MicroSeries Installation Instructions & Owner’s Manual • Step-by-step installation instructions for MicroPond® Kits, MicroPondless® Waterfall Kits, MicroSkim® and MicroFalls® • Helpful Guide for Maintenance and Seasonal Care O E D I V Check Our Website for Videos on These Products or Look Us Up on MicroPond® Kit WANT MORE POND INFO? FREE SIGN-UP FOR OUR MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER AT WWW.AQUASCAPEINC.COM Made in U.S.A. Aquascape, Inc. St. Charles, IL 60174 • Brampton, ON L6T 5V7 www.aquascapeinc.
MicroSeries Installation & Maintenance Instructions Congratulations on the purchase of Aquascape’s MicroSeries Pond Filtration system. We’ve scaled down the professional version of these filters in order to meet the needs and desires of the do-it-yourself pond enthusiast. The MicroSeries pond filtration systems work in harmony with Mother Nature, and never against her. MicroPondless® system is designed to have a waterfall disappearing into a bed of gravel, i.e. “Pondless.
PD/PL STEP 1 Locate & mark out your basin area • We suggest that you use a plain, old garden hose to define the shape of your new water feature. The hose is flexible, and can be pushed and pulled in various shapes. Step back, evaluate and modify your design until you have something that you really like. • The MicroPond Kit is available in three sizes (4’x6’, 6’x8’, and 8’x11’) and the MicroPondless® Kit is available in one size (4’x6’).
PD/PL STEP 4 Hook up and level the MicroFalls® • The first step is to install the bulkhead fitting in the hole provided in the back of the MicroFalls®. The rubber washer should be located on the inside of the MicroFalls®. Tighten the nut on the outside until the rubber washer begins to bulge. This should only be approximately one turn past hand-tight. Be careful not to over tighten the nut, which could possibly crack the bulkhead. Please note that the bulkhead fitting is reverse threaded.
PL ! STEP 5 Excavate your MicroPondless® basin The shape and depth • Digging is very labor-intensive, so pace yourself and get some friends and family to help you. • We suggest excavating the basin no more than 24” deep. This depth provides the proper water volume in the basin to operate the waterfalls. (See figs. 8 and 9) • All of the soil removed from the excavation can be spread and compacted around the MicroFalls®, creating a berm.
Excavate your MicroPond® cont... • All of the soil removed from the excavation can be spread and compacted around the MicroFalls®, creating a berm. The filter should be completely surrounded by soil by the end of the project. (See fig. 10 on previous page) Leveling the edges • One of the most important parts of the excavation is getting the perimeter of the pond level and setting the level of the water. An excellent tool for this is a 2x4 set across the pond.
PD/PL STEP 6 Install underlayment and liner • Remove any sharp objects from • Try to get the large folds out, but the excavated hole that may damthe main goal is to make sure age the liner. that it’s lying flat and going into all corners. Don’t try to get it • Unfold the underlayment fabric perfect—you will hide the liner and place it into your excavated with rocks and gravel later. ® ® MicroPondless /MicroPond basin.
Installing the MicroSkim® cont... • Cut the inner box using a pair of scissors, and insert the skimmer faceplate into the hole. (See fig. 20) begin threading one of the screws into filter. Repeat this process for the other screw. (See fig. 22) • Make sure MicroSkim® faceplate is in the upright position. (See fig. 21) • Now remove the faceplate from the skimmer, keeping the screws installed through the faceplate and liner.
0 PD ! STEP 8 • You can expect to use several tons boulders in place, as well as cover of stone and gravel for your water the remaining liner, protecting it feature. Talk to your Aquascape from ultraviolet rays, and giving dealer for help choosing the bacteria a place to colonize, not quantity and sizes of stone to mention it just looks better. and gravel. • This is also a good time to add lilies to the plant pockets.
PD/PL STEP 10 Hooking up the pump and plumbing The MicroPondless® and MicroPond® utilize the same style pump and plumbing fittings. Connect the pump plumbing kit to the pump and tighten all clamps before lowering into the MicroSkim® or MicroSnorkel™ Vault. The plumbing assembly includes a threaded union disconnect that will allow you to remove the pump when needed. MicroPond® - The following steps are specific to the MicroSkim®.
PD/PL STEP 12 Build the waterfall Note: Filter mats and media nets are not needed if installing a MicroPondless® system. Hook up the MicroFalls® • Prior to installing the waterfall lip, make sure the face of the filter and liner is clean and free of dust and debris. • Have someone hold the liner against the MicroFalls® while you line up the waterfall snout over the liner. Make sure there are no wrinkles and the liner comes up above the sides of the MicroFalls®.
Build the waterfall cont... • The MicroFalls® is designed with a other gaps between the stones that plastic lip for the water to cascade water is flowing over. The foam off. You can use the plastic lip or keeps the water flowing over the hide the lip using the MicroFalls® top of the waterfall stones.
PD/PL STEP 15 Plug in and tweak the waterfalls • As soon as the MicroPondless® or MicroPond® is filled and all of the black waterfall foam is dry (if used on project), you may plug the pump in and test the waterfall. • You can tweak the waterfall by placing smaller stones and gravel on the waterfall cascades. This will change the appearance and sound of the water. Have fun playing with the water coming over the falls until you achieve the desired effect.
PD/PL STEP 19 Owner’s manual • Refer to the following pages in this instruction booklet for care and maintenance of your new water feature. • Contact your local Aquascape supplier for more information on routine maintenance using EcoSystems® Products, as well as other water treatment products designed to help balance the ecosystem of the pond.
General Maintenance & Seasonal Care The Ecosystem PD/PL Fine wines get better with age ... the same can be said about your new water feature! Be patient with the new addition to your landscape - it’s going to look better and be easier to maintain with every season. The filter system on the MicroPond® and MicroPondless® Kits is designed around the foundation of a balanced ecosystem. The ultimate goal is to have nature do the work ... not you! It won’t happen overnight, but it will happen.
PL ! The MicroPondless® Vault One of the greatest features of the MicroPondless® filter is that there is very little maintenance. The system can be run 24 hours a day or can be turned off and on when desired. Don’t forget to periodically check that there is enough water in the MicroPondless® basin to properly operate the waterfalls. When you hear the pump “gurgling” or sucking air you know it is time to add water.
PD/PL Leaks If you notice you have to add water on a daily basis, you may have a leak. We have found that 99% of leaks occur along the perimeter of the waterfalls and pond edges. Small leaks are generally due to the ground settling; this causes the water to trickle over the edge of the liner in the stream or water- fall. Leaks such as these can be easily fixed. Steps in finding a leak: • Check the perimeter of the pond for any areas that are wet.
Fall & Winter Maintenance cont... back most of the dead plant material and remove the tropicals. Cut back your cattails above the water level, or better yet, leave them up to see how magnificent they look in the winter. (See fig. 49) Fig. 49 Cut back dead plant material. • If you’re fortunate enough to be where it stays warm all year round, you’re set for the winter. • If you live up north, you’ll begin to see ice forming.
PD/PL Spring Maintenance Spring is simply the most exciting time of year. In all climates, there’s fresh new growth all over the landscape, and everything is just bursting into life. Your water feature is no different. As things slowly awaken from their winter hibernation, there are some things that you can do to make sure your water feature gets off to a good start this spring. Reinstall the waterfall pump in the MicroSnorkel™ Vault or MicroSkim® and reconnect the plumbing.
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