 feet of stream and I was not able to complete it to the point of turning on the water before the snow arrived. I will send Russell Watergardens a video when I get there.
This kit from Russell Watergardens is fantastic. Has everything you need to build a really nice water feature. This really is the only system out there that allows for system cleaning with low fuss and hassle. The service and support is also great. I am a 100% satisfied customer.
I decided to get the pondless waterfall package because I wanted something that was all-in-one, provided a solution that was nearly maintenance free, and would not have standing water to attract bugs. Russell's was the only solution I found that met all my needs. I looked at countless other solutions and ultimately decided on this one. Things that especially stood out to me after the install was the quality of the product, the directions/support, as well as the fact that everything was included....even things such as foam and pvc glue.
I’ve wanted to build a water feature for years but the time or place was never right. In 2023 everything came together to finally do it. I had been emailing back-and-forth with Pam Russell for several years about my plans for a Pond less waterfall while doing a lot of research. I had settled on Russell Water Gardens to use as the backbone for my build. The combination of design, quality and outstanding customer service lead to that decision. During the pre-purchase planning and design phase, Pam was simply outstanding. I would have made a lot of mistakes without her guidance. She’s a very quick communicator, extremely knowledgeable about the products as well as about the design of waterfalls. I had a ton of questions and she never seemed to grow tired of them. Her knowledge and input into my design and purchase of materials was simply invaluable. She even helped navigate the somewhat tricky logistics for the delivery, which is more complicated than you might think when you don’t live in an urban area. Now to the products. My project was a rather ambitious DIY first time built I admit. It features two waterfall heads combining into a single stream about halfway down a 15 foot drop hill in my backyard. The total water course is about 45 feet long and 2 feet wide. Pam helped me determine the amount of water volume that it would have and the materials it would take. I ended up with two hydro sieves at the end collection point. These two sieves connected to three Hydro Chambers. I used the Hydro Vortex at the top. With the length and and flow rate that, I wanted, I chose one of the larger external, 1350 gps extern pumps. She helped me with the planning and where to pomace the pump accommodate the head and flow characteristics to give me a good amount of water volume. Working alone, the project was definitely hard work, but was a labor of love and a dream come true for me. We have yet to finish the plantings around the waterfall, but are enjoying it nonetheless. I can’t recommend Russell Watergardens highly enough, and specificially Pam as an invaluable resource.
This produce seems to be the best for Pondless Waterfalls compared to other brand. Yes its more money but worth it in the long run. Pamela has been so helpfull to someone know nothing about creating a waterfall
I have been using Russell Water Gardens for years. We use the pond less components for our water features. We feel like they give us an unmatched quality and functionality. Service is excellent. They take good care of us.
After researching different types of water features i choose the Russell water garden for the low maintenance and the easiness of installation. I replaced a small fountain in my back yard with a 5’ wide by 20’ long water fall and stream. The standing water in my fountain needed cleaned and replaced frequently which took time. With the hydro tanks large water capacity and ease of refilling(i choose the manual fill system) over auto fill since my hose bib was not in a convenient location, simply lift the lid and add water with hose. The pre filter leading to hydro tank is the key! It allows you to quickly and easily remove all debris from system before it goes into hydro chamber where pump is located. This was the biggest problem with my fountain pump. Every week or two i would have to disassemble clean the gunk around inlet of pump(water would actually quit flowing ) and reassemble, alot of work. With the pre filter basket all debris is captured before getting to pump, just as described in the video.
In addition Pamela Russell was always available by email or phone, (email worked best ) to answer my questions as i was installing my water feature. It is now the center piece of our backyard adding both value and charm with many years of enjoyment to come. I would highly recommend!
Dave W
Venetia Pa
My husband decided he wanted a waterfall on our hillside which is located next to our home. I had zero knowledge but tried for weeks to figure it out by myself via reading blogs and watching youtube videos. Then I discovered Russell Watergardens. I called Pamela and had many conversations leading me to decide her brand was the best choice. I told her that I wanted the falls to be easy to maintain, variable in flow & sound, and easy to install. She assembled a custom kit for me which included 2 pumps. I could run 1 or the other or both in order to be quiet at night or loud while entertaining. I ended up hiring an experienced 2 man crew to install the waterfall… and I’m so glad I did! The rocks were heavy and the ground needed to be jackhammered in order to get the holding tank & filter system into the ground. All of our visitors love the relaxing sound of our waterfall, as do we. A big thanks to Pamela Russell for her guidance!
It took us several years of planning to get to the point of ordering materials to build the waterfall. We were dealing with soft sand on the hill and were concerned about how we were going to keep the hill secure and not wash away. We got the materials to make the waterfall and it took my husband several weekends to get the work done as he was working by himself. He did get help with the pond liner, but other than that, he was able to install the 2 large units, top of the waterfall and at the bottom, but it wasn't without a lot of muscle and reading the directions over and over. The only thing we would suggest is to make the directions easier to understand with pictures of the different parts and connections easier to see in the pictures. We finally hired a professional landscape person to come and do the rocks for us as we were frustrated with how to place them properly to look natural. We needed to order larger rocks to make the pond look better. The waterfall is not complete yet. We need to put in more river rock and plant trees and bushes alongside the waterfall. We have a lot of deer with sharp hoofs that have been walking through the riverbed and we are concerned they will puncture holes in the liner, but we will know better this spring when we start the waterfall again. In the picture, you see koi fish, but that was a very temporary thing as a friend wanted to see how his fish would do in the stream. They looked beautiful swimming in the riverbed, but the water was not deep enough for them. Also, we have critters that got a few of them overnight so we knew that having koi was not a practical thing to do! But, all in all, we are VERY happy with the equipment that we received because it can handle a lot of water making the waterfall flow so well and it sounds wonderful. If we were to do it again, we would definitely order from you again.
