Installation Instructions.
How Many Guppy Water Filled Flood Control Tubes Do I Need?
Guppy water filled flood control tubes come in 6” and 12” diameters and various lengths: 10ft, 25ft, 50ft, and 100ft.
In most scenarios, there is some level of flexibility on the length of protection, particularly for perimeter protection and water redirection needs. However, if you are limited in space (i.e. the opening you are protecting is exactly 100ft), you may want to purchase (2) 50ft tubes or (4) 25ft tubes and angle them in an arc shape, to fit your opening site while still providing edge-to-edge coverage.
The other option is to utilize other Garrison products, such as Minnow bags or sandbags to shore up the ends of the Guppy barriers and extend between 18-24” further from the area you are protecting. We especially recommend this if fast moving water is predicted or if there are any low areas or dips in the ground across the area being protected. Using supplemental protection will help to create a more effective seal and allow for less water seepage.
Unroll Guppy Barrier.
Remove Guppy water filled tubes from storage and move to the site. Remove the Guppy from the storage bag and unroll the first tube at the desired place and in the direction flood control is needed. Unfurl the folded tube, so that the tube is open and ready for filling. Repeat as needed with additional tubes.
We suggest placing Guppy barriers at the highest point possible above rising floodwaters, such as on the top of a berm or hill. This method allows you to use natural topography features to provide additional flood protection.
Fill Flood Tube.
Unscrew the fill cap to reveal the fill hole. Use a standard garden hose to fill each tube to capacity. The fill hole has a back flow preventer to stop water. Press down to release water from the flood dam.
Note: Be sure not to overfill flood tube, to allow for some flexibility in contouring to the environment. If freezing is expected, fill no more than ¾ full or include RV anti-freeze.
Position the tube against the wall.
When positioning the Guppy against a fixed wall, we recommend adding some extra tube length to allow for a bend against the wall, providing a better seal against water infiltration.
Shimming for added resistance.
While it typically is not required for filled Guppy™ barriers, you can use a standard door stopper to prevent rolling or movement of Guppy tubes and to provide additional resistance against heavy currents.
Simply place the door stopper (or wooden shim or stake) behind the barrier to provide additional resistance.
You can also fasten rope to the included metal D-ring attached to either side of the tube and stake to the ground for added strength.
Drain Tubes for Storage.
Unscrew the drainage cap, located on the underside of the Guppy tube, and fully drain the water inside the tube. Let air dry and roll up to put in storage for future use.
