Aquascape Pro Signature BioFalls 2500 Instructions for use

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Signature Series™
BioFalls®Filter
Waterfall Filter
Ideal for Ponds
up to:
2,500 gallons
(Signature Series™2500)
– or –
6,000 gallons
(Signature Series™6000)
For Models:
•Item #09020
#29319
#29384
INSTRUCTIONS & MAINTENANCE

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Thank you for choosing the Signature
Series™BioFalls®Filter. At Aquascape our goal
is to provide our customers with the best valued
products in water gardening. We hope you
enjoy your purchase and thank you for choosing
Aquascape.
Your Paradise. Our Passion.®
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction …………………………………………… 2
Contents ……………………………………………… 3
Recommended Tools ………………………………… 3
Installation ……………………………………………… 4
General Maintenance ……………………………… 10
Warranty Information ……………………………… 10
Aquascape professional-grade BioFalls®Filters provide the
most filtration and highest water flows in the market. Durable
rotational-molded polyethylene ensures maximum strength,
and withstands whatever Mother Nature can dish out. All
Aquascape BioFalls®Filters include a lifetime warranty!
Signature Series™
BioFalls®Filter

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1
6
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No. Description
1. (1) Signature Series™
BioFalls®Filter
2. (1) Reversible Waterfall Lip
3. (16) Brass Screws
4. (1) Filter Support Rack
5. (2) Filter Mats
6. (1) Rock Tray
7. (2) Bulkhead Fitting
8. (1) Waterfall Stone (available
for 2500 series only)
Contents
CONTENTS
RECOMMENDED TOOLS
Wheelbarrow Friends
(optional)
Bright Colored
Spray Paint
Screwdrivers Soil Tamper Shovels
Carpenters
Level
Channel
Locks
Scissors

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• Now it’s time to position the BioFalls®Filter in the desired location.
The BioFalls®Filter should be set at, or slightly below, the grade of
the yard. Simply remove a section of sod or a few inches of soil in
order to create a firm foundation for the BioFalls®Filter to sit.
DESIGN TIP -Keep the waterfall to the scale of the
yard! The goal should be to create the perception that
Mother Nature has installed the waterfall. Avoid creat-
ing a “volcanic look” by trying to raise the BioFalls®
Filter in a flat backyard.
• Be sure to compact the area beneath the BioFalls®Filter box us-
ing a hand tamper or some other
heavy flat object that can be
pounded onto the soil. This will
help prevent any future settling.
• Use a 2' bubble level in order to
make sure your BioFalls®Filter is
properly set into position. Your
BioFalls®Filter should be level
from side-to-side and tilt forward
at 1/4 of a bubble on a 2' level.
This will make sure the water
comes over the front of the Bio-
Falls®Filter and covers the entire spillway.
Bulkhead
Adapter
Nut
Plastic
Washer
Flex
PVC
Rubber Gasket
Bulkhead
STEP 1
PLACE BIOFALLS® FILTER
• If starting a new pond the BioFalls®filter will be used to
create your waterfall and should be positioned so it’s facing
a main viewing area.
• Make sure it is placed close
to the edge of the pond so
you can connect the pond
liner to the BioFalls®filter.
• If you are using the BioFalls®
filter on an existing pond,
you will need an extra piece
of liner approximately 4’ x
6’. The extra liner should be long enough to attach to the
BioFalls®lip and have plenty left to hang over the side of
the pond to prevent water loss.
• If you are using the BioFalls® in conjunction with a skimmer.
We recommend the BioFalls® be placed directly across the
length of the pond from the Skimmer.
STEP 2
HOOK UP AND LEVEL BIOFALLS®
• Install the two bulkheads into the back of the Signature Series™
BioFalls®Filter. The filter has two openings on the back allowing
several plumbing options.
1. For single pump applications attach one pump plumbing
line into one bulkhead and utilize the plug in the other. Use
the angle of the bulkheads to your advantage by using the
bulkhead that works best with the direction and sweep of the
plumbing coming from the pump.
2. For double pump applications, attach each pump plumbing
line into a bulkhead.
• Optional Drain Kit – The Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter is
available with an optional drain kit. The drain kit is attached to
the second bulkhead on single pump applications. The drain kit
allows the ability to conduct water changes and makes annual
cleaning of the filter easier. (See Installing the Drain Kit section on page 5.)
• Install the bulkhead fitting in the hole provided in the back of the
BioFalls®Filter. The rubber washer should be located on the
inside of the BioFalls®Filter. Tighten the nut on the outside until
the rubber washer begins to bulge. This should only be approxi-
mately 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. So, in other words, turn
the nut counterclockwise to tighten! (See Ex. 1 & 2.)
• Install the PVC slip fitting into the desired bulkhead to receive the
pump plumbing. The PVC plug fitting provided can be installed in
the 2nd bulkhead fitting if it is not going to be utilized. Use some
of the silicone sealant or teflon tape (not included) to coat the
threads of the fittings in order to help provide a watertight seal.
Ex. 1
Ex. 2

