Russell Pondless Systems™
Small Pondless Waterfall Kit 16" Waterfalls
What’s Included in the Ahi Series Small Pondless Waterfall Kit
- 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
- 10' heavy-duty 1½” flexible PVC pipe and fittings
- PVC glue, primer, silicone sealant, foam sealant
- 25 sq. ft. geotextile underlayment
- 5' x 5' 45 mil EPDM rubber liner
- Cam-lock checkvalve assembly
Pump Options:
Upgrade Options:
- HydroFlush™ patented self-cleaning backwash system
- Choice of automatic water fill valve kits
Ships by motor freight on a pallet with lift-gate delivery
Ahi Series™ Easy-to-Clean Small Pondless Waterfall Kit
Create a stunning, low-maintenance water feature with the Ahi Series™ Ultimate Small Pondless Waterfall Kit—designed for homeowners who want clean, clear water and maximum design flexibility.
Featuring a 16” wide cascading waterfall (18” drop), this system disappears seamlessly into a fully integrated filtration system powered by the HydroSieve™ pre-filter and HydroChamber™ pump and storage unit.
The Cleanest Pondless Waterfall Kit Available
Unlike traditional pondless waterfall kits, the Ahi Series includes both pre-filtration and backwashable post-filtration, delivering:
- Cleaner, clearer water
- Reduced algae growth
- Minimal easy routine maintenance
- Lower cost of ownership
No gravel pits. No hidden sludge. No headaches.
Why Choose the Ahi Series Pondless Waterfall Kit?
✔ Easy to Clean
The Hydro Vortex™ backwashable waterfall filter removes dissolved organics and fine particulates that cause algae, odors, and cloudy water—something standard kits simply don’t do.
✔ Superior Filtration System
- HydroSieve™ Pre-Filter - Captures debris before it enters the system
- HydroChamber™ - Combines pump vault + water storage in one compact unit
- Hydro Vortex™ Filter - Patented backwashable waterfall filter for removing dissolved organics and fine particulates
✔ Flexible, Modular Design
Install components together or remotely:
- Place your waterfall filter, pre-filter, and water reservoir tank in separate locations
- Customize your landscape without limitations
- Works with standard 4" PVC or ABS underground piping
✔ More Value for Your Money
Smaller excavation, less labor, and easier maintenance = lower lifetime cost.
The Problem with Traditional Pondless Waterfall Kits
Most DIY pondless waterfall kits use rock and gravel basins that:
- Trap debris and organic material
- Cannot be easily cleaned
- Lead to sludge buildup and foul odors
- Recirculate dissolved organics and fine particulates
- Promote algae growth
Bottom line: If it can't be easily and routinely cleaned, it won't stay beautiful.
The Ahi Series Difference
The Ahi Series eliminates outdated gravel basin systems with a clean, serviceable filtration design:
- Removes both solid debris and dissolved organics
- Improves water clarity, quality, and odor control
- Keeps your waterfall and stream looking fresh and natural
- Designed for easy routine DIY maintenance
Designed for Beauty. Built for Routine Maintenance.
A pondless waterfall is only as beautiful as it is maintainable.
With the Ahi Series, 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 of teardown
An easy-to-clean pondless waterfall is the most affordable one to own.
Benefits of an Ahi Series Pondless Waterfall Kit
The Ahi Series™ pondless waterfall and pool kit is engineered for maximum design flexibility, easy maintenance, and cleaner water - something conventional 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
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
Even if a kit comes with a biological waterfall filter, it isn't backwashable - making cleaning a heavy, dirty, time consuming chore.
If you can't easily clean it, it won't stay beautiful.
How the Ahi Series 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 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 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 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 the Ahi Series is 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.
Russell Pondless Systems™
Ultimate Pondless Waterfalls are EASY to CLEAN!
1. Keep your pump running and use an ordinary garden hose to rinse leaves, debris, and fine particulates downstream from the waterfalls and/or stream into the Hydro Sieve™ pre-filter for easy removal.
No need to remove the pump when cleaning and maintaining an Ultimate pondless waterfall. Removing the pump is only necessary for winterizing the pondless waterfall.
2. Turn off your pump and remove the stainless steel filter basket from the Hydro Sieve™ pre-filter.
Open the Hydro Sieve™ pre-filter by lifting off the lid to expose the internal stainless steel filter basket.
Grab the handle which is well above the water line to remove the basket. Empty the basket, hose it out, and then put it back inside the Hydro Sieve™ pre-filter.
3. Open the drain valve at the bottom and backside of the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter and let it completely drain. You will notice dirty water draining from the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter.
Every model of Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter comes complete with a drain, drain pipe, and a drain valve for easy cleaning and backwashing.
4. Backwash the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter either manually, or with the HydroFlush™ Backwash System.
Manual Backwash: Using an ordinary garden hose, rinse the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter from top down with fresh water. No need to disassemble a Hydro Vortex™ filter for cleaning.
Rinse water through the Hydro FilterSilk™ bio media inside the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter until the water flowing out the drain runs clear. When the water runs clear, the filter and bio media are clean. Close the drain valve and restart your pump and waterfalls.
HydroFlush™ Backwash System: With the filter's drain valve open, turn the HydroFlush™ valve to the "Backwash" position. Turn on the pump to send water through the froth-port at the top of the Hydro Vortex™ filter. The water will shoot upwards and then fall back down onto, into, and through the Hydro FilterSilk™ media inside the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter. When the water exiting the drain at the bottom of the filter runs clear, the filter and bio media are clean. Close the drain valve, and turn the HydroFlush™ valve back to the "Filter" position.
5. When water exiting the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter's drain is clear, the filter and bio media are clean. Close the drain valve.
6. Turn on your pump and enjoy your clean and pristine pondless waterfalls.
If you opted for an automatic water fill float-valve, the valve will automatically re-fill the pondless waterfall inside the Hydro Chamber™ for you. Or, you can add water with a garden hose to replace the small amount of water that was used to backwash the Hydro Vortex™ waterfall filter.
That's it! You're done!
No fuss, and no mess.
Super easy, super quick.
The Easy to Clean Pondless Waterfall
Ultimate pondless waterfalls are the absolute easiest to clean pondless waterfalls - period. Compare for yourself before purchasing any brand of pondless waterfall kit or having one installed for you by a contractor.
Remember, it will be your pondless waterfall, and you will be the one who has to clean it, or pay someone a lot of money to clean it for you.
You can empty the HydroSieve™ daily if you choose. You can backwash the Hydro Vortex™ filter in minutes whenever needed. You can use your garden hose to rinse your waterfalls and stream as often as you like - to keep it as pristine as you wish. You can turn your pump on and off whenever you want. The system does not rely upon beneficial bacteria, and with regular maintenance, rinses, and backwashes - algaecide use will be minimal.
