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How to Build Garden Fountains

by Vicki Joseph on February 18, 2011

in Backyard Ponds and Fountains

 

Garden fountains serve as a focal point which brings a garden together. Building such a fountain is easy thanks to preformed liners and pre-made fountain statues.

Needed Supplies:

While every garden pond is different, there are certain pond supplies that are needed no matter what fountain you are creating

Small water pump: A water pump in the 120 GPH range provides enough power to supply a small garden fountain. The GPH rating stands for “gallons per hour”, which determines how much water a particular pump can move in an hour’s time. Higher GPH pumps are used for larger outdoor water fountains.

The smaller a garden fountain is, the less important it is to worry about what pump to get. As a general rule, the pump should be powerful enough to cycle the water 1/2 to 1 times per hour. For example, a 150 GPH pump paired with a 300 gallon pond would be able to cycle approximately 50% of the water every hour. It pays to purchase a pump which is slightly overpowered in order to ensure that your fountain stream is nice and powerful. See how easy it is to choose a water pump?

Preformed Liner: Preformed pond liners are designed to form a waterproof container to hold the pond’s water. These liners are formed into a rigid shape and are placed into the ground to create an instant pond. Small to medium pond liners are available. Larger ponds use flexible liners which take a bit more time to install.

Rock Fountain: Pond builders can create a beautiful fountain which flows into their pond using a pre-built rock fountain. Made of real or artificial rock, these cascading structures have a built-in tube system for the water to travel through.

Tubing: The tubing that runs through a fountain system should be uniform in diameter. Adapters are used to connect multiple tubes together, as well as convert one tube diameter to another.

Sand: Sand is used underneath the pond liner to make it as level as possible. With the help of a leveler, a fountain can leveled with remarkable accuracy.

Rocks (optional): Rocks of various sizes and colors, ranging from small boulders to decorative gravel can be placed around garden fountains for looks. Colors can be coordinated with the main waterfall statuary.

Plants (optional): While optional, fountain plants are too intriguing to leave out. Aquatic plants like lily pads float on the surface of the water. Submersible plants come in small pots and actually live below the water line. You can set the pots directly on the bottom of the liner for a low-maintenance solution. On the exterior of the pond, regular plant life can be incorporated around the fountain and rocks. Hooking the plants up to an automatic watering system is a high tech way to automate your fountain. Keep in mind that adding water plants will dirty the water faster.

Calculating Pond Water Volume:

In some cases, such as when using a non-rigid pond liner, you can use some formulas to estimate the how many gallons the pond will hold (all dimensions are in feet):

· Square or rectangular ponds: Multiply (Length x Width x Height)

· Circular ponds: Multiply (3.14 x Pond Radius x Pond Radius x Depth)

Step 1: Install a Power Receptacle

Before digging can begin, a GFCI power receptacle must be installed near the fountain location. This should be done by a professional electrician to ensure safety. GFCI outlets are designed to shut off in the event that water shorts it out. The receptacle should be installed at an elevated location within reach of the pond’s pump cable.

Step 2: Preparing the Site

The best pond sites are ones that act as a focal point for the entire yard. It is common to install a pond near a patio so that yard owners can hear the pleasant sounds of dripping water. Gardens are also popular locations for such water features. The site should be free of any weeds and plant debris before starting. If the area is not level, use a flat edged shovel and a leveler to get the ground as level as possible. Using a stick, trace the shape of the pond liner onto the ground. The traced line will serve as a guide when digging out the hole. Using a shovel, hollow out a hole which matches the pond liner’s depth and shape as closely as possible. Take small chunks of ground out at a time and re-measure often. Errors can be fixed by filling in gaps with sand.

Step 3: Inserting the Liner

Place a layer of sand into the hole about 1 inch thick. Now it is time to place the preformed liner down into the hole. The rim of the liner should stick out above ground level about 1 inch. Using a level, test the orientation of the liner all around the edges. Adjustments can be made by simply removing the liner and adjusting the sand quantity to suit. Gaps around the edges of the liner should be filled in with sand manually.

Step 4: Installing the Fountain Statue

Bring your statue/fountain over to the pond and set it near the edge. You can now fill the pond up with water and place your submersible pump down into it. Do not plug it in just yet. There should be a water intake tube hanging off of the statue. This tube needs to be connected to the pump. If the tube is not long enough, simply remove it and cut another one. The tube can be laid over the edge of the pond and disguised by placing it behind the flowing water or plants. Fine-tune the position of your statue until it rests correctly.

Creating your own statue: Artificial rock statues can be converted into a pond fountain with ease. Simply drill one hole at the base of the piece, and another at an arbitrary exit point to create your own statue (This is cheaper than buying a full-fledged garden fountain). Using 0.5” plastic tubing, feed the tube through the base of the statue and up to the exit point. A bit of waterproof glue can hold the tube in place.

Step 5: Final Tasks

With everything in place, you may now plug the pump into the power outlet and watch the show. The water stream may need to be adjusted so that it falls into the water and not into the ground. Always keep the pond filled up to prevent water level from dropping below the pump, as this will cause it to overheat and burn out. Final touches such as adding plants and rocks can now begin. Enjoy customizing your new garden fountain!

