lets talk pond construction for your upper and lower pond design. The lower pond should have a overflow pipe to control the max. water level. It should run to a drain or dry well 3-4 feet away from the pond. If you are using a skimmer box it is likely in there. The water supply to the upper pond should be by way of a falls or hose above the water level so it will not syphon the pond empty when the pump is turned off. The spillway on the falls to the lower pond is the high level control for the upper pond. The liners at the falls must overlap such that the upper one shingles over the lower and is wide enough to keep the falls from leaking at the sides. If your pond meets these design considerations, simply turn off the pump for a day or two. If the water level goes down in either the upper or lower pond then look for a low edge in the pond that lost water. If the water level holds in both ponds, the problem may be ether a leak at the falls liner overlap or you are infract moving more water into the upper pond than the spillway can let out. Falls do often leek due to water going under them in addition to over like we would all like them to. If it is a flow issue, reduce the flow in with a valve or lower GPM pump or get the hammer and cold chisel out ;-( Good luck! Mike

Catmom, your mix sounds nice. You're another alcohol user (lol)! The lavender oil sounds like a nice touch...I love lavender! Thanks for naming a sealer brand too. Rockmanor, ooh, those Method products look so interesting! I always want to try them when I see them arranged so nicely on the shelves at Target. They look so pretty and smell so good. Nice to know you are pleased with their granite cleaner...will have to try it now! Nancy, thanks so much. That's good to know. I really want to try that polish, and since you've had a good experience, I feel more confident moving forward with it. I may try the cleaner too! I SO agree with you about the glass cooktop! I posted here when I got it in November, and on the Cooking forum as well! There was definitely a learning curve for both cleaning and cooking. I learned about Weiman's and BKF here when I posted. Got great advice that I have certainly put to use. Dlm2000, got me using microfiber cloths, and actually gave me the little kick I needed to get a pan out and start cooking on the thing. She told me not to pamper it, or be afraid of it, but to use it!! People really make a difference in other people's lives here...thanks, Dlm! Golddust, it will be our little secret...I won't say a thing around your granite about the years of abuse you've subjected it to! LOL! I'm just so paranoid about such things...especially since the stuff is so new! I believe with all my heart that your counters are gorgeous and in great shape. That's the way things roll for you Golddust! Maybe that's the takeway here...whatever you use, or do, you gotta have faith!

You may use either PTFE (Teflon) tape or pipe dope, but not both. If you use PTFE tape you should apply three wraps of triple density tape (yellow tape) not that cheap single density white stuff found in the hardware stores. The cheap white stuff is single density and is only to be used on fittings up to 3/8" diameter. Given that you already have the non-hardening Rectorseal, i would suggest you remove the tape and use the Rectorseal. When you install the fitting you should turn it in hand tight then give it at least 1 full turn with a wrench then test it for leaks. If you note a leak tighten it about another 1/2 turn.

Thanks, the discharge is actually behind the top rock under a bunch of loose smaller rocks, the top rock is just a bridge the water passes under. Under the top rock is the middle rock without any seems. There is a flow valve under the rock to manually reduce flow at the waterfall (you can see it in this picture). the flow can also be controlled at the system. I just saw it was turned up all the way so it will probably be that too much water was going through overflowing the catch basin and sheering off the back and sides a little. Anyway, since I am taking off the rock, I will go over everything with Hydraulic cement as extra precaution. it is funny that nothing is wet around the waterfall.