Natural waterscapes blend into the landscape

Natural waterscapes look as though they've always been there. They require careful planning and the appropriate equipment that allows concept flexibility. A balanced design, properly constructed, is easy to maintain and becomes a delight for your senses.

Streams appear more natural if the source can be hidden or disguised, as water rarely shoots out of the ground. This is why we use a Filtific Waterfall Starter (shown Below) in each of our waterfall kits. This device diffuses the water as it comes out of the pipe at the top of the waterfall or stream. You can set it like the diagram below and have the water come out of the top for more of a stream effect. Or, you can have the outlet on the bottom so the water appears to bubble up from beneath. Use your liner to form a bowl for the Waterfall Starter to sit in and cover it with rocks for a natural look as shown in the pictures below. The Waterfall Starter is built tough enough for rocks to sit on and around it.

At the other end, the stream should end in a pool, or be hidden as well so as to create the most natural effect. Our waterfall kits allow you to finish your stream with a small shallow pool for the most natural effect.

Site constraints may help dictate the style of your water feature (form follows function, as they say), but scale of space, rocks, plants, and water flow is essential in any successful design. A site with elevated terrain is helpful for a waterfall and cascading stream, though lacking appreciable change in elevation, a meandering brook through a lush meadow is a serene creation. Plants will grow, but rocks that are disproportionate to the space, or a stream disproportionate to the rocks, will detract from the effect. Generally, larger rocks and smaller water is better than the reverse, but both should be in balance with the landscape space. Small water can sound bigger with a greater drop at the falls. Alternatively, you can utilize two pumps, individually switched, to create multiple effects.

Following the introduction of the Vanishing Water system, product innovations and refinements now make installations possible by the novice, with professional results; we recommend it highly for its distinct advantages. This is the perfect solution for those who want minimal involvement with maintaining their water feature. Turn off the pump(s) to save water and electricity (and to extend pump life), and all the water vanishes into an underground tank for a safer, cleaner water feature. When the system is on, floating debris is collected in the screen(s) for periodic removal; when the system is off the water is stored underground, where the algae is unable to grow.

If you have a project that just won't fit the parameters of the selected waterfall kits, please give us a call 1 (800) 959-8353 and we can help you specify the appropriate equipment for a successful water feature endeavor.

All of this water goes into the Filtrific tanks when the pump is turned off.