- Hot Tubs & Spas
- General Information
- Chemical Dosage Charts for Hot Tubs
- Hot Tub FAQ
- How Hot Should my Hot Tub/Spa Be?
- Ultraviolet Disinfection (UV-C) for Hot Tubs
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Water Pump
- How-to Articles
- How to Get Rid of Algae in a Hot Tub
- How to Restart Your Hot Tub If You Haven’t Used it in a Year
- How to Test Your Hot Tub Water
- How to Properly Add Chemicals to Your Hot Tub
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Irrigation
- General Information
- Understanding Drought Levels and Water Restrictions
- Vancouver Island Water Restrictions
- Vancouver Island Current Water Restriction Stages
- Filter Screen Mesh to Micron Conversion Chart
- Comox Valley Smart Control Irrigation Rebate
- Victoria Water History
- Friction Loss and Water Velocity Chart
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- 2018 Weathermatic Catalogue
- How-to Articles
- Do-It-Yourself Irrigation Design and Installation Guide
- Introduction to Micro-Irrigation
- Rain Barrel Soaker Hose
- Tips and Caring for Your Soaker hose
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- Weathermatic
- Weathermatic SL800 Bundle with Rain/Freeze Sensor
- Weathermatic T3 Turbo Rotor
- Weathermatic N-100 Nitro Valve
- Mr. Soaker Hose Basics
- Mr. Soaker Hose - Frequently Asked Questions
- Drip In Soaker Dripline for Irrigation
- Lake & Lagoon Management
- General Information
- Benefits of Pond and Lake Aeration (video)
- Previous Next List Information Item Actions NAME Kasco Fountains VX Series Overview (video)
- Pump Maintenance
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Water Pump
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- How-to Articles
- Kasco Floating Fountain Installations
- Preventing Ice Damage - Kasco Marine De-icing Guide
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- KASCO Marine
- Kasco LED Fountain Lights
- Kasco Marine 3400VFX Aerating Fountain Assembly (video)
- Kasco Aerating Fountains (video)
- Microbe-Lift PBL Professional Blend Bacteria
- Kasco De-Icers
- Kasco Robust-Aire Diffuser Overview (video)
- NEW Water Pump from Shinmaywa
- Landscape Lighting
- General Information
- Benefits of Landscape Lighting (pt.1) (video)
- Premium Outdoor Lighting vs Cheaper Brands
- Light Recycling Program Information
- How-to Articles
- Construct a Low Voltage Transformer Stand (video)
- Security Lighting at it's Best - Cast LED Perimeter Light (video)
- Outdoor Lighting Wiring Techniques - Crimp and Heat Shrink (video)
- Product Info
- DH Lights: Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting, Quality & Value
- Brilliance Flex Strip Lighting
- CAST Lighting FAQ
- Solid Bronze Bullet Light from Cast Lighting - (video)
- The CAST Niche Light (video)
- Tree Light from Cast Lighting (video)
- Outdoor Cooking
- General Information
- Southern Barbecue Comes to Van Isle Water
- How-to Articles
- Memphis Grills Outdoor Cooking Recipes
- Product Info
- Memphis Grills - A Revolution in Outdoor Cooking
- Memphis Grill FAQ
- Infusion Roaster - Turkey Cannon
- Create a Cutting Edge Fire Feature with Warming Trends' Cross-Fire Burner System
- Ponds & Watergardens
- General Information
- Everything Needed To Build a Koi Pond
- Everything Needed To Build a Pond Free Water Feature
- Benefits of having a Pond
- Do I Really Need a Pond Filter?
- Aeration - The Benefits of Bubbles
- Benefits of Pond and Lake Aeration (video)
- Waterfall Flow Chart
- It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time
- PondGard (EPDM) Decorative Applications Guide
- Pond Winterizing Tips and Tricks
- The Oasis Pump Vault - Under the Hood
- 2018 Atlantic Water Garden Catalogue
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Water Pump
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Pump Maintenance
- Friction Loss and Water Velocity Chart
- Light Recycling Program Information
- 2018 Warming Trends Mini Catalogue
- 2018-Atlantic-Catalog
- How-to Articles
- Pond Building Basics - Where Do I Start?
