Blue Thumb Elite User manual

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Elite Waterfall
Installation Manual

1a
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.
STEP 1
INCLUDED PARTS
(1) Spillway
a
b
c
(1) Waterfall Box
1b
(2) Filter Mat (1) Media Bag
Self-Tapping
Screws
Black Silicone
(1) Landscape
Lid
Threaded
Plug
Male
Adapter

STEP 2
Assemble Waterfall Plumbing
Your Blue Thumb Elite Waterfall Box has two
spinweld ttings, one on each side of the
bottom of the box. Choose which side your
feed/hose line will come in and thread the PVC
male adapter into that spinweld (use the Teon
Tape (included) on the threads rst).
Thread the PVC plug into the remaining
spinweld. Use the Teon Tape (included)
on the threads rst.
If desired, you can use the second spinweld for
a second pump line or for a back-ush system.
Position Waterfall Box
Compact the area where the waterfall box will
sit to prevent future settling. The waterfall box
should sit level from side to side and should be
tilted forward slightly (about ¼ bubble on your
level) to ensure that the water ows forward
through the spillway.
Hook-Up Flexible PVC Pipe
The 14” & 22” Elite Waterfalls are plumbed
to accept 2” Flexible PVC Pipe; the 30” Elite
Waterfall is plumbed to accept either 2” or 3”
Flexible PVC Pipe; and the 40” Elite Waterfall
is plumbed to accept 3” 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.
STEP 3
3
STEP 4
4
2

5c
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. Use the liner clips
(included) to temporarily hold the liner to the
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 once it
is attached to the waterfall box.
[Have the following within reach: cordless
screwdriver, 5/16” nut driver bit, waterfall weir
(included), silicone (included), stainless steel
screws (included), utility knife (with new blade),
and a clean rag.]
Kneel in front of the waterfall box and remove
the liner clips and fold the liner back toward
you leaving it to rest on your lap. Using the
clean rag wipe down the face of the waterfall
box around the area where silicone will be
applied. Also clean the area on the liner that
will be coming in contact with the area you
cleaned on the waterfall box.
Apply a bead of silicone along the sides
and bottom of the opening on the face of the
waterfall, keeping the silicone bead centered
the entire way.
Bring the liner back up into position against
the face of the waterfall. Hold the liner in place
again with the liner clips to help keep it from
moving around as we prepare to attach the
waterfall weir. Gently run your ngers along
the liner over the area where 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 when you screw
down the weir.
5a
a
b
c
d
STEP 5
5b
5d

Bring the waterfall weir into position. The weir
has a return edge that will make it easy to
hold it against the waterfall box in the correct
position. Once in position begin driving the
stainless screws into place. Start with the top
screw on the left and right rst to hold the weir
in position. Continue driving screws into the
remaining pilot holes on the weir with your next
screw going into the middle hole on the weir.
Carefully trim out the section of liner inside of
the waterfall area to open the channel where
the water will ow through.
Use the remaining silicone to run an additional
bead along the joint where the waterfall box,
liner, and weir come together. Smooth out the
bead using your nger.
Install Filter Media
Position the lter mat(s) horizontally in the
bottom of the waterfall box. The Elite Waterfalls
include two green Matala Mats.
Fill the media bag(s) with biological media (not
included) and position on top of the lter mats.
We recommend using Bacti-Twist media in the
media bag(s). However, it is best to stand the
green Matala mats vertically in the box and
add in additional mats to ll the space (in this
case you would not use the media bags).
Pre-Cut Matala mats are available for the
14” & 22” Elite Waterfalls from your Blue
Thumb Dealer.
5e
STEP 6
5f
6a
6b
e
f
a
b

Install Landscape Lid
The Blue Thumb Landscape Lid allows you
to make the open top area of the waterfall
box disappear into the landscape. Position
the Landscape Lid on the waterfall box.
The most popular method of disguising the
waterfall box is to plant aquatic plants within
the channels of the landscape lid. Add pea
gravel to ll the rest of the channel and
landscape lid area. There are holes in the
bottom of the landscape lid that will allow
water to wick up to the root system of the
plants. Other options include hiding the
waterfall box using mulch or gravel. Adding
in some driftwood is a nice touch as well.
Seal all Gaps
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!
7a
7b STEP 8
STEP 7
8
a
b
SUGGESTED PRODUCTS
Blue Thumb recommends the following products that are compatible
with Blue Thumb Biological Waterfall Filters:
• Bact-Twist Media
• PondBuild ‘n Foam Waterfall Foam
• Additional Matala Mats

CREATIVE WAYS TO
COVER YOUR WATERFALL BOX

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When necessary remove and clean the net
and mat located in the skimmer. If the water
level, where the pump is located, is lower than
the water level in the pond than the skimmer mat
and net need to be cleaned. This typically needs
to be done every 10-14 days but will vary depending
on the amount of debris falling into the pond, sh
load, and feeding regimen.
Winter Maintenance: Remove pump in climates
that have prolonged freezing periods, then store
the pump in a bucket of water where it can not
freeze. This will help keep the pump seals from
drying out. Rinse out your media mat and net and
store for the winter.
Usually once per year you should remove the
lter media located in your waterfall box and clean
thoroughly to remove the debris that has collected
over time. This should only be done when water
temperatures are coldest or below 50 degrees.
Clean and rinse the media using water collected
from the pond when possible. Chlorinated tap water
can kill the benecial bacteria living on the media.
If you are not using the Blue Thumb Automatic
Fill Valve then you will need to occassionally
replace any evaporated water. This can be done
using a garden hose. If you are using tap water
that contains chlorine and you have sh then be
sure to add Blue Thumb’s Purify to the pond as
you add water. Add water until the water level
reaches to within 3/4” - 1” below the opening of
the skimmer box.
Reconnect your pump and re-install any media that
was removed for winter storage. It is generally a
good idea to drain the pond and clean any debris
that has accumulated out each spring.
SKIMMER MAINTENANCE
WATERFALL BOX MAINTENANCE
EVAPORATION
SPRING START-UP
For use with:
#PB1076
#PB1083
#PB1090
#PB1243