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INSTALLING THE DRAIN KIT: (OPTIONAL)
1. Prime and glue a stub of PVC Flex Pipe into the fitting on one
of the bulkheads.
2. Prime and glue the ball valve.
3. Attach to the other end of the PVC Flex Pipe.
4. Prime and glue the desired length of PVC Flex Pipe into the
other side of the ball valve and run the pipe to the desired
location to discharge the water when performing water
changes or flushing out the BioFalls®Filter
while cleaning (4).
5. Prime and glue all of the gray valve fittings
and 24" of pipe onto the top of the valve (5).
NOTE: The pipe can be cut down to the desired length
once all of the soil is built up around the filter.
STEP 3
ATTACH LINER TO BIOFALLS® FILTER
There are two options when attaching the lip for the Sig-
nature Series™BioFalls®Filter:
1. The reversible waterfall lip can be attached facing outward.
This method is recommended for first- time installers provid-
ing a solid ledge cantilevering off the front of the BioFalls®
Filter to build the waterfall spillway (see Ex. 3).
2. The reversible
waterfall lip can also
be attached facing
inward. This method
allows more creativ-
ity when construct-
ing the waterfalls, al-
lowing the designer
a flat unobstructed
BioFalls®Filter face
for placing large
boulders on the left
and right side of the
unit (see Ex. 4).
INSTALLING THE
BIOFALLS® FILTER WATERFALL LIP:
• Prior to installing the waterfall lip make sure the face of the
BioFalls®Filter and liner is clean and free of dust and debris.
Use a damp towel to clean both surfaces.
• Hold the liner up against the face of the BioFalls®Filter, cover-
ing the U-shape spillway opening. Be sure to leave slack at
the base of the filter to avoid stretching the liner when rocks
are stacked to build the waterfalls. (continued on pg. 6)
1 2
4
3
5
STEP 2 CONT...
HOOK UP AND LEVEL BIOFALLS®
ATTACHING FLEXIBLE PVC PIPE
• The filter is now ready for
the flexible PVC to be glued
into place using PVC cement
specified for use with flexible
piping.
• Prime the inside of the PVC fit-
ting and the outside of the pipe
where the flexible PVC cement
will be applied.
• After priming, apply the cement
to the fitting and the PVC pipe
and fit the two pieces together.
• Hold the pipe into the fitting for at least 60 seconds to
allow the glue to slightly set.
• Wait 10 - 15 minutes to let the glue completely set before you
begin to bury the filter.
• Before you start to backfill around the filter, install the support
racks. Otherwise, you may not be able to get it in place. Refer to
Signature Series™ contents diagram on page 3.
• We also recommend having someone stand inside the filter to
keep it in place and level while it’s being backfilled.
• The excavated soil from the pond can be backfilled around the
sides and back of the BioFalls®Filter, creating a berm. Tamp the
soil while backfilling in order to reduce settling. Any additional soil
can be spread around the far side of the pond in order to create a
planting bed for perennials and annuals.
NOTE: If installing into an existing pond. You may need to bring in extra
dirt to backfill and create a berm around the BioFalls
®
• Double-check to make sure the BioFalls®Filter is still level after
installing the plumbing.
Ex. 3 The reversible waterfall lip attached facing
outward
Ex. 4 The reversible waterfall lip attached facing
inward

