Tuning Your Flowform We encourage you to experiment with your Flowform. Factors to consider are: amount of flowing water, forward angle, and left-right angle. An overly strong water flow will cause the water to run straight through the sculpture rather than around the figure-of-eight flow path. A flow too weak and the water will not build up momentum. Adjust the side to side level to get an even flow pattern. To deepen the water movement tilt up the front of the sculpture. When you have it flowing the way you enjoy, fix it in place.
Maintaining your Flowform Flowforms are strong but still need treating with care. Our material does not wear down, and is easily restored to its original gloss. Maintenance issues are algae, scale and weathering. Algae wipes off easily with a wet cloth. Scale, or minerals sticking to wet surfaces, can be removed rubbed with a wet cloth, and if stubborn, use a soft kitchen compound like Jiff or Ajax. Rinse with a clean wet cloth and no running water if you have fish in your pond. A Carnauba car wax recreates the beautiful rich surface, no matter how long you have owned the sculpture. More information can be found at our website www.flow-forms.com. |
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Pump Guide  About Pumps: These are critical for the performance and experience of your Flowform. Pumps are ideally submersible, silent running and have a 2—5 year Warranty. With cascades and stream Flowforms the number of sculptures will alter pumping requirements.
Note: Always confirm your pumping requirements with your Flowform representative or contact us.
*** Head is crucial, this the height that water needs to be pumped to reach the top of your Flowform.
Flowform Pump Selection guidelines for optimal use. |
| | Flowform Model | Head | Physical Dimensions | Submersible | Noise Level | Warranty | | Lotus | .5m | Not exceeding 170 mm | Yes | Silent | 2 - 3 years | | Cloverleaf | .5m | Not exceeding 180 mm | Yes | Silent | 2 - 3 years | | Bellbird | Approx 1m | Tank Dependent | Preferable | Silent | 3 –5 years | | Taruna | 2m | 3 Series Consider Flow valve | Preferable | Quiet | 3—5 years | | Monarch | 3m | Consider Flow valve | Preferable | Quiet | 3—5 years | | Waipawa | 2m | Flow valve | Preferable | Quiet | 3—5 years | |
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Recommended Pump Selection
- Lotus Oase Nautilus 3000 or Oase Neptune 3000
- Monarch Oase Nautilus 4000 or Oase Nautilus 200
- Cloverleaf Oase Nautilus 6000 or Oase Neptune 6000
- Waipawa Grundfos (KP150 or 250) or Zenit Vortex
- Bellbird Hoselock 1500 or Oase Nautilus 110
- Taruna Grundfos (KP150 or 250) or Zenit Vortex
General Installation
Flowforms water sculptures, like all water features, need more than the sculptures to provide you with the enjoyment of flowing water!
We supply full details on how to set up your Flowform water feature. We also supply back up advice through email contact, or phone.
Here is what else you need for any water feature: Water Usually pumped, but sometimes diverted from a stream.
Plumbing To bring water to the flowing up entry part of the sculpture.
Pumps The usual way of providing water, flowing it round and round the cascade. Submersible pump.... hidden in the water. This is the type we supply.
Centrifugal pump... kept out of the water in a small pump housing. Swimming pool pumps are like this one, though they do come smaller and can be put into housing boxes underground.
Power
To drive the pump usually electricity from a main, but some people have diesel, solar or wind powered pumps.
Pond (or buried sump) To hold the mass of the water, catching the run off when the pump is switched off, and the Flowform empties out. It must also cover the submersible pump at all times. Open ponds are beautiful and restful in themselves, especially with water lilies and fish. Most municipalities consider them safe if they are less than 400mm (16 inches) deep.
We recommend:
buried sumps if you are concerned about child safety. This way, most of the water is beneath a lid, which is covered by rocks. When the Flowform is turned off, all the water runs into the sump and you have a dry environment!
Foundations
The Flowforms need to sit on something, and then fit together or overlap the one below. Foundations can be cut as steps in a sloping bank, possibly using poured concrete or flagstones, or best of all (we consider) aluminium or galvanised steel foundations. These foundations require exact measurements.
Please also check out of growing picture library above, which will feature different ways of landscaping Flowforms.
Additional
Top up float switch system This is optional, hidden in the sump. Water from ponds evaporates and inevitably water features splash a little. We don’t supply this as part of our 'package' but they can be easily obtained from a hardware merchant. You may need to dig in a hose from a garden tap, and attach it to the tank, and leave the tap turned on. Otherwise, you can easily top up your pond each week or so with your garden hose manually. When you prefer a hidden sump, it is advisable to have an automatic float switch filler.
Filtration systems Ponds collect dust and plant materials over time. The water can get clouded and this can feed other growths. Those who wish to have very clean water will need a filter of some sort. Well-balanced plantings in your pond will balance pH, soak up CO2 and Flowforms will oxygenate and enliven the water.
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