- Atlantic Water Garden - Pond Guide
- Atlantic Water Garden - Pond-Free Guide
- Atlantic Water Garden - Pond Pump Guide
- Atlantic Water Garden - Water Feature Guide
- Everything Needed To Build a Water Garden
- Everything Needed To Build a Pond Free Water Feature
- Everything Needed To Build a Koi Pond
- Oase Pondovac - Trouble Shooting
- OASE Bitron C Ultraviolet Water Clarifier (video)
- Filtrific The Pondless Problem Solver!
- Eco-Blox Assembly Instructions (video)
- How-to Assemble Atlantic's Eco-Blox (video)
- Eco-Rise Installation Diagram
- Installing an Atlantic Water Garden Eco-Rise System
- Atlantic Water Garden - Tidal Wave TT Pump Maintenance (video)
- Atlantic Water Garden - Tidal Wave TW Pump Maintenance (video)
- Atlantic Colorfalls: How to Winterize
- Atlantic Pond Protector Installation (video)
- PondGard (EPDM )Technical Guide and Manual
- How to Deal with Pond Algae?
- Pond Health - Spring/Summer Cleaner (video)
- Easy Pond Winterizing System (video)
- Pond Sludge Removal Without Vacuuming (video)
- Pond Health - Eliminate Ammonia in Your Water
- Pond Clarification (video)
- Benefits of Barley in your Pond (video)
- What is KH, and Total Alkalinity (video)
- How To Test Your Pond Water Chemistry
- Hudson Valve Troubleshooting & FAQ
- UV Bulb Replacement - Pond Water Treatment
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- Oase Filtral UVC 700 - All in One Pump & Filter System
- Pentair All in One Pump & Filter System
- Oase Aquamax Eco Classic (video)
- Oase Aquamax Eco Premium (video)
- OASE filter pump video - Aquamax Eco (video)
- OASE Filtoclear 3000 (video)
- OASE Filtoclear 16000 (video)
- OASE Filtoclear (video)
- OASE Filters for Small Ponds
- OASE BioSmart 5.1 (5000) video
- OASE Biotec Screenmatic Overview (video)
- Oase Pondovac 4 - Action Video
- Filtrific Filter Tank and Expansion Tank demo (video)
- TidalWave3 TT Series Pumps from Atlantic Water Gardens
- The Atlantic Variable Speed Controller
- Atlantic Water Gardens - Colour Changing Vases (video)
- The Atlantic Colour Changing Colorfalls
- Inside the Shinmaywa Pump
- NEW Water Pump from Shinmaywa
- String Algae or Blanket Weed Problems?
- Microbe-Lift PBL Professional Blend Bacteria
- Fish Food Enriched with Beneficial Bacteria (video)
- Blue Diamond Aeration Pumps and Diffusers
- Kasco Pond Fountain
- Kasco Marine 3400VFX Aerating Fountain Assembly (video)
- Rockin Foam - pond and waterfall foam: FAQ
- Rainwater Harvesting
- General Information
- What is Rainwater Harvesting
- Rainwater Harvesting FAQ
- Water Conservation Tips
- Is Drinking Rainwater Safe?
- Basic Rainwater Harvesting System and its Components
- Rainwater Rewards Program & Stormwater Utility
- District Offering Big Cash Rebates for Rainwater Harvesters
- Winterize Your Rainwater Harvesting System
- Uniseal - Innovative Pipe Penetration Seals
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Pump Maintenance
- CANARM and the City of Victoria Rainwater Harvesting Initiatives
- ARCSA Training a HUGE Hit!
- How-to Articles
- Clean Rain Ultra Installation (video)
- How To Calculate Rainwater Catchment and Volume
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- Leaf Eater Advanced
- Clean Rain Ultra (video)
- Wisy Vortex Rainwater Harvesting Filter (video)
- Premier Plastics Vertical Water Tanks, Septic Tanks and Pump Out Chambers
- Jobe Floats and Valves
- NEW Water Pump from Shinmaywa
- Rain Barrel Soaker Hose
- Sump & Wastewater
- General Information
- Living on a Septic System
- Where Does The Wastewater Go?
- 6 Signs your Septic Systems Needs to Be Pumped
- 9 Things You Should NEVER Flush Down The Toilet
- Sizing a Septic System
- Pump Maintenance
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Friction Loss and Water Velocity Chart
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Water Pump
- How-to Articles
- It's Sump Pump Time!
