Atlantic PS3900 User Manual

Skimmer Part No. PS3900
FilterFalls Part No. BF1600
Pump Vault Part No. PV1700
FastFalls Part No. SP1600

Instruction

Manual

1-877-80-PONDS

www.atlanticwatergardens.com

Table of Contents

Product Overview Page 3

WATER GARDENS

Determining Pond Volume Page 4
Determining Surface Area Page 4
Streambed Construction Page 5
Placement of FilterFalls and Skimmer Page 5

SKIMMER INSTALLATION

Excavating and Setting the PS3900 Page 6
Attaching the Liner Page 6
Attaching the Weir Door Page 7
Plumbing the PS3900 Page 8

FILTERFALLS INSTALLATION

Bulkhead Installation Page 8
Setting the BF1600 Page 8
Liner Attachment Page 9

POND-FREE

Eco-Blox vs. Gravel Page 10
Streambed Volume Page 10
Basin Volume Page 10

PUMP VAULT INSTALLATION

Excavating and setting the PV1700 (Waterfall) Page 11
Plumbing the PV1700 (Waterfall) Page 11
Excavating and setting the PV1700 (Fountain) Page 12
Plumbing the PV1700 (Fountain) Page 12

FASTFALLS INSTALLATION

Setting the SP1600 Page 13
Liner and Plumbing Attachment Page 13
Hiding the SP1600 Page 14

SKIMMER / PUMP VAULT ACCESSORIES

Triton Check Valve Page 15
AF1000 AutoFill Kit Page 16
Skimmer Overflow Page 16

This manual contains basic construction techniques and installation
instructions for Atlantic Oasis Series Pond and Pond-Free products.
For more in-depth information regarding water feature construction,
techniques and maintenance, please visit:

www.atlanticwatergardens.com/university/awguniversity.html

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FilterFalls
BF1600

Skimmer
PS3900

Removable
top grate

Support bar

Media bag

Dual Bio-Tech
filter mats

Bottom grate

Solid lip and
molded inserts

One-piece
liner attachment
flange

1½” heavy-duty bulkhead

Pump Vault
PV1700

Sturdy inset lid

High density
polyethylene
enclosure

removable lid

Support bar

Matala®

filter mat

Stainless steel
framed debris

High density

polyethylene

enclosure

Cut-off step

fittings for

1-1/2” or

2” pipe

Super Flow weir

FastFalls
SP1600

Sturdy

net

door

One-piece design
eliminates any leak
due to ‘over pumping’

Internal baffles add
strength and diffuse
water flow

back

Recessed pockets
accept Triton
3-Way Diverter

Flat front panel
aids with Eco-Blox
installations

Cut-off step
fittings for 1 ½”
or 2” pipe

back

Installed 1 ½” FIPT
Spinweld® fitting

Liner flange and
molded inserts
ensure a secure
liner attachment

Raised front radius
retains natural
camouflage

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Water Gardens

POND VOLUME

It is important to calculate the estimated water volume before you begin construction,
and then re-calculate final water volume when your project is completed. Estimating
water volume pre-construction is a step that is often skipped by many homeowners
and contractors. A water garden with undersized filtration can prove to be a
maintenance nightmare.

Oasis Skimmer and FilterFalls can accomodate flow rates up to 3900 GPH
and filter ponds up to 1500 gallons in volume.

TO DETERMINE POND VOLUME
Multiply (in feet) the average length x the average width x the average depth to find

cubic feet of pond volume. Multiply cubic feet x 7.48 = gallons

Figure 1.

LENGTH

DEPTH

WIDTH

SURFACE AREA

When using any pond skimmer it is important to keep the surface area (in square feet)
of the pond in mind. Upon start-up, the pump sends water from the bottom reservoir to
the top of the waterfall and/or streambed. The water must then fill, from top to bottom,
the waterfalls and streambed until it eventually re-enters the pond and the water levels
equalize. During water in transition process, the water level of the bottom reservoir is
continually dropping. If the streambed is built improperly, or is built too big, the water level
of the bottom reservoir could drop below the opening in the skimmer before the water
levels equalize. This would result in the pump running dry and starving for water.
This situation can be easily avoided by using the formula provided to calculate the surface
area of your pond. With that number, you can then determine the maximum surface area of
waterfalls and streambed that your pond can accomodate.

TO DETERMINE SURFACE FOOTAGE

Multiply (in feet) the average length x the average width = total square feet of the
pond surface area. Multiply the surface area of the pond x .5 = maximum surface
area for falls

Figure 2.

10’

3’3”

5’

8’

10’ x 5’ = 50sq ft pond surface area
50sq ft x .5 = 25sq ft stream surface area

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STREAMBED CONSTRUCTION

Using proper streambed construction techniques can limit the transitional water needed
to fill the streambed and enables the system to function optimally. Transitional water is
determined by the height that the weir rock extends above the liner at the spillway
opening. Maintaining the shortest distance possible between the top of the weir rock and
the liner is a crucial component to a properly functioning water garden. Figure 3 displays
two examples of proper construction techniques for minimal transitional water.

Figure 3.

Top of water

Top of liner

Top of water

Top of liner

Transitional Water

Transitional Water

Figure 4 is an example of improper streambed construction. Stone, gravel and foam
can be combined to make a barrier and create a waterfall, but that barrier will never be
watertight. When the pump is turned off, the water will always drain down to the highest
point of the liner. Improper construction greatly increases the water in transition.

Figure 4.

Top of water

Transitional

Water

Top of liner

PLACEMENT OF THE FILTERFALLS AND SKIMMER

Now that you have determined the size of the pond, waterfalls and filter system, it is time
to determine the placement of the components.
Whenever possible, it is best to position the Skimmer and FilterFalls directly across from
each other at opposite ends of the pond. This setup creates a current that pulls surface
debris into the Skimmer. If the Skimmer and FilterFalls are placed too close together, or the
pond has an unusual shape, dead areas can occur. These dead areas can be eliminated with
the use of multiple falls or multiple skimmers.

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