Waterfall disaster

[TRX559]

Hello,

I started a pond/waterfall build in my backyard. The waterfall feature is approximately 6 feet high with multiple different levels that cascade down to the pond. I wanted to use a sand filter/pump combo that I had lying around for the build. The pump is a XtremepowerUS 3/4HP swimming pool pump (2400GPH). The inlet line is drawing water from approximately 10 feet away. Then the water is pushed through my sand filter and then the outlet shoots up 6 feet to the top of my waterfall.

My issue is the water flow. Once it starts going, the water flow rushes over the edge and shoots out into the pond/surrounding area and skips the entire water feature.

I have very little pump knowledge and looking for suggestions. I can get my hands on another pool pump which is around 1500 GPH. Could this fix my issue? I don't want if I go too low in power/GPH because I'm worried that it won't be strong enough to push the water up high enough?

Another possible idea I was thinking of was to put a "T" valve in the outlet line after the filter. Then have one hose running up the 6 feet to the top of the waterfall and the second hose either running back into the pond or to a different spot of the waterfall. Trying to divert half the water away from the top of the waterfall in hopes to lower the flow of the water. My question with this idea is, if I have two different hoses at two different heights will the pump still pump water to both areas or will the water just go to the easiest (lowest) hose?

PLEASE! any help would be appreciated.

 

[kimkats]

Hi and welcome to TFP! First things first..........you need to pay the picture "tax". We need to see this work of art to really know what you are working with. I have a couple of ideas but need to see what is what. I would like to see where the water is coming out onto the waterfall.

 

[ajw22]

Welcome to TFP.

Pictures of your equipment setup would help us understand your situation.

Install a 2 way diverter in the outlet pipe to adjust the flow to what works.

 

[Newdude]

then the outlet shoots up 6 feet to the top of my waterfall.

Thats the problem IMO. You need to shoot it into something so that it falls naturally. Then if you still need a valve you won't be restricting as much flow because it was already slowed down.

 

[TRX559]

Here are some early pictures of my setup.

 

[Bill1974]

There are multiple ways to address this. As you have seen your current set up is a bit oversized. It can be tweaked to work, but it might end up putting to much load on the pump.

• Put a tee out of the filter with a valve that can divert some of the water back to pond w/o going to the waterfall. (need to figure out how to get the excess water back to the pool)
• Put a valve on the inlet side of the pump to restrict the flow of the water into the pump (may overload the pump)
• make changes to the water as newdude mentioned (you may end up with rapids/whitewater and not a gentile waterfall)
• make your waterfall larger to handle the flow
• make the waterfall taller (close to the head pressure of the pump)
• replace the pump with lower flow pump (you may end up choosing a wrong size pump again)
• replace the pump with a vsp pump (costly lesson, but will me the most efficient to run)
• make a small pool of water at the top of the water fall. The small pool would feed the waterfall, kind of like backed up toilet overflowing. The water is the small pool slows down the incoming water from the filter.

You need to figure out how much gpm (max) your waterfall can handle. How is you hose water pressure and flow? if you have good pressure and flow it's usually around 10 gpm. You can also get an estimate by pouring 5 gallon buckets of water down it to get a feel for how much gpm you are looking for (might be possible up to 50 gpm or so if you have enough buckets)