 

 

Focal point

Needed Supplies:

While every garden pond is different, there are certain supplies that are needed no matter what fountain you are creating

Small water pump: A water pump in the 120 GPH range provides enough power to supply a small garden fountain. The GPH rating stands for “gallons per hour”, which determines how much water a particular pump can move in an hour’s time. Higher GPH pumps are used for larger fountains.

The smaller a garden fountain is, the less important it is to worry about what pump to get. As a general rule, the pump should be powerful enough to cycle the water 1/2 to 1 times per hour. For example, a 150 GPH pump paired with a 300 gallon pond would be able to cycle approximately 50% of the water every hour. It pays to purchase a pump which is slightly overpowered in order to ensure that your fountain stream is nice and powerful. See how easy it is to choose a water pump?

Preformed Liner: Preformed pond liners are designed to form a waterproof container to hold the pond’s water. These liners are formed into a rigid shape and are placed into the ground to create an instant pond. Small to medium pond liners are available. Larger ponds use flexible liners which take a bit more time to install.

Rock Fountain: Pond builders can create a beautiful fountain which flows into their pond using a pre-built rock fountain. Made of real or artificial rock, these cascading structures have a built-in tube system for the water to travel through.

Tubing: The tubing that runs through a fountain system should be uniform in diameter. Adapters are used to connect multiple tubes together, as well as convert one tube diameter to another.

Sand: Sand is used underneath the pond liner to make it as level as possible. With the help of a leveler, a fountain can leveled with remarkable accuracy.

Rocks (optional): Rocks of various sizes and colors, ranging from small boulders to decorative gravel can be placed around garden fountains for looks. Colors can be coordinated with the main waterfall statuary.

Plants (optional): While optional, fountain plants are too intriguing to leave out. Aquatic plants like lily pads float on the surface of the water. Submersible plants come in small pots and actually live below the water line. You can set the pots directly on the bottom of the liner for a low-maintenance solution. On the exterior of the pond, regular plant life can be incorporated around the fountain and rocks. Hooking the plants up to an automatic watering system is a high tech way to automate your fountain. Keep in mind that adding water plants will dirty the water faster.

Calculating Pond Water Volume:

In some cases, such as when using a non-rigid pond liner, you can use some formulas to estimate the how many gallons the pond will hold (all dimensions are in feet):

· Square or rectangular ponds: Multiply (Length x Width x Height)

· Circular ponds: Multiply (3.14 x Pond Radius x Pond Radius x Depth)

Step 1: Install a Power Receptacle

Before digging can begin, a GFCI power receptacle must be installed near the fountain location. This should be done by a professional electrician to ensure safety. GFCI outlets are designed to shut off in the event that water shorts it out. The receptacle should be installed at an elevated location within reach of the pond’s pump cable.

Step 2: Preparing the Site

The best pond sites are ones that act as a focal point for the entire yard. It is common to install a pond near a patio so that yard owners can hear the pleasant sounds of dripping water. Gardens are also popular locations for such water features. The site should be free of any weeds and plant debris before starting. If the area is not level, use a flat edged shovel and a leveler to get the ground as level as possible. Using a stick, trace the shape of the pond liner onto the ground. The traced line will serve as a guide when digging out the hole. Using a shovel, hollow out a hole which matches the pond liner’s depth and shape as closely as possible. Take small chunks of ground out at a time and re-measure often. Errors can be fixed by filling in gaps with sand.

Step 3: Inserting the Liner

Place a layer of sand into the hole about 1 inch thick. Now it is time to place the preformed liner down into the hole. The rim of the liner should stick out above ground level about 1 inch. Using a level, test the orientation of the liner all around the edges. Adjustments can be made by simply removing the liner and adjusting the sand quantity to suit. Gaps around the edges of the liner should be filled in with sand manually.

Step 4: Installing the Fountain Statue

Bring your statue/fountain over to the pond and set it near the edge. You can now fill the pond up with water and place your submersible pump down into it. Do not plug it in just yet. There should be a water intake tube hanging off of the statue. This tube needs to be connected to the pump. If the tube is not long enough, simply remove it and cut another one. The tube can be laid over the edge of the pond and disguised by placing it behind the flowing water or plants. Fine-tune the position of your statue until it rests correctly.

Creating your own statue: Artificial rock statues can be converted into a pond fountain with ease. Simply drill one hole at the base of the piece, and another at an arbitrary exit point to create your own statue (This is cheaper than buying a full-fledged ga

Focal point

Needed Supplies:

While every garden pond is different, there are certain supplies that are needed no matter what fountain you are creating

Small water pump: A water pump in the 120 GPH range provides enough power to supply a small garden fountain. The GPH rating stands for “gallons per hour”, which determines how much water a particular pump can move in an hour’s time. Higher GPH pumps are used for larger fountains.

