Water and Light Flashcards
Small water features are more prone to the accumulation of? Which can be toxic to fish.
Carbon dioxide
What factors should be investigated in the design of a residential water feature?
Desired sound level, local regulations, access to power
Which flexible water liner has the longest expected life span in the prairie climate ?
EPDM
Why would you choose to install a floating heater in a water feature?
To help fish overwinter by allowing CO2 to be released.
What can you finish the edge of a water feature with?
Pebble Beach, indigenous rock, complementary plant material.
For optimum performance hardy water lilies require how many hours of direct sunlight?
5-6 hrs
One of the steps in balancing the ecosystem in water features includes?
Add oxygenating plants to the pond
Which water feature liner is most susceptible to punctures and deterioration from UV rays ?
Polyethylene
To help keep a water feature in balance, what percent of the surface should be covered by water lily leaves and floating aquatic plants?
50-75%
How many days should chlorinated water sit in a water feature prior to adding fish and plants?
2 days
If a single lamp fails during a low voltage system test, what should be done first?
Test the failed lamp
What is the typical function of a bollard fixture?
Lighting walkway or driveway
Which type of lighting will highlight the texture of a fence?
Accent
How would you describe a GFI
Provide protection against electrical shock. Shut off power if a bare wire touches a ground object. Monitors the flow of electrical current in the circuit.
How can you reduce the voltage drop in a lighting system installation?
Change from 12-2 cable to 10-2 cable
When laying out a lighting system, where should the transformer be located?
In the center of the design
How do you go about installing the low voltage cable for a lighting system?
Start at the transformer and work out to the last fixture. Lay cable on soil surface. Bury the cable 10-15cms
Some standard actions for the maintenance of a low voltage lighting system would be?
Remove dust. Prune adjacent plant material. Spray silicone lubricant in light sockets.
At what stage should maintenance for a low voltage lighting system begin?
Design phase.
Is water probably the most versatile and adaptable element you can introduce in a landscape; true or false?
True.
Water features must be constructed in full sun and receive at least 6hrs of direct sunlight; true or false?
FALSE
All water features will have a large open body of water as part of their design/construction; true or false?
FALSE
Water features can be designed in a either a formal or informal shape; true or false?
TRUE
Water features do not need to match the scale of the propertyl, existing landscape and building elements and the kinds of plant material you want to inhabit the water; true or false?
FALSE
In some cities or municipalities, a permit will be required to install a water feature; true or false?
TRUE
In some cases, small water features are ideal because they require less maintenance than larger installations; true or false?
FALSE
Protecting property is a major reason for the installation of night lighting; true or false?
TRUE
Nightscape lighting should look as natural as possible; true or false?
TRUE
Lighting looks best when the source is hidden; true or false?
TRUE
Downlighting is used to focus on a particular plant or specific area in the landscape; true or false?
FALSE
Contour lighting is a form of downlighting used mainly for safety; true or false?
TRUE
Shadow lighting is similar to silhouetting except that the light source will be placed behind the object; true or false?
FALSE
Perspective lighting is often used to make a garden space seem smaller than it really is?
FALSE
Preformed or molded ponds are manufactured from polyethylene or fiberglass; true or false?
TRUE
Concrete is the ideal choice for pond construction on the prairies; true or false?
False. Concrete cracks.
A bubbling rock installation is a fast and relatively easy water feature to install; true or false?
TRUE
Some water feature pumps can be left in the feature to solid without harming the pump; true or false?
True. Newer pumps can be frozen.
Pond skimmers and biofalls are considered mechanical filters; true or false?
FALSE
How would you describe a pounded earth pond?
Built on sites with clay subsoil. Suitable for large scale installations. Require a steady source of water.
What kind of pond lining can be welded to create a variety of shapes?
Butyl rubber
What is one of the most valuable characteristics of EPMD
It remains flexible at extremely low temperatures.
When choosing a pump for a water feature, what should you look for ?
A pump that can move a minimum of 2x the volume of the water feature/hour
What is average lifespan of a L.E.D
50,000hrs
What is the average lifespan of a halogen lamp
3000hrs
What is the average lifespan of an incandescent light
1200hrs
An incandescent lamp converts most of the energy that is put in to it into heat. What % is converted to heat on average?
90%
A GFI will shut off the power in the event of a short within
1/40 of a second
Voltage drop formula?
VD = ( total watts on cable X length of run I’m feet ) / cable size constant
Voltage drop for 100’ of #12 cable with four 26-watt lamps, cable constant of 7500
1.33
How wide and deep should the marginal shelves be in a pond?
30cm deep and 30cm wide
The hole for a preformed pond should be how much wider than the pond itself?
8cm
The walls of a water feature should have a angle of ?
30 degrees
What ratio of height to length is a aesthetically pleasing for a natural water feature
1:3
How can is a waterfall tuned
Add smoother rocks, modify the angle of the water, add an echo chamber.
What kind of soil is needed for bog plants to survive
1:1 mix of loam and OG
Formula for volume
Length x width = surface area
Surface area squared x depth= volume
Constant to convert volume into imperial gallons
6.25
Constant to convert volume into US gallons
7.5
The cable for low voltage lighting needs to be protected in conduit?
No
Wire connectors must be CSA approved for outdoor use
Yes
30-45cm of wire should be coiled and left at the transformer and at each light fixture
Yes
Do transformers need to be connected to a socket with a GFI
Yes
What % of water needs to be replaced at one time
10%
What is the typical amount of evaporation from a water feature
3-5cm
How long do the blooms of a deep water lily last
3 days
Why would you add native water to a pond as part of the balancing process?
To inoculate the pond with natural, beneficial bacteria and other aquatic life.
Cable for lighting needs to be replaced every 3-5 years
No
What lighting systems are resistant to road salt damage
Bronze, copper, cast aluminum.