- Prevent Frozen Septic Systems in Winter
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- SJE EZ Series In-Site CL Data Logging Control Panel
- SJE-Rhombus EZ Series In-Site CL Control Panel (video)
- Why Homeowners Need a Battery-Powered Backup Sump Pump System
- Flood Buzz Pro - Leak Alarm (video)
- Septic Systems, Beneficial Bacteria and Pro Pump FAQ
- NEW Water Pump from Shinmaywa
- Inside the Shinmaywa Pump
- Leader BVP Heavy Duty Solids Handling Pump
- Little Giant Grinder Pump (video)
- Red Lion Gas Powered Pumps
- Premier Plastics Vertical Water Tanks, Septic Tanks and Pump Out Chambers
- Swimming Pools
- General Information
- Swimming Pool FAQ
- Common Misconceptions about Pool & Spa Care
- Chemical Dosage Charts for Swimming Pools
- Chlorine vs. Bromine
- What is Over Stabilization in a Swimming Pool or Spa
- Pool and Spa Water Conservation Tips
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Friction Loss of Common Pool System Components
- Friction Loss and Water Velocity Chart
- Chemical Resistance Charts
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Water Pump
- How-to Articles
- Testing Your Swimming Pool Water
- What is pH level or balance - Swimming Pool Maintenance
- What is Total Alkalinity - Swimming Pool Maintenance
- Water Hardness / Calcium Hardness - Swimming Pools
- What to do when cloudy swimming pool water strikes
- Salt Dosage Chart for Swimming Pools
- Spring & Summer Pool Opening Tips
- Closing Your Swimming Pool for the Winter (Winterizing)
- How To Estimate the Total Volume of a Pool or Pond
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- The NEW but Original - Jacuzzi!
- Dolphin Supreme M400
- The NEW but Original - Jacuzzi!
- Aqua Finesse - Simple Pool Water Care
- Hayward H-Series Natural Gas Heater with Electronic Ignition
- Heatsavr - The Liquid Pool Cover (video)
- Our Best Pond or Pool Net - Pond Shark Pro
- Water Features
- General Information
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Pump Maintenance
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Water Pump
- Friction Loss and Water Velocity Chart
- Warming Trends Mini Catalogue
- How-to Articles
- Everything Needed To Build a Water Garden
- Eco-Rise Installation Diagram
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Water Treatment
- General Information
- Boil Water Advisory Information
- POE (Point-of-Entry) vs POU (Point-of-Use) Water Filtration Systems
- How Does Ultraviolet Water Treatment Work?
- UV (ultraviolet) Water Disinfection FAQ
- UV Dosage Chart
- Tap Water Filtration
- Under the Sink Filtration Installation Diagram
- Well Water Testing
- Should I disinfect or chlorinate my well?
- Hard Water vs Soft Water
- Why does my hot water smell like rotten eggs?
- What are Tannins in my Groundwater
- Water Conditioning Basics - Water Analysis
- Top 5 Contaminants That You Can Remove From Drinking Water
- What You Need to Know About Lead In Your Water
- Water Conditioning Basics - Sizing Parameters
- Water Conditioning Basics - The Hydrologic Cycle
- Water Conditioning Basics - Guidelines for Solving Water Problems
- Cysts in Water Supply: Treating Water Born Disease Causing Protozoa
- Pump Maintenance
- Victoria Water History
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Chemical Resistance Charts
- Light Recycling Program Information
- How-to Articles
- ECOMIX (Video)
- Reverse Osmosis Installation Diagram
- How Water Softening Works
- How To Clean, Replace and Reset My Trojan UV MAX System
- How to Reset Your UV Dynamics After Replacing the Lamp
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- SWIFT Refrigerator Filters - New Product Line
- UV Dynamics - Ultraviolet Disinfection Systems
- Stenner - Proportional Chemical Feed System
- Flood Buzz Pro - Leak Alarm (video)
- Wells & Groundwater
- General Information
- What is Ground Water (Video)
- Groundwater FAQ
- Well Water Testing
- Constant Pressure Systems for Low or Fluctuating Water Pressure
- Top 5 Cause of Low Water Pressure
- What's In Your Well?