RockRock
2 feet
LinerLiner
2 feet
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Ex. 6
Ex. 8
Ex. 7
Ex. 9
STEP 4
INSTALLING THE FILTER PADS AND MEDIA
BAGS
The filter mats provided with the Signature Se-
ries™BioFalls®Filter are high surface area (HSA)
mats containing 50% more surface area than
normal filter mats, thereby allowing a greater
surface area for beneficial bacteria to colonize
and help clean the water. The mats are simply
set on top of the filter support rack. Media bags and BioBalls™are
provided for additional filtration substrate. Fill the media bags with
BioBalls™ and spread out over the surface of the filter mat.
NOTE: Overfilling media bags will prevent them from spreading out over the
filter mats and will cause interference with the rock rack.
1. Media net (BioBalls™ sold
separately)
2. Two Poly-Flo ESA biological
Filter Mats provide 50%
more surface area than
traditional filter mats
1
2
STEP 5
BUILD THE WATERFALL
• Place two larger boulders on either side of the waterfall you are
creating in order to “frame” the waterfalls. The water will be run-
ning between the two larger boulders you’ve set in place
(see Ex. 10).
• You can now begin to stack the rocks between the two larger
boulders. These are the rocks that the water will be running over,
so take your time and be creative. Start with the larger rocks on the
bottom and work your way up to the smaller ones on top.
Ex. 5
STEP 3 CONT...
ATTACH LINER TO BIOFALLS® FILTER
• Temporarily install the waterfall
lip and liner to the BioFalls®
Filter loosely with the two top
corner screws and one center
screw below the waterfall lip.
Using an awl or nail, poke the
first hole through the waterfall
lip and liner penetrating into the
corresponding threaded insert
on the BioFalls®Filter. (see Ex.
5) Remove the awl or nail while
holding the waterfall lip and liner
in place, and begin threading
one of the screws into the filter
(see Ex. 6). Repeat this process
for the screw on the opposite
side. When installing the water-
fall lip inward we recommend in-
stalling a third temporary screw
at the center– most screw hole
along the bottom.
• Now remove the waterfall lip,
trying to keep the screws still
penetrating through the liner.
These screws will serve as your
guide when reinstalling the
waterfall lip. (see Ex. 7)
• Apply a thick bead of fish-safe
silicone sealant around the
BioFalls®Filter opening. The bead
should follow the path of the
threaded inserts. (See Ex. 8).
• Reattach the BioFalls®Filter wa-
terfall lip using the pre-installed
screws as your guide. We
recommend threading the lower
center one first when installing
the waterfall lip in the inward
direction (see Ex. 9).
Ex. 10
Before building the waterfall, you will need to do a
little preparation work. Please read the section about
Stream Construction on page 7 if you plan to create
a stream. Use QR code provided for more detailed
video instruction.
• For inward waterfall lip installation you will need to cut two
vertical slits into the liner along the left and right side of the
opening. The flap of liner can simply fall into the inside of the
BioFalls®Filter when attaching the waterfall lip.
NOTE: Ignore this step if you are installing the waterfall lip outward and
proceed to the following step.
• With all temporary screws secured back into position, you may
now punch the remaining screw holes with the awl or nail and
thread in the remaining screws.
• Outward waterfall lip position will require the liner to be trimmed
back at this point.
• Let dry for at least one hour before introducing water!

Ex. 11 If using a natural rock for your waterfall lip,
make sure that it is fairly thin. (no more than
3/4")
3/4”
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• Small stones and gravel can be used to fill the gaps between the
larger waterfalls stones. (See Ex. 11)
• The BioFalls®Filter is designed with a plastic lip for the water
to cascade off. You can use the BioFalls®Filter plastic waterfall
stone or even piece(s) of thin (no more than 3/4” thick) natural
slate (see Ex. 13). This stone can be attached to the BioFalls®
Filter using Black Waterfall Foam. The Black Waterfall Foam will
come in handy when filling other gaps between the stones that
water is flowing over. The foam keeps the water flowing over the
top of the waterfall stones. Without the Black Waterfall Foam,
you will lose some of the impact of your waterfall as water travels
beneath the rocks.
ROCK TRAY
• The Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter comes with an upper sup-
port rack that also serves as an easy way to help disguise the
filter into the landscape using small boulders, aquatic plants, and
gravel. Arrange the stones, gravel, and plants in the rack in such
a way as to hide the back and top of the filter.
• The rack sits in the upper portion of the BioFalls®Filter. The filter
mats can be removed for annual cleaning through the wider
opening at the front of the rack.
STEP 6
BUILDING A STREAM (OPTIONAL)
• Placing the BioFalls®Filter away from the edge of the pond is
always a good idea. This allows the creation of a meander-
ing stream to add a touch of nature to your water garden.
• We typically place the BioFalls®Filter 6 to 10 feet from the
edge of the pond. Twisting and turning the stream makes
it look more natural and will require a minimum 10’ x 15’
piece of liner (see Ex. 12).
•The typical width of a stream should be between 2 - 4 feet
wide. Vary the width of the stream throughout to mimic
what would occur in nature (see Ex. 13).
• Excavate the stream to a depth of 6 inches to 1 foot. Vary
the depth in the corners and in smaller pools along the run
of the stream to allow water to pool in those areas.
• If your stream is being built on a slope, you will need to cre-
ate a few waterfalls in it. To hold the water back when the
pump is shut off, you need to build a dam at each waterfall.
(See Ex. 14 a,b,c)
• To make the stream look more natural, you should place
some larger boulders into it. To make this work properly,
excavate the area where the rock will be placed a few
inches deeper. This will allow the rock to sit into the bottom
of the stream, not just on the streambed.
• Once you have the stream excavated, you can place the
liner into it.
• Where the liner overlaps the pond, you will not need to
seam the liners together as long as you have a 6-inch wa-
terfall or higher. Simply overlap the stream liner over the top
of the pond liner.
• Place rocks of varying sizes around the perimeter of the
stream. During excavation of the stream, you dug a few
areas where larger rocks will go. Put some of the Black
Waterfall Foam into these divots and place the rocks on
top. The foam will allow the water to be diverted around
and over the rocks instead of underneath them.

