Hey Rick,

two words; float valve. I think that's what they're called. Might be worth the trouble to set up.

cheers,

Sean

Another two words: Mentos and Coke! :)

Forget the pump and retro fit it for a 2 liter coke bottle...this is pretty cool...

Here is a link that might be useful: Mentos and Coke Fountain

lazydaisy - great site! I think this forum needs a warning label. I can't stay away.... afraid I will miss something. I have 30 minutes before I have to have a floor ready to grout and I am sitting here watching diet coke shoot out of bottles.
Thanks,
Laura

uhhh, Rick. Have you seen the waterfall thread strawdog just started? I think you would like one of these waterfalls somewhere on your property!
Laura

Hi,Laura.Our house is surrounded by bluffs,hence our name,for those who have checked about our website.We can do anything from a 10 foot waterfall to about 50 feet in height,with power at hand.
BTW,the name for our place came to me in a dream,a week BEFORE we saw the site.My wife and her daughter can confirm that i spoke to them over dinner saying that we would buy this property and name it...,sorry,folks,the Village people would be on my butt for mentioning ....Wait a minute,did I just say "the Village people?"Oh,macho,macho,man!
Cheers from out here

Hi Rick,

From experience I feel that it is VERY likely that your water loss is not a result of evaporation. The dimensions that you desribed and the amount of water lost almost certainly point towards your structure not being completely waterproof.

Could you tell a little more about how you built it and I may be able to provide you with a starting point for your DYE test to locate the leak.

You can also add a chemical that coats the surface of the water to further reduce evaporation from most any pool supply store, but as I say 4" is a HUGE water loss - even with a 800 square foot surface area with temps over 30 degrees every day you would only expect 1/2" to 2" of evaporation in a week.

Also, you definately need to protect all of your pumps - I recommend using a simple flow meter that can be installed in series with the main suction line on your pump very easily. If the flow rate stops, or even if the suction line gets plugged with debris the pump will shut down.

Let me know your thoughts.

Steve-thanks for responding.
The structure is shown on our website;essentially,the water flows from the 16 inch deep reservoir,up approximately 30 inches,into a ball,then spills out back into the reservoir.The actual ball and pedestal assembly would have no impact on water loss.I feel that it's either in the splashing,or else I've got a hole in the pondliner,which is weird because it(the reservoir)held up all winter,was damn near full when I put the pedestal and ball assembly on top of the reservoir.
Not a big issue,given the volume I have to replace.Oh,I was also running a pond size multi-headed mister as well!I've shut that off during the heat.
Cheers and thanks

so Rick - how goes the planning of waterfalls all over your bluffs??
Laura

Uh,slowly...We have a craft show in mid-August that I'm getting product ready for,I'm the current president of our local Rotary,And we are WAY busy with B&B guests,booked fairly solid to mid-July,then fairly solid to September.All right,deep breath,relax(HA!)and think about..oh,yeah,I'm also the manager of a local dragon boat team.
But,when all is said and done,I wouldn't trade my life away for anything else!

As for the waterfall,I have a godson coming to visit in a few days,and I need a "few" rocks moved around to create the basin for the falls,so...he'll love helping!
Cheers from here