This review is as much about the products as it is about the team. Russell's products are outstanding and I could not be happier with the final outcome and how easy it is to maintain.
However, the real gem is the team's willingness to coach and advise before and during the project. Pam was wonderful and happily answered the 'dumb questions' along the way.
I don't plan to tackle another project like this again, but if I did there is ZERO chance I would do it with anyone else!
The water feature kit is exactly what I was hoping for. The installation sequence is well thought out and the practicality of the maintenance is easy. Thank you for all your assistance with our project.
This water feature is the topic of conversation for all our guests. And we installed this ourselves to make sure it was done right. Best yard I ever had. Love this product. We have a heater installed so we can watch our "Jemez River" flow all year round!
Unfortunately, as of this date, I still have not started the water feature due to a number of family health issues. However, I hope to start this project sometime this coming summer.
Thanks for keeping me in your communication loop.
Regards,
Bill Tierney
Russell Watergardens helped me create a custom kit for a pond less waterfall in my backyard. The instructions were easy to follow and the kit was simple to install. This was the first time I attempted a project like this and I did the entire installation myself. While it took me several weekends and a lot of hard work the results were well worth it. I have gotten lots of complements not only from my neighbors but also from professional landscapers. The system works as advertised and is so easy to maintain. I run the pump 24/7 without any issues. I really like the Hydro Sieve filter as it makes cleaning out debris very easy. I would highly recommend Russell Watergardens.
I like the whole concept and idea of your pondless kit but the water tank is just to big for my small space, do you have a smaller size or do you have any suggestion. My space is only 3.5’ x 5.5’.
pretty impressive. have had now for about a year and am getting ready to buy a 2nd one for when I upgrade the pond. the ease of cleaning is fantastic! worth every penny!
The Piper skimmer helps keep my pond clear by moving floating debris into an easily removed basket and brushes that are easy to hose off without getting wet. It has helped make my pond maintenance easier. I am happy I tried it.
This is a perfect skimmer for my small, raised pond. It so easy to open lid, pull out the net and brushes and hose them off. It takes a few minutes and I don't get dirty. It catches surface debris easily. I am very happy with this purchase.
Russell Watergardens put together a pondless waterfall “kit†for us that I installed this past Summer (2017). I did 100% of the installation. The project was hard work, but it was also fun. The instructions were very clear and thorough. I was missing a couple of parts, which were immediately sent to me upon my request. Soon after starting the pump it quit working due to a broken cover. A replacement part was promptly sent to me. The system has now been operational for three months. I have had no problems whatsoever. I am amazed that I have not had to add any water since starting the system. The hydro chamber more than adequate capacity. I have a heavy duty timer so the pump runs only during daylight hours. The filter system is very efficient. Leaves that have collected this fall were many. Nevertheless the Sieve also has substantial capacity. The water flow had been unaffected. All in all this is a very fine product and working with Russell Watergardens has been a great experience. We placed our waterfall on the corner of the lot where anyone driving or walking by can enjoy it. We have made our neighbors very happy. Thank you Russell Watergardens for great products and service.
Pam,
Thank you for the recommendation of the new HBV filter. My koi pond is 3000 gallons and holds right now 19 good size Koi. July is always a difficult month to maintain water clarity. Overnight the results I saw were amazing. The water is so clear that I can now see each grain of sand and wrinkle in the liner to the 4.5 foot depth of the pond. I am still getting us to the process of backflushing but it is pretty easy. The pond has never looked better!
The Intake Bay Clogged with Leaves and Shut Down the Pumps Within 24 Hours.
This case study follows a Pensacola, Florida homeowner whose brand-new $70,000 recreational (built by a Certified Aquasca...
Aquascape ponds are marketed as beautiful, natural water features that bring life and tranquility to a backyard.
But what many homeowners aren’t told before installation is the long-term maintenanc...
Many homeowners discover too late that Aquascape-style ponds often require expensive annual cleanings to remove sludge, algae, and debris trapped in the filter and gravel bottom. In this article we...
You’ve probably heard that pondless waterfalls are “low maintenance.” But that is simply not true – by ignoring routine maintenance, you are simply deferring it until you need an expensive annual ...
The Intake Bay Clogged with Leaves and Shut Down the Pumps Within 24 Hours.
This case study follows a Pensacola, Florida homeowner whose brand-new $70,000 recreational (built by a Certified Aquasca...
Aquascape ponds are marketed as beautiful, natural water features that bring life and tranquility to a backyard.
But what many homeowners aren’t told before installation is the long-term maintenanc...
Many homeowners discover too late that Aquascape-style ponds often require expensive annual cleanings to remove sludge, algae, and debris trapped in the filter and gravel bottom. In this article we...
You’ve probably heard that pondless waterfalls are “low maintenance.” But that is simply not true – by ignoring routine maintenance, you are simply deferring it until you need an expensive annual ...
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