Algreen 1800 Gallon Liner Kit Installation Guide
Our 1800 Gallon Liner Kit is easy to install with these instructions.
1. Plan Your Pond
How much space do you have to work with? Using this space accordingly, crease a plan for your water garden. It's a good idea to sketch it out on a piece of paper before doing any of the installation. Once you have this idea sketched out, using a rope, a garden hose or flour, mark the shape pond on the ground. Place the PressureFlo, the UV Clarifier, Skimmer, Bio Waterfall, and plumbing in place.
2. Excavation of Your Pond
You may decide that you want the help of some professionals and a backhoe for this part. Dig out a coping shelf (2-4 inches deep, 15 inches wide) to support the rocks that will be hiding the pond liner once the pond is installed. If you are thinking about using pond shelves for your aquatic plants, now would be the time to dig these as well. Most ponds with plant shelves have shelves that are 9-12 inches below the water's surface.
Excavate the main part of your pond so that is approximately 2 feet deep, sloping in about 20° from the edges. Make sure that all edges and shelves of the pond are level. Dig out two 16"-deep holes (at the opposite sites of the pond) in order to place the Skimmer and Bio Waterfall; dig some pockest in the pond floor for setting in aquatic plants after installation is complete. Add a small area for the UV Clarifier beside the pond - making sure that your UV Clarifier will not get wet, as this will damage the unit.
In order to create a cascading effect in your pond, carve out a 4-inch-deep basin just above the main pool, toward the waterfall area.
If you are thinking about installing a stream or a waterfall, you will need a channel for the water. A stream can be set in level ground, and only needs a 1" drop in elevation for every 10 feet in order to affect a flow from the top down to the main pond body. When excavating the stream, dig it at least 3-4 inches deep in order to accomodate the rocks lining the stream, and up to 3" of water. See Step 6 for More Details.
3. Installing the Skimmer and Bio Waterfall
Set Skimmer in hole that you previously excavated for it, making sure that the drainage hole is facing towards the pond, and that the skimmer is level. The skimmer's mouth should not be less than an inch above your intended water level.
In the hole you excavated for the Bio Waterfall, across the pond from the Skimmer, place the Bio Waterfall, making sure that it is level.
4. Lining the Pond
Place the pond underlay along the bottom of the pond in order to prevent any rocks or twigs from peircing the pond liner. Tuck in any pleats in order to keep with the shape of your pond. Cover the underlay with your pond liner. If you need to, use rocks to weight down the liner in the middle of your pond.
Try to keep the liner as fold-free as possible, in order to prevent the possibility of trapping dirt and debris in the pond.
In order to connect your skimmer to the liner, cut a rectangular hole in the liner where the sides are 1" shorter than the opening of the skimmer. Connect the hole to your skimmer, using PVC tape.
5. Adding the pumps, lights and UV Clarifier.
Place the MaxFlo into the back of the basin in the Skimmer box; into the basin beside your pond, place the UV Clarifier. Connect the output of the MaxFlo to the input of the UV Clarifier using the tubing and clamps provided. Connect the output of the UV Clarifier to the input of the Bio Waterfall Filter, which will be used to feed either the streamlet or the top tier of the pond.
The SuperFlo pump should be installed in the middle of your pond in order to keep the water circulating. Add diverter and prefered fountain head to create a small fountain in the middle of your pond. The TripleGlo underwater light should be positioned in the bottom of your pond, so that the lights are shining up onto the water fountain.
6. Build your upper tier or stream
Your Bio Waterfall will feed the top of your stream, or the top tier of your pond.
Line your stream with the pond liner, making sure that the waterfall liner overlaps the pond liner by several inches. Using the provided Seam Splice tape, seam the two liners together. Ideally, your stream should be narrow where it goes over the falls; use stones and rocks in order to make the stream go wider or narrower where you would like it to. Bring your liner up the sides of the water channel at least 12 inches.
In order to hide your liner, tuck it into the soil and then line with rocks. Test with a small amount of water, and modify as desired. Mortar the stones into place.
7. Backfill Topsoil
Backfill around the edges of your pond and watercourse, using the excess soil you removed during excavation. Partially bury the UV Clarifier and PressureFlo.
8. Build Retaining Wall (If Required)
Stack stones around your pond if your pond is not level.
9. Fill the Pond
Fill the pond with water, smoothing out any wrinkles that may appear in the liner. Cut off any excess liner, making certain that there is still enough liner to extend over the coping shelf. Anchor the liner with boulders or long nails.
10. Add Edging to your Pond
Edging helps to weight down the liner and create a natural look. It can include rocks, boulders or sod. Add this around the edge of the pond.