thin stone,1/2"-1"little water loss
foam
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Ex. 14(a) An often overlooked part of stream construction is the thickness of your waterfall stone.
Water will eventually seep through the foam joints if the pumps are off for prolonged
periods of time. The water will slowly seep around the thick stone, resulting in water loss
equal to the thickness of the stone.
Ex. 14 (c) If your only option is a thick waterfall stone, use
the above method.
Ex. 13 Stream Bed Cross Section
Ex. 14 (b) By using a thin stone, the situation can be easily remedied.
Excavated soil from pond & stream
Flat Backyard: This is easy to work with; you may need to bring in fill material if you want a fast-moving
stream. Otherwise, create a combination of deep stream with fast upper stream.
Ex. 12
• Add topsoil to the berm
and surrounding area in
order to provide a good
substrate for future land-
scape plantings.
• The entire area may be
mulched and any plant
material installed
if necessary.
• Finish off the berm where
the BioFalls®Filter is buried
by building a small retain-
ing wall out of boulders.
This step may or may not
be needed, depending
on the size of the berm
and the transition into
the existing landscape.
6" - 1'
6" - 1'
2' - 4' (Typical) 6" - 1'
6" - 1'
little water loss
thick stone recessed into pocket
Leave 1/2" to 1"
exposed above liner
foam
great water loss thick waterfall stone
foam
4" or greater
• Plug the pump in and test
the waterfall. 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 com-
ing over the falls until you
achieve the desired effect.
STEP 7
BRING IN THE TOPSOIL
STEP 8
BUILD RETAINING WALL
STEP 9
PLUG IN AND TWEAK THE WATERFALL

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• The entire area surrounding the BioFalls®can now be
mulched and any surrounding plants added.
• With everything running, go around the perimeter of the
waterfall and stream with a pair of scissors and trim off any
excess liner (see Ex. 15),always leaving several inches above
the water level as a precaution. The remaining liner edges
can be covered with gravel (see Ex. 16).
NOTE: Do not trim the liner until the waterfall is running. Prema-
turely trimming the liner may cause leaks!
STEP 10
TRIM THE LINER
STEP 11
MULCH THE BERM
Ex. 15
Ex. 16

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For more information about our company or products, please visit our website at www.aquascapeinc.com
or call us at (US) 1-866-877-6637 (CAN) 1-866-766-3426
©2015 Aquascape, Inc. • All Worldwide Rights Reserved
Rev. 2/15
The Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter is the starting point of your waterfall. The filter mats and filter media provide a home for the
beneficial bacteria to live that help clean the pond and provide crystal clear water. The Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter is designed to
require once-a-year cleaning when used in combination with a Signature Series™Skimmer or Pondless®Waterfall Vault prefilter. These
filters ensure that large debris is filtered from the water before it reaches the Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter. The Signature Series™
BioFalls®Filter also has an optional drain kit, which allows for easier water changes and annual cleaning of the filter.
DO NOT clean the filter mats or filter media bag in the Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter more than once a year. Cleaning them, espe-
cially with chlorinated tap water, more than once-a-year will reduce or kill the beneficial bacteria growing on these filters. Replace old
filter mats after several years when they begin to tear or fall apart.
GENERAL MAINTENANCE FOR THE SIGNATURE SERIES™ BIOFALLS®FILTER
LIFETIME WARRANTY
Aquascape warrants that the Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter will be free of manufacturing defect for the lifetime of the
product if properly installed and maintained. If upon Aquascape’s inspection, the Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter shows
evidence of a manufacturing defect, Aquascape’s liability is limited, at Aquascape’s option, to the repair of the defect,
or the replacement of the defective product. There are no warranties either expressed or implied, including the implied
warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose, which extend beyond the warranties contained in this
document. Aquascape shall not be liable for any incidental, consequential or other damages arising under any
theory of law whatsoever.
WARRANTY INFORMATION
REPLACEMENT PARTS
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2
7
6
4
1
5
No. Item # Description
129283 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 2500 Rock Tray
229010 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 2500 Mat
329281 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 2500 Support Rack
429220 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 2500 Lip
530078 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 6000 Brass Screw
Set 1/4"–20 x 3/4" (8/bag x2)
554011 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 2500 Brass Screw
Set 1/4"–20 x 3/4" (13/bag)
629282 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 2500 Waterfall
Stone
729103 2" Bulkhead Fitting
729104 3" Bulkhead Fitting (Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter
6000 Only)
129316 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 6000 Rock Tray
229318 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 6000 Mat
329317 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 6000 Support Rack
429324 Signature Series™BioFalls®Filter 6000 Lip