Stream and pond

Hi all,
I had an idea whilst looking at one of those solar pump water feature things, where you have a couple of little waterfalls then the water returns up to the top again - you know the type of thing... anyway, I wondered if it would be possible to extend that return facility to around 15 metres? I wondered if it would be possible to dig a small stream in the garden at the back - only 30-50cm wide - culminating in a wildlife pond at the end, where the water would constantly flow in and return. I suppose the hose to, and from, the pond would have to be buried in the bed of the stream and covered with gravel or some such thing, and the end of the hose that was in the pond that would return the water would have to have filters etc on it - I wouldn't want to suck up any wee creatures. Is that a thing? Is it a recognised thing that someone has done before that I could look at? I could have a wee waterfall - there is a step in the garden - and maybe a small shallow pond halfway down...
What does the panel think?

 

Hi,

Yes it all doable but you will need some good advice and planning.

Would suggest putting the return pipe in its own separate conduit rather than in the actual stream as you may want to change its course at some point, plus you may want to access the pipe for cleaning.

The return pump is where you need to get the right advice as both the height and distance will affect the power of the pump rquired, which will need to be a lot stronger than any of the solar pumps.

You might want to look back at the BBC2 Beechgrove gardening programs over the last few weeks where they featured a Japannees garden and one visit was just about the stream.

 

The Beechgrove Garden! Haven't seen that for many years! Jim and George and a smashin wee tune! I'm amazed it's still going! I'll have a look for it.
Yeah, I did think there may be an issue with how much oomph a wee solar pump would have... I'll take a look around :D

 

We made a rock garden with a stream and a pond many years ago. It was a huge undertaking and TBH it was totally out of scale for a suburban garden! However I looked into stream flow in detail, and there are 2 factors - the rate and the height. The larger the drop, the more energy it takes. Same for flow rate. You need to decide on what drop in level you need, and read up on pump capability. We used an electric pump (wired in by electrician). I'm not sure how big a solar panel you'd need to work it - but it's probably enormous!

 

When looking at return /stream pumps do not be fooled by the Maximum Flow Rates at they are at a height of Zero, as the height Increases the flow rate Decreases, as per this example chart.
AquaMax Eco Classic 2500E - The Pond People

To have a reasonable flow down a 30-50cm wide stream you will need a high volume /flow rate of water.
Be best to build a short test section of the stream out of some plastic sheet and some buckets/tubs to simulate things and get some idea of the flow rate needed to look realistic, then calculated with the envisaged height needed, but then double that figure to account for the filter unit and return pipe dirt build up etc.

 

If you buy the DVD set of Geoff Hamilton's Cottage, Ornamental Kitchen and Paradise Garden series (Amazon have it for £10.95) you get a freebie with exerts from old GW programmes which includes how to build a stream and pond feature from A to Z - design, slope, levels, liner, pumps, edges, waterfalls and plants.

Watch it a few times and then design your own to fit your plot.

The Japanese garden lady on Beechgrove is good and shows how to use stones to regulate the flow and sound of water in the stream part but not enough detail on design and build. Great garden tho so worth watching.

 

There will be some good ideas on utube.