Dirp Wall Waterfalls

drm1217 · #1 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008, 07:17 PM

Allot of people have water falls that come from their Great Stuff
backgrounds. I decided I wanted to do that aswell. I looked up on how to do it, and a site said I would have to drill a hole in the bottom, in order to put a slump and then put a whole in the back to let the water flow. That seems like allot of work. Instead I have this idea where I have the tube from the pump going up a hallow log attached to the back. I then have it going 90 degress in a piece of pvc pipe that is under the Great Stuff. It then lets the water flow down the drip wall. Will that work? Any suggestions to alternate ways to this?

froggsong · #2 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 09:31 AM

That site you were looking at is just one way to do it, and most people use a false bottom rather than a sump (I am dreaming of the day when I can install a sump for my CWD). I am having a little trouble picturing the way you want to do it (it may be because I am up waaaaay too early and can't sleep), but it seems like it should work. Before you invest too much time into it, see if you can try it out first (the basic way you want to construct it, minus GS) and see if it works, if it does set it up how you want. The thing I have noticed with water features is most people aren't entirely satisfied with how it turns out once everything is done and it is running, so just be prepared to tweak it after you are done (read: don't get everything finished after using the GS before you try out the water feature to make sure it runs/looks the way you want it to). I recently installed a drip wall/rain water feature (depending on how the pipe is angled). If that is something you might be interested in, I can post some pics for you so you can get ideas from it (it is probably not the best way out there to do what I wanted, but it was spur of the moment and working with what I had at the house. It looks nice though, except for the pipe, which is visible, but could be hidden easily if installed during construction.).

Just so you know, if you have a larger enclosure or a herp that needs very good quality water or frequent water changes, IMO a sump is the way to go, even if it is more work. You can make your own filter (that will work far better than any you can buy), that is outside of the tank and easy to access, and the more water there is, the more balanced the water quality will be. It is also much easier to have the pump and filter outside of the tank for maintenance, so you don't have to disturb your herps or bend into a tank. I haven't done it yet for my tank because of the drilling into the glass though. You need special equipment that I just don't have right now. But if you can, and you have the room for it, definitely go with the sump, IMO, you'll thank yourself later.

drm1217 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by froggsong

That site you were looking at is just one way to do it, and most people use a false bottom rather than a sump (I am dreaming of the day when I can install a sump for my CWD). I am having a little trouble picturing the way you want to do it (it may be because I am up waaaaay too early and can't sleep), but it seems like it should work. Before you invest too much time into it, see if you can try it out first (the basic way you want to construct it, minus GS) and see if it works, if it does set it up how you want. The thing I have noticed with water features is most people aren't entirely satisfied with how it turns out once everything is done and it is running, so just be prepared to tweak it after you are done (read: don't get everything finished after using the GS before you try out the water feature to make sure it runs/looks the way you want it to). I recently installed a drip wall/rain water feature (depending on how the pipe is angled). If that is something you might be interested in, I can post some pics for you so you can get ideas from it (it is probably not the best way out there to do what I wanted, but it was spur of the moment and working with what I had at the house. It looks nice though, except for the pipe, which is visible, but could be hidden easily if installed during construction.).

Just so you know, if you have a larger enclosure or a herp that needs very good quality water or frequent water changes, IMO a sump is the way to go, even if it is more work. You can make your own filter (that will work far better than any you can buy), that is outside of the tank and easy to access, and the more water there is, the more balanced the water quality will be. It is also much easier to have the pump and filter outside of the tank for maintenance, so you don't have to disturb your herps or bend into a tank. I haven't done it yet for my tank because of the drilling into the glass though. You need special equipment that I just don't have right now. But if you can, and you have the room for it, definitely go with the sump, IMO, you'll thank yourself later.

Yes I would love to c some pics of your waterfall

froggsong · #4 (**permalink**) 07-08-2008, 08:59 PM

Ok, I took some... My computer is having a hard time reading my SD card for some reason... Ok, I got it to work finally... Here they are, I hope you can tell how I have it from the pictures, if not, I did take a video, I just didn't upload it because it takes so long. I might go ahead and upload it tonight anyway. If you want me to post the video to see it better, just ask!

that one is SORTOF of the water feature, lol...

Here's the top of the pipe:

Also, the pipe is filled with carbon, that way it acts as a filter as well. Like I said earlier, if you want me to post the video too, I will.

drm1217 · #5 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 12:00 AM

Oh so it is like a rainfall emitter, or what ever the technical term is. It looks very cool, but I think I am going to do a waterfall, becuase if I put a water unit in, it will be for looks, because I have a Crested Gecko and not a frog.

froggsong · #6 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 04:24 AM

I actually intended to have the water pouring down that wall in a sheet, but my pump isn't strong enough. It looks ok like that though, and the frogs seem to like it, so I think I will leave it that way. Waterfalls are super easy to make, I'm going to do one in my next vive rebuild. I'm going to do a waterfall and a stream I think. Anyway, good luck with yours! Make sure you post some pics, ok?

Jumpshot724 · #7 (**permalink**) 07-09-2008, 09:27 PM

I'm actually going to be doing this soon. I already siliconed the back of my tank and the next step is to fill in the great stuff. I'm putting a length of plastic tubing running from a few inches above the bottom of the tank all the way to about 4 inches below the lid and covering it in the great stuff. I'm gonna be hollowing globs of the great stuff to make kind of a step waterfall back down to the water area and I'm gonna use a repti-flo pump hidden by a hollowed out rock to power this thing.

It's a 10 gallon tank that will be housing 3 FBTs who, bless their souls, have been surviving in an old hermit crab cage for the past 2 months whilst I construct (which is taking MUCH longer than anticipated due to vacations, work, etc). On the upside I've found out how tough my little guys are lol, they went 3 weeks without eating (thanks to my sister) and are still healthy as ever despite their current crappy living quarters. I can't wait to move them....