- Victoria Water History
- Water Conservation Tips
- Understanding Drought Levels and Water Restrictions
- Pump Maintenance
- Uniseal - Innovative Pipe Penetration Seals
- Bulk Tubing and Hose
- Friction Loss and Water Velocity Chart
- Filter Screen Mesh to Micron Conversion Chart
- Well Decommissioning
- Well Protection & Groundwater Stewardship
- Groundwater Protection Act - British Columbia
- Licensing Groundwater Users - British Columbia
- Water Sustainability Act - British Columbia
- Why A Submersible Motor Costs What It Does
- Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) - Water Pump
- Choose the Right Pump by Calculating Total Dynamic Head
- Water Systems Glossary
- Unit Conversion Chart
- How-to Articles
- Managing Your Well During a Drought or Dry Spell
- Servicing a Water Pressure Tank
- Winterizing Your Water Well System
- #1 Cause of Pump Failure
- What are Tannins in my Groundwater
- Franklin Electric Jet Pump Motors (video)
- PVC Installation Tips: How to Glue PVC Pipe
- Thread Sealants - Teflon Tape or Paste?
- Product Info
- Franklin Electric Inline 400 Pressure Boosting System by Franklin Electric
- Franklin Electric 3200 Series Groundwater Pumps
- Red Lion Gas Powered Pumps
- Franklin Electric Vertical Multi-stage Pumps
- New Franklin Electric Connect App
- Franklin Electric AIM Manual
Friday, May 20. 2016
Water gardens will enhance any yard or garden. It adds a “natural” beauty and tranquility to your outdoor area - not to mention the relaxing, soothing sounds of streams and waterfalls. But owning a pond is also beneficial for the environment. To learn about this environment benefits, click here: Pond Benefits
All water gardens are unique in their own way, meaning the components used will vary depending on the type/style of water garden you wish to build. This list gives you an over-view of what's "under the hood" in most water gardens.
Here is a list of components needed to build a Water Garden:
1. Pond Liner
At the heart of thousands of decorative home water features are Firestone PondGard Rubber Liners. Combining flexibility and ease of installation with lasting durability.
- Simple to install and repair – no special tools needed.
- Safe for fish and plant life.
- UV, weather and algae resistant.
- Extreme conformability allows for endless design possibilities.
2. Pond Underlay
Underlay is a black polypropylene, nonwoven, needle-punched fabric. It may be used as a separator matt (under EPDM membrane), as a drainage filter fabric, or as a stone mat protection above the liner.
3. Pump
There are a variety of choices when it comes to selecting a pump for your water garden. This is because every pump is designed for a certain application. Some pumps will push the water very high and other pumps will pump a great deal of water but will only lift the water a few feet. Before purchasing your pump, make sure you know how high the water will pump, how far the water will pump and in the case of a stream or waterfall, how wide the water course will be. Other considerations are power consumption, cord length and warranty. Below are some popular choice for water garden pumps.
The ShinMaywa Norus submersible pump is one of the most reliable and durable pumps sold in today’s watergarden market. Because this pump is so durable and can handle 1 ¼” solids, this pump can also be used in an effluent application.
TidalWave3 Pumps are the next generation of ultra-high efficiency asynchronous pumps, with more water moved per watt than ever before!
Offering flows from 1500 to 9000 gallons per hour, these powerhouses are also remarkably compact and fit in the tightest spaces, opening up a whole new range of applications.
The TT-Series Pumps are specifically designed to be clog-resistant and hard water-tolerant, making them the perfect choice for waterfalls & filters.
- Large threaded inlet and outlet for less restriction and greater flows.
- Quarter-turn volute provides access to impeller without the use of tools.
- Heavy duty pre-filter locks in place. Large openings increase surface area and resist clogging.
- The vane hybrid impeller improves flows and passes solids easily.
- All models feature 20’ power cord and 3 year warranty.
With an AquaMax Eco Classic pump you can upgrade your pond to use the latest in pond pump motor technology, resulting in a whopping 40% reduction in energy usage over similar pumps.
And that's not all: built-in thermal overload and frost protection ensure that your AquaMax will run for years; solids-handling ability means fewer clogs and better water quality, and the included accessories allow you to setup your filter system without multiple trips to the hardware store for that "one, last fitting."
4. Waterfall Starter
Most first time pond builders will find building a stream or waterfall the trickiest part in the construction process. The waterfall starters listed below are designed to ensure that water comes out evenly and effectively. Some are quite simple and others incorporate some filtration in order to help clean the water as it enters the stream. All are available in a variety of widths and designs.
Atlantic’s Pro Series FilterFalls is a durable waterfall weird with heavy walled construction that resists warping or crushing and contains stainless steel hardware that eliminates corrosion.
