College of Construction - Final Exam

Answer the following questions to earn your certificate of completeion of the College of Construction. When you are finished, fill out the form and we'll send you your Certificate of Completion and/or badge in the mail!

1. TRUE or FALSE. Pond-free features, by definition, are recirculating water features with a closed reservoir and a natural look and feel.

A) True

B) False

2. Pond-free advantages over ponds include all of the following except...

A) They can be turned on and off

B) They collect less debris than ponds

C) They run more often than ponds

D) They require less maintenance

E) They are less liability than ponds

3. Water Matrix Blocks have become popular because...

A) They require less excavation

B) They require less gravel

C) They require less labor

D) They require less cleanup

E) All of the above

4. TRUE or FALSE. A gravel-filled reservoir holds 1/3 the water as the same size Water Matrix reservoir

A) True

B) False

5. TRUE or FALSE. The gravel in the reservoir will occupy about 2/3 of the space, leaving only 1/3 available for water, regardless of the size of the gravel.

A) True

B) False

6. Atlantic Water Garden's Eco-Blox are capable of supporting tons of distributed load.

7. All of the following statements are true except:

A) Closed reservoirs typically lose less water to evaporation than open ponds.

B) Gravel-filled reservoirs are safer than ponds.

C) Vertical pumps are more likely to overheat in hidden reservoirs than horizontal pumps.

D) Two half-size pumps cost more to run than one larger pump with double the capacity.

E) Autofill valves are a good way to prevent pump burnout.

8. TRUE or FALSE. The deeper you make the reservoir, regardless of volume, the more water you’ll have over the top of the pump to guard against overheating.

A) True

B) False

9. TRUE or FALSE. Check valves are useless for Pond-free water features because there are no bacteria to keep submerged.

A) True

B) False

10. TRUE or FALSE. A well-designed waterfall spillway box should diffuse the jet of water coming out of the hose, support the weight of heavy stones and secure the liner to ensure against leaks.

A) True

B) False

11. For Pond-free features with a stream, the easy way to figure the volume a Water Matrix reservoir should hold is to take the dimensions of the stream and multiply:

A) Stream Length x Width x Depth x 9

B) Stream Length x Width x .25 x 9

C) Stream Length x Width x .25 x 3

D) Stream (Length x 2) + (Width x 2) x Depth

12. Refering to a water feature with a stream 8’ long and an average of 2 feet in width, needing only about 3” of water depth to start recirculating when turned on... The Total Dynamic Volume of the stream, the water in motion when the pump is running, is:

A) 8 x 2 x .25 x 9 = 36 cubic feet

B) 8 x 2 x .33 x 3 = 16 cubic feet

C) 8 x 2 x .25 = 31 gallons

D) can’t be determined from the information given.

13. Refering to a water feature with a stream 8’ long and an average of 2 feet in width, needing only about 3” of water depth to start recirculating when turned on... The total volume of the reservoir should be around:

A) 100 gallons with a water matrix block reservoir

B) 400 gallons with a gravel-filled reservoir

C) 12 cubic feet with gravel in the basin

D) 12 cubic feet with water matrix blocks in the basin

E) A and D

14. Refering to a water feature with a stream 8’ long and an average of 2 feet in width, needing only about 3” of water depth to start recirculating when turned on... To have enough water in the reservoir you’ll need room for at least:

A) 12 Eco-Blox

B) 6 Eco-Blox

C) 4 Eco-Blox

D) 3 EcoBlox

15. Refering to a water feature with a stream 8’ long and an average of 2 feet in width, needing only about 3” of water depth to start recirculating when turned on... If you would rather not use EcoBlox, and just backfill gravel around the pump vault, you’ll need:

A) 2’ x 2’ x 3’ reservoir and ¼ yard of gravel

B) 144 cubic foot reservoir and 4 cubic yards of gravel

C) 3’ x 3’ x 4’ reservoir and 1¼ yards of gravel

D) A 36 cubic foot reservoir and 2 yards of gravel

16. Setting the bottom of the Pump Vault 4-6” lower than the Water Matrix Blocks serves two important functions:

A) it keeps people from tripping and it offers easier access to the pump

B) it offers easier access to the pump and allows for simple cleanouts

C) it keeps the pump deeper and allows for easier access to the pump

D) it keeps the pump deeper and allows for simple cleanouts

E) it keeps people from tripping and allows for easier cleanouts

17. TRUE or FALSE. Setting the top of the reservoir well below grade can add height to your waterfalls

A) True

B) False

18. TRUE or FALSE. Installing and activating a Pump Protector without letting the feature run for a while can mask a leak.

A) True

B) False

19. TRUE or FALSE. Pond-free reservoirs and Rainwater Harvesting are a great combination, to top off water features whenever there’s measurable rainfall, and to circulate and aerate collected water.

A) True

B) False

20. TRUE or FALSE. Grade the soil surrounding the reservoir to capture any rainwater that falls.

A) True

B) False

21. Ponds that have both fish and plants:

A) are easier to keep clean and balanced than Pond-free features

B) need no maintenance except for pruning

C) are easier to keep balanced than plant-free features

D) require more filtration than features without plants

E) need more food and fertilizer than Koi ponds

22. Koi can be costly to maintain because:

A) they require aggressive year-round filtration and medication

B) they need periodic antibiotics and frequently need replacing

C) they require in-pond plantings and constant water changes

D) they eat prodigiously and create abundant wastes

E) they require Pressurized Filtration and UV Sterilizers

23. TRUE or FALSE. The oldest recorded nishikigoi was already 30 years old during the American Revolutionary War and lived until 1977.

