Blue Thumb Serenity User manual

Serenity
Waterfall
& Skimmer
Installation Manual

Choose Skimmer Location
The skimmer should be positioned at the pond edge,
opposite the waterfall, to circulate the water properly.
Excavation of Skimmer Area
Set skimmer box in intended area and spray outline of
skimmer for area to be excavated.
The skimmer should be positioned so that the face of the
skimmer will meet with the pond liner at the side of the
pond. Excavate the hole a few inches larger than the width
and length of the skimmer box.
The skimmer should be set at a depth that positions the
top of the skimmer box approximately 3.5” above your
desired pond water level. This will set your water level
1” below the top edge of the snout opening allowing
clearance for surface debris to ow into the skimmer
during normal operation.
Position & Backll Skimmer
Your skimmer should be level from front to back and
side to side. Make sure the base below your skimmer is
compacted well to prevent settling in the future. Slide the
mechanical media mat and black mesh net into position.
Once the skimmer is properly positioned begin lling the
soil in around the back and sides. Be sure to pack the soil
as you go to help keep the skimmer in position and to limit
any settling around the skimmer. You should pack the soil
tight enough so that the skimmer is held in position tightly
but not so much as to distort the sides of the skimmer.
1
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
INCLUDED PARTS
(1) Skimmer Box (1) Faceplate
Snout
(1) Lid
(1) Filter Mat (1) Skimmer Net
Self-Tapping
Screws & Caps
Black Silicone
Serenity Skimmer
Installation

Attach Rubber Liner to Skimmer
Bring the liner up to the skimmer and check the
positioning of the liner against the skimmer. Use
the included liner clips to temporarily hold the
liner to the face of the skimmer. Be sure the liner
follows the contours of the pond and the face of the
skimmer. It is a good idea to leave a little slack in
the liner where it transitions from the pond ledge to
the face of the skimmer. This will ensure that the
weight of any rockwork and water in the pond do
not pull down on the liner where it is attached to the
skimmer.
Kneel in front of the skimmer and have the following
within reach: cordless screwdriver (set to lowest
torque), 5/16” nut driver bit, plastic nails (included),
skimmer snout (included), silicone (included),
stainless steel self-tapping screws (included), black
vinyl screw caps (included), utility knife (with new
blade), & a clean rag.
Kneeling in front of the skimmer remove the liner
clips and fold the liner back toward you leaving it
rest on your lap. Using the clean rag wipe down the
face of the skimmer. Also, wipe the surface of the
liner that will be coming in contact with the area you
cleaned on the skimmer box.
Apply a bead of silicone along the sides and bottom
of the opening of the face of the skimmer. Use one
of the two guide holes at the top corners of the
opening as the starting point and begin by running
your bead straight down from that point. The bead of
silicone should be about an inch out from the edge
of the opening; this will position it in-line with the
screws when you attach the skimmer snout.
Bring the liner back up into position against the face
of the skimmer. Hold the liner in place again with
the liner clips to help keep it from moving around
as you prepare to attach the snout. Gently run your
ngers along the liner over the area you applied the
silicone and atten the bead out slightly. This will
help ensure a more even distribution of the silicone
as you compress it while screwing down the snout.
STEP 4

Push the guide nails through the guide holes and liner
from the inside of the skimmer (this will puncture a
small hole in the liner). Place the snout into position
by sliding the top corner holes of the snout over the
guide nails. (The snout should be installed so that the
snout door hinges at the bottom and opens into the
skimmer). While holding the snout in position remove
one of the guide nails and drive the rst screw into
that hole. Keeping the snout in position, remove the
other guide nail and drive a screw into the second
guide hole. With the snout held into position with
the rst two screws, continue driving the remaining
screws into the pre-drilled holes around the snout.
Be sure to install screws into all pre-drilled holes to
prevent water from leaking around the snout.
From inside the skimmer use your utility knife to cut
out the liner in the snout area so water can ow from
the pond into the skimmer. Simply follow the edge of
the skimmer opening with your knife to cut away liner.
This works best with a new, sharp blade.
At this time you can also trim away any excess liner
that extends above the front top edge of the skimmer
box.
Use your remaining silicone to run an additional bead
along the joint inside of the snout where the skimmer,
liner, and snout come together. Use your nger to
smooth out the excess silicone.
Install Black Screw Caps
Push the black screw caps onto each of the screw
tips on the inside of the skimmer box. We recommend
placing a small dab of silicone on the end of the screw
before pushing the black cap over the screw. This will
help keep the screw caps in place.
STEP 5

