Buying or Building Your Own Water Fountain

!: Buying or Building Your Own Water Fountain

Things to Consider

A great deal about fountains has changed over the last decade. Now there are really high class ones made of copper, bronze, concrete, and stone, and some fairly nice ones made of resin and fiberglass. There are several things to consider, though. As a pump wholesaler, I speak with fountain owners all the time and also look at lots of samples of fountains at trade shows and in magazines. Before purchasing a fountain, there are quite a few questions to ask. What looks good in a store might not look good at your home or business. Or it might look good for the first month or year but then you'll get tired of it. Fountains are usually around for a long time; in fact, concrete and stone ones last centuries and are hard to remove once they're installed. Here are things to consider.

Bronze Fountains

These are at the high end of fountains, and can retail for ten to twenty thousand dollars. They are plain classy. But will one of these fit in where you want to put it? Do you have the right yard or business or location for such a classic kind of display? Also, do you like the aging process (the verdigris patina) that bronze undergoes. Can you afford one of these? If you answered yes to these questions, a bronze fountain might be right for you. It will last your lifetime, your kids' lifetimes, their kids' lifetimes, etc. And they are durable enough to be moved from house to house.

Copper Fountains

Like bronze fountains, these too tend to be classy, especially the name brand ones like Water Wonders, which mix copper with glass and slate. These make especially nice wall fountains. We have been selling Water Wonders fountains for several years at Fountain Mountain. There are certain things to think about, though. Are you locating the fountain in a room with good acoustics? Some rooms make the pump noise really echo, especially small rooms with walls that are close together. Do you know someone or can you hire an electrician to hide the cord in the wall? These fountains are a bit too expensive to buy if you're going to let the cord run outside the wall for everyone to see. Finally, it is a good idea to go listen to them run at a store before purchasing. Some of them make little water noise and some make a lot. To increase water sound you might have to turn up the pump to the point of there being slight splash. But if you are careful and go to a store with Water Wonders or other copper fountains on display before purchasing, and are happy with what you see and hear, these are great fountains.

Concrete Fountains

These still provide the most bang for the buck, primarily because concrete is so inexpensive. In fact, a huge part of the cost of concrete fountains is in transporting them to stores for sale and in the labor of painting them. The concrete itself is the least expensive part of the fountains' manufacture. There are some differences in how they are made, though. Some companies, like Brandelli's, use a "light" mix: their fountains are not nearly as heavy as those produced by, say, Avila's. Also, some companies like Brandelli's, use a stain over concrete, whereas others, like Avila's or Lomelli's, use paints (usually more than one at a time) or stains. Also, most concrete companies (though not all) reinforce their fountains with steel. This makes them strong but also means the concrete must be sealed. If not painted (as most fountains from Mexico are not), then they do need to have a clear sealant put on them. Otherwise the water will seep through to the steel, which will rust. Eventually, the fountain is likely to crack. One final word of advice on concrete, beware of "cute." Cute fountains (mama dogs with baby dogs, boys peeing) sometimes don't look so cute over time. Ask yourself if you'll still think the fountain is cute years later. Remember, concrete fountains can last hundreds of years. And they are difficult to move so pick something that will stay put. The traditional Italian 3-tier fountain is always a safe bet.

Resin and Fiberglass Fountains

The quality of these has gotten a lot better, and they have the clear advantage of being more easily handled than concrete ones. Some do look like concrete and stone, though they tend to look much more realistic at first glance than they do after a week has passed. Then it is pretty clear that they are faux. These are also a lot easier on employees who work in tores, as they don't have to worry as much about their backs. We would sell these at our store but just don't like their looks as well as the real thing.

Stone Fountains

These look incredibly good or mediocre. The handcrafted stone fountains out of Mexico and many of the large ones out of China are beautiful. But there are also mass-produced stone fountains, which use crushed stone mixed with resin. These just don't look like real stone to us even though they are.

Making Your Own Water Fountain

There are lots of ways to make your own fountains. The easiest way, perhaps, is to place a pump in a small tub or on some liner. Then place a wire or plastic grate on top of the tub or the liner, and layer pebbles, rocks, etc. over the wire or plastic grate. Your pump and plumbing will be hidden! No one will no where your water is coming from. You can then connect black PVC piping to the pump (black sprinkler pipe is incredibly inexpensive yet professional looking) and let the water rise up seemingly out of rocks in your yard. You won't have to worry much about pets as the water source is covered with stones. Likewise, you won't have to worry about kids drowning. You can also build a little waterfall over such a pit if you want, just throwing in boulders to hide your electric and tubing, etc. Some people use bamboo for spouts. You can also drill holes through slate (we've found it's really easy if you soak the slate for a day first). Slate is so porous, however, you ought to seal it once you're done drilling. You can also find rocks in nature that already have holes in them.

