We could never get the true waterfall effect, we used 4.5 lbs of chocolate and gradually added more and more oil. We also made sure the unit was level, so I don't know why it didn't flow consistently--part of the unit flowed nicely, but about half of the circumference was "dribbling."Next time, I will forego the extra oil I used in trying to achieve the waterfall effect, as it began to affect the taste of the chocolate (premium style, for which I paid $14.99/lb.!)I probably wouldn't buy this again, but it's OK. I was disappointed at the rave reviews on this site vs. our experience. I would have preferred the Sephra fountain, even for the extra money--but I didn't have enough time before my event to have it shipped. The only thing they manufacture is chocolate fountains and provide you with chocolate that doesnt require adding oil or pre-melting, so I suspect it may be a better quality and easier to use.