Skimming Off the Top:
Trading Reliability, Simplicity and Effectiveness For Skimmer Profits   

Pondless Waterfalls: Groundless Claims

The best way to find information on any topic is to “Google” the key word or phrase. If you want to build a pondless waterfall and are looking for expert advice, then Google “pondless” and you will find that Russell Watergardens is in the first position on the first page of 68,000 results.

Russell claims that he built the “original” pondless waterfall in 2001 “that sparked the craze across the planet.” He goes on to claim that Russell Watergardens is the marketer of “. . ."the industry’s best-built, most reliable, and longest warranted pumps." Their web site goes on to say, “Before you purchase a pump, learn what it is made of, and what is inside before you compare prices. You will find that Hydro Dynamax pumps are the best value of any pump on the market today. Better built, longer, warranty, competitive price.” Russell Watergardens even has one section of their website dedicated to slandering several national brand competitors.

This author is dedicated to exposing the lies and fabrications prevalent in the water garden industry. Russell Watergardens is a prime example of what can happen in an unregulated industry. Water Garden Authority is a consumer’s advocate, focused on exposing fraud and unprofessional business practices in the water garden industry. Note: We do not market liner kits, pumps, filters or pond chemicals, so our reporting is unbiased.

Russell Watergardens’ website and its contents are in the public domain, subject to criticism and scrutiny.

Russell admonishes his website visitors to “COMPARE BEFORE YOU BUY.” If this statement, found throughout his website, was not so pathetic, I would find it comical. Do you realize what he is asking you to compare? It is his products with similarly engineered products in a specific classification. He is comparing his Volkswagen with other Volkswagens and bragging how his has power windows and a sun roof. I’m sorry, but it is still a Volkswagen. Why doesn’t he compare his Volkswagen with a Cadillac or Lexus? 

Russell makes spurious comments about his products being "the industries best built, most reliable, longest warranted. . ." compared to what? Definitely not compared to the quality, truly high-efficient, best warranted product available. Let us do what Russell suggests – “Compare before we buy”:

Sequence 7200 PRM 23  compared to the Russell Centimax HR-075

Sequence ½ HP (1/3 less HP) compared to Russell ¾ HP (1/3 more HP)

Sequence 539 watts (1/3 less power use) compared to Russell 750 watts (1/3 more power use)

Sequence 7200 gph (2,100 gph more) compared to Russell 5100 gph (2,1000 gph less)

Sequence 3 yr warranty (1/3 more) compared to Russell 2 yr. warranty (1/3 less)

Note: Sequence is not the only one that out performs all of Russell's pumps. Take a wild guess at where Russell Watergarden's sump pumps are manufactured and it is not the USA! Here is a hint: "Google" China or Child Labor or Cheap

Russell obviously does not really want you to compare before you buy. He claims that he built the first pondless waterfall in 2001. I need not research this claim to determine its accuracy.

First of all, I personally built a pondless waterfall in Fallbrook, California, in 1983, which was published in one newspaper and two magazines. And in the past 24 years I have designed and built over 200 pondless waterfalls. Do I claim to have built the very first one? Absolutely not! Until someone comes forward, how would I know? Besides, the pondless concept is not a great revelation or new idea.

In fact, Mother Nature built the first pondless waterfall and they have been around for quite a spell. Besides deceiving unsuspecting consumers, Russell dedicates a large section of his website to denigrating several of his competitors’ products. The most telling example of his character is the disparaging remarks about the very company that started him in the water garden business. He not only copied Aquascape’s filter design, he made minor design changes and then embellished their significance while railing against his mentor’s product. If the truth be known, he stated his filter was “the best biological filter in the industry.”

I am not interested or impressed with the performance of a Volkswagen, either with or without electric windows and a sunroof! I have owned a Cadillac (Aqua Ultraviolet Ultima II Biofilter) for several years and on a scale of “1” to “10” (with “1” being the easiest), maintenance of the Ultima II is a “1” compared with an “8” for Russell’s filter. Am I saying that Aqua Ultraviolet is the only #1 out there? No, there are Lincoln Continentals, Lexus, Mercedes, etc.

Russell boasts about his skimmer being the “best.” You decide. Here are his instructions: To clean the skimmer: • Lift the lid off the skimmer and take out the skimmer net at the front. • Shake the skimmer net to get rid of any debris. • If there is any alga on the skimmer net, hose it off as needed. • Replace the skimmer net in front of the skimmer unit. • Behind the net there is a brush rack, a bar with large brushes hanging from it. Pick up the brush rack and shake it to get the debris off. [Be careful not to get the fish waste, worms or parasites on you.] • Replace the brush rack in the skimmer behind the skimmer net. [Be sure to wash your hands very thoroughly when you are finished.] • Failure to clean the skimmer can lead to slow water flow and place stress on the pump. It can even cause the pump to overheat and burn out. Check the skimmer often to see if it needs maintenance. Cost:  a whopping $560.00

Remember Russell’s admonishment: "COMPARE BEFORE YOU BUY" Lets compare…

To clean a WaterwayRenegadeTM  Professional concrete pond Skimmer:
• Lift the cover, remove the basket, tip it upside down, rapping it gently to remove debris. • No harm will come to the pump if skimmer is neglected because it has a protective valve that prevents air from being drawn in. Cost:  a startling $87.00

This is how I would describe professional waterfall and pond equipment: (1) Concrete and rebar construction; (2) industrial grade PVC flex pipe; (3) centrifugal high-efficiency pump with leaf basket (3 yr. warranty); (4) an ultraviolet light with cleaning wiper; (5) a pressurized biological, back-washable bead filter; (6) professional pool skimmer. The professional pressurized back-flushable biological filter simply requires the turn of a handle to the backwash dial for 45 to 60 seconds, and then turns the handle to rinse for 30 to 45 seconds, and you’re done.

There is one thing that Russell Watergardens says to do that I firmly advocate and also recommend highly that you do prior to buying anything, and that is: “COMPARE BEFORE YOU BUY.” But don’t just compare the features between Volkswagens; compare the VW to a Cadillac! You just might want to buy genuine quality over hype. 

HERE is a complete list of pump manufacturers and their pumps; energy efficiency, gallons per hour, amps, watts and warranties