How Big of a Pump do I need?

Basically, if you buy a fountain at a store you should have instructions on the best size pump for that particular piece of garden art. If you are making your own fountain, here is a rule of thumb: for every inch of width you need to pump 100 gallons per hour. But note that a100 gallon per hour pump is not pumping the same volume at one foot head (elevation above the pump), two feet head, three feet, and so forth. If you are making your own fountain, it is likely you will have to guess which size to buy, and you might be wrong the first time you build one. Most pumps are adjustable but often can be adjusted down only a bit. However, magnetic-driven pumps, the most common kind, are inexpensive and durable. You can find them online at many wholesale pumps outlets.

Buying or Building Your Own Water Fountain

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Diffused Aerators vs Surface Aerators

!: Diffused Aerators vs Surface Aerators

The two most common types of pond aeration systems are diffused aerators and surface aerators. While each is highly effective, each has certain pros and cons that make them the appropriate choice based on your ponds characteristics.

Diffused aeration systems utilize the power of air to de-stratify the water column and infuse oxygen into the pond. Typical set up involves an air compressor that pushes air through tubing down to diffuser(s) located and the bottom of the pond. When the air reaches the diffuser, the diffuser breaks it up into tiny bubbles that are released into the pond. The bubbling action of the air rising to the surface causes the water to de-stratify, meaning the poor, oxygen deprived water at the bottom of the lake is mixed with the oxygen rich water above, causing noxious and harmful gases to be released into the atmosphere. At the surface, where the bubbles break, additional oxygen transfer is made adding to the overall oxygen content of the water.

Diffused aeration is typically used in larger/ deeper ponds and lakes of more than 8 ft deep. Diffused aeration is more energy efficient where large ponds are concerned while also offering the advantage of keeping electrical wires out of the water. They also cause very little surface agitation for people who like a smooth look to their pond or lake

Surface aerators, as their name suggests, are located at the ponds surface. These units utilize a pump mounted beneath a float that pumps water from the pond into the air or right at the surface. Unlike diffused aerators, surface aerators are best used in shallow ponds and lakes. Oxygenation using floating aerators occurs when the water that is splashed into the air makes contact with the ponds surface when it comes back down. This interaction allows for the venting of gasses and the transfer of oxygen, however because all of the pumping of water and oxygen transfer occurs at the surface, very little benefit is gained at the lower depths.

Surface aerators can also serve a dual purpose. Aside form the primary function of oxygenating water, surface aerators can add aesthetic appeal as they are available with different spray patterns. However, if aeration is to be the primary function of the unit, it is important to select an aerator that creates a fine mist and a wider display. These types of units allow for greater venting and oxygen transfer as they create more turbulence at the pond's surface.

Diffused Aerators vs Surface Aerators

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Rustic Waterfall Fountain

!: Rustic Waterfall Fountain

Medium Size (13"x15") Rustic Waterfall Fountain with Pump in choice of colors; Tan / Acid Yellow / Black Brown.

Rustic Waterfall Fountain

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Inground Swimming Pool Unexpected Costs - Do You Know What They Are?

!: Inground Swimming Pool Unexpected Costs - Do You Know What They Are?

If you are like many people, you may be considering having an inground swimming pool built in your back yard. Then, if you are like most people, you won't have the faintest idea of what your costs will be.

After you've decided on a pool, you probably don't know if you will be spending an additional ,000, ,000 or ,000 to have everything else added. (whatever everything else is). And then, even after that, how much will it cost you every month to enjoy it?

To help you grasp this situation and prepare you for having a new pool, we have listed some basic and ballpark figures to help answer some of these questions.

You can probably have a decent sized inground swimming pool built for, say, ,000 or more. Bigger fancier pools can be up to , 000 or more.

While many things, such as size, shape, and type, determine the cost of the inground swimming pool, the bulk of this cost is labor - and there isn't much you can do about it.

Once you get over that hurdle, you need to consider other things like what type of filter do you want, how much cement do you want around the pool, 4 ft, 6 ft,???, do you want a waterfall, a heater, brick coping, diving board, slide, automatic pool cleaner, and so on. All these extras can easily add on another ,000. However, the good thing is, some of these options will make it easier for you to maintain your pool.

After all this, you have to pay for the contractors to do the wiring, the people to find your buried gas, cable, septic or water lines and other a sundry things.

Now consider your initial supply of chemicals, pool covers, water to fill, etc. You'll probably want a fence (which includes fences, posts, cement, hardware, labor). The fence itself will cost you at least 00 with all the other little things adding a few more hundred dollars.

So your initial ,000 pool is now - ,000, with an average monthly utility costs of maybe to 0 a month.

This article isn't to scare you, but just to make you aware of the "hidden" costs of getting an inground swimming pool installed.