These products feature innovative, practical design to minimize maintenance and callbacks, maximize pump life and time between cleanings. Built with heavy-duty materials designed to last, our Skimmer and FilterFalls are unsurpassed in the water gardening industry when it comes to durability and functionality.
Atlantic's Oasis System offers the same quality as contractor grade equipment, simplified and downsized for smaller projects."Simplified" does not mean a reduction in quality. Oasis products are specifically designed for contractors and DIY homeowners working on smaller installations that still demand the highest quality.
Create a pondless waterfall or add a small waterfall to an existing pond with this small spillway. This durable, UV resistant high impact plastic spillway is easy to disguise in your water feature. It fits 3/4" or 1” ID tubing and is compatible with your choice of pond and waterfall pump, ranging from 800 to 1250 gallons per hour.
Give any water feature a natural look with the Fiftrific Waterfall Starter. Its versatile rock bearing design neatly disguises it in any landscape, allowing only the water and natural elements to be seen.
Easily add a waterfall or stream to a new or existing water feature. With spillways ranging from 14” to 36”, all come in a retail-ready box with bulkhead, liner attachment flange, splash reduction foam, and top grate for easy camouflaging.
5. Filtration (OPTIONAL)
Pond filters are very important if you want your pond water clear and healthy. If you plan on introducing fish to your pond, then good filtration is essential. However, pond filtration systems are optional if you don't mind the water conditions fluctuating throughout the seasons or cleaning the inevitable blanket weed, muck. Below are some popular choices for pond filtration.
Compact pressure filter with built-in UV clarifier and cleaning mechanism for small to medium ponds. The BioPress UVC pressure filter incorporates a handle that allows you to compress the filter pads clearing the debris without opening the lid.
BioSmart filters are packed with features and filtration capacity. The high-surface area filter foams provide exceptional biological filtration capability with respect to size of the filter.
The unique design of the water flow through the filter collects debris at the filter bottom and reduces clogging of the foams. Any clogged-up foams can easily be freed up via the built-in cleaning mechanism, so there is no need to remove (and possibly damage) the filter foam from their mounts. It also makes filter maintenance fast and neat.
The FiltoClear pressure filter is a compact all-in-one pond filtration system with the fastest and most convenient cleaning mechanism on the market. The FiltoClear system includes a built-in UV Clarifier with bypass for optimal efficiency at low power usage. The built-in cleaning mechanism makes filter maintenance possible in a matter of minutes. FiltoClear systems can be installed unobtrusively by burying up to 2/3 of the filter below ground.
6. UV Clarifier
A properly sized UV will kill water borne algae resulting in clear water. The UV is sized to the volume of your pond or water garden never to the pump. Bulbs will need to be replaced once and a year and they should be removed in the winter. Below are the UV’s we stock.
Bitron C is the newest revolution among UV Clarifiers with the highest level of efficiency thanks to an even longer water dwell time (time in which the water is in contact with UV light). Irradiation times are regulated automatically and thus energy costs are reduced by as much as 50%.
The Bitron C becomes one of the most efficient UVC reactors in controlling algae and bacteria, through a combination of strong features, such as irradiation capacity, water dwell time and thorough mixing.
This compact design allows for easy installation. The quick-lock ballast head makes changing the UV bulb a breeze. UV operation can be safely monitored through the included large aperture viewer. Vitronic becomes a modular part of the filter system, with no extra plumbing needed. The clarifier simply hooks onto the filter box with all accessories included.
7. Tube, Parts & Tools
We maintain a large inventory of flexible pvc pipe, vinyl tubing, non-kink hose, suction hose, lay-flat hose and non-toxic pvc braided hose.
8. The Skimmer (OPTIONAL)
Skimmers are listed as optional as they should only be used in installations where there are a lot of trees or large shrubs. Skimmers are designed to remove leaves, sticks, needles etc. from the surface of the pond before they sink to the bottom. This prevents the buildup of muck at the bottom of the water garden over time and muck causes algae! There are several sizes and designs listed below.
The SwimSkim floating in-pond skimmer is the ideal addition or retrofit to any pond. In addition to removing leaves and dust from the water surface, the SwimSkim also improves water quality by increasing water circulation and air injection.
SwimSkim can be installed in existing pond without modification or cutting the liner. It automatically adjust to varying water levels.
9. Lighting (OPTIONAL)
Light is one of the most important elements in your homes landscape. At Van Isle Water, we carry a wide selection of LED & Halogen fixtures, submersible lights, bulbs, transformers & accessories.