Rockways Atlantis Slate Step Pond Waterfall

Rockways Atlantis Slate Step pond waterfall

The Rockways Atlantis Slate Step creates a broad, natural-looking watercourse with a Welsh-slate finish. It is a useful choice where you want moving water beside a pond without building the visible channel from individual stones. The moulded shape gives the water a defined route, while the slate effect can be softened into the surrounding garden with planting and carefully positioned edging.

The feature measures approximately 120 cm long and 74 cm wide. Its published specification lists a weight of 10 kg and an 11 cm pour. This is the Atlantis Slate Step, manufacturer reference ASWO2S, rather than the smaller Staubbach Small Slate Step or the longer Atlantis Slate Large Stream. Check the name and dimensions when comparing the range.

Technical details

Model	Rockways Atlantis Slate Step
Manufacturer reference	ASWO2S
Length × width	120 × 74 cm
Finish	Welsh slate
Material	Polyurethane resin
Published weight	10 kg
Pour	11 cm
Recommended flow	2,500 litres per hour

The stated flow is a starting point for the water feature, not a pond-volume rating. The pump, hose and any reservoir are separate parts of the installation. Because each feature is hand finished, minor differences in shade and pattern are normal; plan the surrounding materials around the overall Welsh-slate appearance rather than expecting every moulding to be visually identical.

Plan the water circuit before landscaping

A waterfall needs a pump to lift water from the pond or reservoir to its inlet, and a clear return route back to that same supply. The decorative moulding is one part of that circuit. Measure the vertical lift from the water surface to the inlet, along with the length and diameter of the proposed hose. These affect the flow reaching the feature, so a pump’s headline maximum flow is not the flow you will necessarily see at the top.

Use the pump’s performance chart at your actual head height and allow for resistance from the hose and fittings. A controllable pump or a suitable flow adjustment can help you find the appearance you prefer. Start gently during testing and increase the flow while checking the edges and landing area. More water is not always better: an excessive flow can splash outside the pond, waste water and make the feature louder than you intended.

Positioning, support and the return into the pond

First mark out the proposed footprint on the ground. Look at it from the seating area, house and normal approach to the pond, then check there is still room to reach the pump and connections for maintenance. Allow for the water’s landing point as well as the dimensions of the dry feature. The final drop should discharge inside the pond or collection area rather than onto the edging.

Set the feature on firm, stable support suitable for its shape and the weight it will carry in use. Do not balance it on isolated high spots or use the moulding as a structural support for heavy decorative rocks. Keep loose soil and planting material out of the water path. Arrange surrounding planting and stonework so that they disguise the edges without blocking inspection or pulling water out of the feature.

Run the complete system before making the landscaping permanent. Watch every edge, connection and splash zone, then switch the pump off and check where the water drains. That simple test is easier to carry out while the hose and base are accessible. An underlying liner or other suitable water-containment detail should return any escaped water to the pond, not direct it behind the edging.

Pondless installation and reservoir planning

A hidden reservoir can provide the water supply for a pondless design. Its usable volume must allow for the water held in the hose and feature while the pump is running, plus drain-back when it stops. Keep enough water above the pump’s intake during normal operation and leave access for cleaning and topping up. A reservoir cover or grid must be designed to support the actual landscaping load; the decorative waterfall is not a load-bearing cover.

Care through the seasons

Remove leaves and debris from the water path and pump intake before they restrict circulation. A change in the waterfall’s appearance can be a sign that the pump or hose needs cleaning, rather than a reason to turn the pump up. Check the water level regularly, especially during warm or windy weather when splashing and evaporation may increase losses.

Use a soft brush and water for routine cleaning, and avoid introducing household detergents into a pond. Follow the pump manufacturer’s winter instructions. If you stop the feature during freezing weather, drain any vulnerable hoses and fittings as required by their instructions. Keep essential fish filtration and aeration arrangements under separate consideration; a decorative waterfall is not a substitute for a properly planned pond life-support system.

Choose the right shape for the available space

If the broad Slate Step does not suit the route you have available, compare the Rockways Atlantis Curved Stream for a changing direction or the Rockways Atlantis Tiered Cascade for a different stepped profile. The Rockways Aber Falls Step is another design to consider where the available footprint matters. These are alternatives with their own dimensions, not parts that are automatically guaranteed to interlock.

Where the feature returns to a newly built lined pond, browse our Gordon Low PVC pond liner and EPDM pond liner. Include pond depth, edge allowances and any underlying waterfall containment in your measurements. Finish the water test before trimming the liner or permanently concealing the hose route.