In short, inground swimming pools are fun, but they sure can be expensive.

Inground Swimming Pool Unexpected Costs - Do You Know What They Are?

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Tips On How To Pick The Perfect Water Feature For Your Garden

!: Tips On How To Pick The Perfect Water Feature For Your Garden

Whether you choose a traditional sunken pool to enhance your garden, or want to relax to the gentle sound of a water fountain at the end a stressful day, we've got some great ideas and buys to suit every outdoor space.

What you need to know

Choose the best position

If you install a feature with running water, such as a fountain, stream or waterfall, you might need a reservoir tank, so bear this in mind when choosing the best spot. Fountains and running water also need access to electricity to operate a pump, unless they are solar powered.

If you want to install a pond, it will need to be in a spot that gets at least five hours of natural light a day- preferably sunshine - for the water to remain clear for fish and plants. Avoid overhanging trees and shrubs, as fallen leaves can choke a pond and poison the water.

Take care of your feature

Ponds and water features will benefit from an annual clean. The best time to do this is in spring, which will give aquatic plants time to re-establish themselves before summer.

A word of caution Safety is important, especially if you have young children, in which case it would be best to postpone a water feature until they are older. Use a qualified electrician to instal cabling. Look in Yellow PAges for registered NICEIC (National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting) electrician, or call 020 7564 2323.

Electrically-powered water features

Transform a terracotta pot

Nestling a beautiful pot or urn among your border palnts and then using it as a water feature will give your garden a restful feel. You can buy complete kits, such as the terracotta urn water feature, £449 from Crocus, or create something similar to the one pictured for yourself. Simply choose a suitable pot or urn from your local garden centre, find the perfect place for it in your garden and then ask a qualified electrician to install the cabling to run a water pump.

Make a focal point with a wall feature

For a timeless look to your patio, install a traditional wall fountain. You'll need an electrician to connect a water pump (from £20 at DIY stores) to the electricity mains indoors, which will feed water from a water reservoir through a pipe behind the wall to the mouth of the fountain. For a selection of wall fountains, try Arcadian.

Create a two-tier cascade

Give your garden an informal look by using recycled materials, such as old stone tubs and troughs - your best source will be local architectural salvage yards (check out http://www.salvo.co.uk for your nearest). Expect prices to start from around £40. To create this tiered water feature the water is pumped up through a hidden pipe from the reservoir trough to the tub at the top. The water then overflows naturally back down into the reservoir. Get a qualified electrician to install the cabling needed to run the pump.

Be different with a pebble design

If you would like something a little unusual, a pebble fountain is ideal. You'll need to install a small water reservoir under the pebbles and a pump, which will require electricity, to circulate the water. Use a qualified electrician to do the electrical work. Buy a bag of pebbles from somewhere like B&Q and let the water spill over them.

Solar-powered water features

Go solar for easy installation

A charming copper Solar Cascade fountain, from Greenfingers, is powered entirely by solar energy, so it's a lot more simple to install as there's no electrical work required. Either place it in a large pond or in a smaller water feature to make an attractive focal point. For similar solar features, have a look on Greenfingers' website.

Try a floating fountain

Add interest to your pond with a solar pond island fountain. It simply floats on the surface of the water to create a solar-powered water feature that operates in direct sunlight, so there's no installation or running costs.

Add interest to a sunny spot

A tiered solar cascade fountain is the perfect feature for a sunny spot on a patio. As long as it's in direct sunlight, the water will gently trickle from one tier to another. A mains adapter is included in the price, so you could move it indoors for winter.

Ponds

Build a kit-form raised pond

If you'd like a garden pond, but don't want to go to the trouble of digging a hole, you can buy a charming raised pond in kit form, complete with liner and pump. Try Garden Oasis for a range of pond options.

Turn a tub into a pool

For a small space, tubs and half-barrels (available from DIY shops and garden centres) are ideal for a creating a mini pond. Ready-to-use water-tight barrels cost around £20, but you can recycle an old one by lining it with pond liner, which sells for around £3 per sq m. Secure the liner in place with a flexible metal strip from Screwfix - an 81cm length costs £1.99.

How to create a traditional pond

Ensure that the site for your pond is level and then mark out its shape on the ground. So wildlife can hop in and out safely, choose a design that has ledges at the edges of the pond, no more than 15cm deep.

If you are using a flexible liner, dig a hole the size and shape you want or if you have chosen a preformed, rigid liner dig a hole to match its shape. No matter how tough your pond liner appears to be, it will need to be protected from sharp stones underneath, so add a layer of damp builder's sand before positioning the liner.

For a flexible liner, allow an overlap of arounf 15cm all round and hold the edges in place with bricks. For a rigid liner, place in the hole and check it is level, and then weigh it down with 5cm of water. Fill up any holes between the edge of the liner and ground with a builder's sand or crumbly soil.