The smaller a garden fountain is, the less important it is to worry about what pump to get. As a general rule, the pump should be powerful enough to cycle the water 1/2 to 1 times per hour. For example, a 150 GPH pump paired with a 300 gallon pond would be able to cycle approximately 50% of the water every hour. It pays to purchase a pump which is slightly overpowered in order to ensure that your fountain stream is nice and powerful. See how easy it is to choose a water pump?

Preformed Liner: Preformed pond liners are designed to form a waterproof container to hold the pond’s water. These liners are formed into a rigid shape and are placed into the ground to create an instant pond. Small to medium pond liners are available. Larger ponds use flexible liners which take a bit more time to install.

Rock Fountain: Pond builders can create a beautiful fountain which flows into their pond using a pre-built rock fountain. Made of real or artificial rock, these cascading structures have a built-in tube system for the water to travel through.

Tubing: The tubing that runs through a fountain system should be uniform in diameter. Adapters are used to connect multiple tubes together, as well as convert one tube diameter to another.

Sand: Sand is used underneath the pond liner to make it as level as possible. With the help of a leveler, a fountain can leveled with remarkable accuracy.

Rocks (optional): Rocks of various sizes and colors, ranging from small boulders to decorative gravel can be placed around garden fountains for looks. Colors can be coordinated with the main waterfall statuary.

Plants (optional): While optional, fountain plants are too intriguing to leave out. Aquatic plants like lily pads float on the surface of the water. Submersible plants come in small pots and actually live below the water line. You can set the pots directly on the bottom of the liner for a low-maintenance solution. On the exterior of the pond, regular plant life can be incorporated around the fountain and rocks. Hooking the plants up to an automatic watering system is a high tech way to automate your fountain. Keep in mind that adding water plants will dirty the water faster.

Calculating Pond Water Volume:

In some cases, such as when using a non-rigid pond liner, you can use some formulas to estimate the how many gallons the pond will hold (all dimensions are in feet):

· Square or rectangular ponds: Multiply (Length x Width x Height)

· Circular ponds: Multiply (3.14 x Pond Radius x Pond Radius x Depth)

Step 1: Install a Power Receptacle

Before digging can begin, a GFCI power receptacle must be installed near the fountain location. This should be done by a professional electrician to ensure safety. GFCI outlets are designed to shut off in the event that water shorts it out. The receptacle should be installed at an elevated location within reach of the pond’s pump cable.

Step 2: Preparing the Site

The best pond sites are ones that act as a focal point for the entire yard. It is common to install a pond near a patio so that yard owners can hear the pleasant sounds of dripping water. Gardens are also popular locations for such water features. The site should be free of any weeds and plant debris before starting. If the area is not level, use a flat edged shovel and a leveler to get the ground as level as possible. Using a stick, trace the shape of the pond liner onto the ground. The traced line will serve as a guide when digging out the hole. Using a shovel, hollow out a hole which matches the pond liner’s depth and shape as closely as possible. Take small chunks of ground out at a time and re-measure often. Errors can be fixed by filling in gaps with sand.

Step 3: Inserting the Liner

Place a layer of sand into the hole about 1 inch thick. Now it is time to place the preformed liner down into the hole. The rim of the liner should stick out above ground level about 1 inch. Using a level, test the orientation of the liner all around the edges. Adjustments can be made by simply removing the liner and adjusting the sand quantity to suit. Gaps around the edges of the liner should be filled in with sand manually.

Step 4: Installing the Fountain Statue

Bring your statue/fountain over to the pond and set it near the edge. You can now fill the pond up with water and place your submersible pump down into it. Do not plug it in just yet. There should be a water intake tube hanging off of the statue. This tube needs to be connected to the pump. If the tube is not long enough, simply remove it and cut another one. The tube can be laid over the edge of the pond and disguised by placing it behind the flowing water or plants. Fine-tune the position of your statue until it rests correctly.

Creating your own statue: Artificial rock statues can be converted into a pond fountain with ease. Simply drill one hole at the base of the piece, and another at an arbitrary exit point to create your own statue (This is cheaper than buying a full-fledged garden fountain). Using 0.5” plastic tubing, feed the tube through the base of the statue and up to the exit point. A bit of waterproof glue can hold the tube in place.

Step 5: Final Tasks

With everything in place, you may now plug the pump into the power outlet and watch the show. The water stream may need to be adjusted so that it falls into the water and not into the ground. Always keep the pond filled up to prevent water level from dropping below the pump, as this will cause it to overheat and burn out. Final touches such as adding plants and rocks can now begin. Enjoy customizing your new garden fountain!

rden fountain). Using 0.5” plastic tubing, feed the tube through the base of the statue and up to the exit point. A bit of waterproof glue can hold the tube in place.

Step 5: Final Tasks

With everything in place, you may now plug the pump into the power outlet and watch the show. The water stream may need to be adjusted so that it falls into the water and not into the ground. Always keep the pond filled up to prevent water level from dropping below the pump, as this will cause it to overheat and burn out. Final touches such as adding plants and rocks can now begin. Enjoy customizing your new garden fountain!

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