Install Submersible Pump (Not Included)
Screw your pre-assembled pump discharge
assembly into your pump.
Position your pump and discharge assembly in the
back chamber of the skimmer so that the top of the
discharge assembly faces the discharge hole.
Bring the exible pipe into the skimmer through
the discharge hole and attach it to your discharge
assembly.
Run the pump power cord over to the power source
and position the cord so that it transitions out of the
skimmer at the cord notch; this will allow the Natural
Landscape Lid to sit ush on the skimmer.
Finishing Touches
Place the Natural Landscape Lid on top of the
skimmer to disguise the skimmer within the
landscape.
Maintenance
During normal operation the skimmer net will
remove larger leaves and debris while the mat will
remove the smaller particles allowing the clean
water to ow into the pump chamber area where
it can be recirculated back to the pond, preferably
via the appropriately sized Blue Thumb Biological
Waterfall Filter. As necessary, remove the lter mat
and mesh net and clean thoroughly.
STEP 6
STEP 7
STEP 8
Blue Thumb recommends the following products for
use with their line of Mechanical Skimmer Filters:
CLEAR WATER & SOLIDS HANDLING PUMPS
MAG DRIVE & ILLUMIFLOW PUMPS
View other great Blue Thumb products on-line
at www.bluethumbponds.com.

Choose Waterfall Location
The waterfall should be positioned so that the water
owing from it enters the pond opposite the skimmer
to ensure proper water circulation. The waterfall
is best positioned so that you can view it from the
outdoor and indoor areas where you plan to enjoy
your new water feature.
You can position the waterfall right at the ponds
edge or at the top of a stream.
Assemble Waterfall Plumbing
Your Blue Thumb Serenity Waterfall Box has one
spinweld tting, located on the back side near the
bottom of the box. Thread the PVC 90 adapter
(included) into that spinweld (use Teon Tape (not
included) on the threads rst).
Position Waterfall Box
Your Blue Thumb Serenity Waterfall Box has one
spinweld tting, located on the back side near the
bottom of the box. Thread the PVC 90 adapter
(included) into that spinweld (use the Teon Tape
(not included) on the threads rst).
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
INCLUDED PARTS
(1) Waterfall Box (1) Filter Mat (1) Bacti-Twist®
Biological Media Bag
90° PVC
Fitting
Barbed Fitting
Serenity Waterfall
Installation

Hook-Up Flexible PVC Pipe
The Serenity Waterfalls are plumbed to accept 1.5”
Flexible PVC Pipe. We recommend using Flexible
PVC pipe as it is very exible and easy to work with.
Using PVC Primer & Cement, glue the ex pipe into
the PVC male adapter.
If you are using Vinyl or Kink-Free Tubing rst glue
the included Barbed tting into the PVC 90 adapter
using PVC Primer & Cement. Then attach the tubing
to the barbed end and secure with a hose clamp.
Attach Liner to Waterfall
Bring the liner up to the face of the waterfall box
and check the positioning of the liner against the
waterfall box. The liner should follow the contours
of the pond edge or stream and the face of the
waterfall box. It is a good idea to leave a little slack
in the liner where it transitions from the pond edge
or stream to the face of the waterfall box. This will
ensure that the weight of the rocks used in the
waterfalls will not pull down on the liner.
Using boulders and rockwork, begin building the
waterfall up the face of the box. Be sure to keep
the liner pinched into position against the waterfall
with the rockwork. The Serenity Waterfall has
several drip points that will not allow any water to
leak between the liner and the waterfall box when
installed properly.
Another option is to bring the liner up behind the
waterfall box so that the entire box is sitting inside
the liner.
STEP 4
STEP 5

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Install Filter Media
Position the lter mat horizontally in the bottom of
the waterfall box. The Serenity Waterfall includes
one white mat.
Place the Bact-Twist®Biological Media on top of the
white mat.
Use PondBuild ‘n Foam to ll in the gaps of the
rockwork leading up to the waterfall box. The foam
will force the water on top of the rockwork rather
than around and behind it where it can’t be seen.
This will give you a much more dramatic waterfall
display!
Step 6
Bonus Feature
For additional installation
instructions view the
PondBuild ‘n Steps DVD.
Blue Thumb recommends the following products for
use with their line of Waterfall Filters:
PONDBUILD ‘N FOAM WATERFALL FOAM
For use with:
#PB1304
#PB1151