Fill your pond with water - smooth out wrinkles in a flexible liner as the the water runs in. Trim away any surplus flexible liner from the edges, leaving sufficient to secure underneath your chosen edging material: use paving stones or pebbles, for a natural look.

Six easy-to-grow aquatic plants

Introduce plants between April and September - waiting a few days after filling a new pond with tap water to allow time for the chlorine to disperse. Put your plants in lined plastic planting baskets, using a special pond compost such as Westland Aquatic Compost, which costs around £2.49 for 10ltr from garden centres. Top with pea gravel to weight the basket down and to stop the compost washing into the water. Place the basket in the pond to the required depth after reading the growers' instructions on the labels attached to the plants.

o Canna lilies: Few plants can match the spectacular appearance of canna lilies, which have gladiola-like blooms from mid-summer to early autumn, and can grow up to 1.8m in a season. Canna thrive in full sun and rich soil and are ideal plants for the edge of your pond.

o Rushes: To make the most of space in a tiny pond, plant tall slender plants such as slim soft rushes.

o Water lettuce: Water lettuce, which prefers sun with some shade, will add an exotic feel to your pond. It has fine feathery roots that turn from white to purple, and then black.

o Water lilies: These are a must for any pond - we like the pygmy water lily, which has tiny, star-shaped, yellow flowers, and the many different mildly scented varieties.

o Taro: Known for its large, heart-shaped leaves, Taro can be grown at the edges of a pond. It likes sun or partial shade and prefers rich moist soil. Larger varieties can grow up to 1.8m tall.

o Flame or painted nettle: Painted nettle will add intense, hot colour to the edges of a pond and is ideal for partially shady spots. It can grow up to 90cm tall, and its highly coloured nettle-like leaves come in a range of shades, from lime green and yellow, to bright red and aubergine

Tips On How To Pick The Perfect Water Feature For Your Garden

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Owharoa Falls, New Zealand

!: Owharoa Falls, New Zealand

The Owharoa Falls , in the Karangahake Gorge. A short walk off the road, down a bush track to a step waterfall. Despite it's size, this waterfall as you can hear, pumps out plenty of decibels of white noise...

Owharoa Falls, New Zealand

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Space Saving Fish Tank

!: Space Saving Fish Tank

It's not easy to find room for pets when you live in small homes or in city center apartment buildings. However, rather than not keeping a pet you might consider keeping fish. You may not be able to cuddle them, or walk them on a leash, but they do look attractive when swimming around their tank and their tanks make an ideal accent piece to any room's decor. If you are keeping fish for the first time then it is essential that you learn as much as you can before getting your first tank - not least because you will have to decide on whether you are going to keep tropical fish, freshwater fish, or salt water fish and, when you do decide, what kind you intend to keep and what size. In fact, the choice is fairly extensive. For those people who really do have diminutive living space, then a space saving fish tank is an absolutely essential criteria.

A new fish tank needs to go through an evolving cycle before your new fish can settle in comfortably. An aquarium needs bacteria to process the ammonia produced by the fish's waste matter and, as this cycle takes about eight weeks to establish, only purchase a few fish at the beginning - and keep the more expensive varieties until your tank has well and truly settled. Fish really thrive in an environment that mimics their own natural home conditions - they need places to hide, places to sleep, and places to swim. So, decorating your fish tank is not just to make it look attractive, but to keep your fish comfortable and as happy as possible. It is no joke that happy animals make healthy animals - and this includes the fish world as well!

Before purchasing your basic equipment, however, you really do need to consider how much space you can allocate to your new fish tank. After all, if everything goes well, your tank and the fish it will contain are likely to be with you for a long time. So, rather than buy the biggest tank you can afford, focus on getting the one that fills the space you have allocated for it. Take into account the fact that you are going to have to house the filter, air pump, and heater. You would do well to consider installing a portrait aquarium which is a fish tank that is mounted on the wall. I think, in terms of a space saving fish tank, this ticks all the boxes. The general size of a wall aquarium is about 18 inches long, and between 16 - 18 inches in height. They are usually about 4 - 6 inches deep. Whilst these are best in terms of space saving, wall mounted fish tanks are more expensive to purchase and cost more than other aquaria to maintain.

At least the portrait aquarium won't get accidentally knocked over! Check out where the pipes and electrical are and if there are any air ducts to avoid. If the wall you have allocated is a stud wall you need to ensure you are able to locate the studs for the load to be attached to. There are a couple of ways to hang your aquarium: either build it into your wall, or hang it from your wall. Another thing to take into account is the shape of the fish tank and the size of the fish you intend to keep. They all matter if you and your fish are going to be happy with each other.

Space Saving Fish Tank

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