A) True

B) False

24. Rolls of EPDM Fish-Safe Pond Liner can be purchased off the shelf in sizes up to:

A) 25' x 50'

B) 50' x 100'

C) 100' x 100'

D) Any dimension divisible by 5

25. A general rule of thumb for overflowing vases or basalt columns is to provide .

A) 100 GHP per foot of height

B) 250 GHP per foot of height

C) 500 GHP per foot of height

D) 1000 GHP per foot of height

26. The three most common components of the typical pond circulatory system are:

A) Pump, Skimmer, Sand Filter

B) Pump, Skimmer, Pressure Filter

C) Pump, Biological Filter, UV Clarifier

D) Pump, Vault, Waterfall Box

E) Pump, Skimmer, Biological Filter

27. TRUE or FALSE. Water leaving a properly functioning biological filter is screened of fine particles, full of nitrates and well-aerated by the stream or falls before returning to the pond.

A) True

B) False

28. The best reason listed below to consider a Skimmer for your pond is:

A) the pump is easy to access and maintain

B) skimmers make the best pond filters

C) skimmers remove the muck in the pond

D) Filter pads never need cleaning

E) Skimmers capture all the debris that falls in the pond

29. A safe and responsible pond always has for access and safety.

A) gravel on the bottom

B) level shelves

C) stepping stones

D) fish and plants

E) a natural-looking handrail

30. The profile of the pond will affect:

A) safe entrance and egress to the pond for maintenance

B) the ability of wading predators to prey on pond fish

C) the presence or absence of mosquito larvae

D) the collection of debris for easy removal

E) All of the above

31. All of the below are advantages of the Simple Step, Rock-and-Gravel design EXCEPT:

A) shallow steps are easily faced with relatively small, manageable ‘one-man’ stones

B) shallow shelves allow easy access in and out of the pond for predators

C) gravel beds provide tremendous surface area for beneficial bacteria

D) the pond is fast and easy to construct in this manner

E) the graveled bottom has more natural appearance than bare liner

32. An initial 18”-24” deep step down into the pond onto a flat shelf is advantageous because:

A) the step makes it easy for people to get in and out of the pond for maintenance

B) the step is too deep a step for wading predators like raccoons and herons to access the pond

C) deeper water around the perimeter leaves nowhere for mosquito larvae to hide from fish

D) the deeper water all around means greater water volume within the same perimeter

E) All of the above

33. The larger and deeper the pond is:

A) the harder it is to achieve the balance between bacteria, fish and plants.

B) the more quickly the water heats up in spring and cools down in winter

C) the faster algae tend to grow

D) the cooler it tends to stay in the summer and warmer in winter.

34. Dialing 811 anywhere in the country is a critical step before you dig because:

A) one call marks out all utilities

B) markout service is fast & free

C) it can save a life

D) it is required by law

E) All of the above

35. The pond’s pump should be located as far from the waterfall as possible for:

A) the shortest run for plumbing

B) good circulation

C) greatest electrical efficiency

D) All of the above

36. What determines the type of pump required for a pond?

A) Head Height

B) Volume of pond

C) Location of pump

D) GPH of pump

E) All of the above

37. One good way to figure the size of the liner for the pond is to add the length of the pond to twice the depth plus 2 feet, and round up to the nearest multiple of 5, then do the same for the width. How do you measure the length and width of the pond?

A) Measure the average length and width of the water surface of the pond

B) Measure the maximum length and width of the water surface of the pond

C) Measure the average length and width from the outside of the coping

D) Measure the maximum length and width from the outside of the coping

38. Figuring the liner for the stream is a little different because you measure length and width, add twice the height then add 5 and round up to the nearest multiple of 5’. Why?

A) When it comes to streams, bigger is definitely better

B) The additional liner leaves room to meander.

C) The extra length and width allow for expansion and contraction

D) A and B

E) All of the above

39. TRUE or FALSE. Bogs are difficult to install in or around Koi ponds.

A) True

B) False

40. TRUE or FALSE. It’s always a good idea to leave a fold of extra liner below the attachment area of both filter and skimmer, to ensure that the weight of the water doesn’t pull the liner off the equipment, and so future settling of soil or rocks won’t pull on the liner and cause a leak.

A) True

B) False

41. Decorative Water Features are...

A) Open water systems

B) Inexpensive to install & maintain

C) Relatively difficult to install

D) High liability

42. Decorative water features are features that recirculate water from a closed basin.

43. All of the following are used to create Decorative Water Features except?

A) Colorfalls, Formal Spillways

B) Fountain Basins

C) Eco-Blox Water Matrices

D) FilterFalls Biological Filter

44. Decorative Water Features are extremely versatile because..

A) They can be installed inside or outside

B) They can be installed in the ground or above ground

C) They can be any size or shape

D) All of the above

45. Decorative Water Features can be very economical to operate because...

A) They have to run 24/7

B) They require very large pumps

C) They require a lot of maintenance

D) None of the above

46. A genreal rule of thumb for overflowing vases or basalt columns is to provide .

A) 100 GPH per foot of height

B) 250 GPH per foot of height

C) 500 GPH per foot of height

D) 1000 GPH per foot of height

47. The Eco-Rise/ Eco-Blox system is a way to install Decorative Features directly over the water reservoir.

A) Only 1

B) Only 3

C) Up to 6

D) Any number

48. One great technique to make a Decorative Water Feature appear as if it's been part of the landscape for years is to...

A) Rub it all over with mud

B) Nestle it among existing plantings

C) Use old plumbing

D) None of the above

49. Decorative Water features can be adapted to any budget because

A) Can be scaled up or down to any size.

B) Can be set up with auto-fills to eliminate the need for topping off

C) Can adapt to any location inside or out, in ground or above

D) All of the above

College of Construction Final Exam: