Basic Fountain 101 For GW & Others If Interested

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cove2700 Posted: 05-24-2012 8:03 PM

A flower pot of your choosing with a solid bottom (no drainage holes).  Go to Lowe's or Home Depot & get a small pond pump & some clear tubing which is usually sold separate indoors in plumbing..  See if you see anything you like for the water to come out of.  The latest is just a coffee pot I picked up at the free cycle area of the "dump", I also have a frog that sits on the edge of the pot & water comes out of his mouth, Lowe's has frogs, turtles, etc;  You need something that will rest on the edge of the pot so the water can fall back into it.  Pump goes in the bottom of the pot, tube goes from pump to whatever you choose for an outlet, fill pot, plug in pump & that's it.  If you can, drill some holes around the edge of the pot toward the top where you want the water line to be so that it doesn't overflow in heavy rains.  If you put it in full sun you have to clean it more often because of algae.  A cupful of bleach will clear the water up if it get dirty looking.  I like things floating in mine, as you can tell.  LOL

This was my very first one, before I thought of drilling holes around the top I was out there after every rain dipping extra water out.

This is the frog.  I haven't used him in a couple of years.

And this is the one outside the back door this year.  If you look close you can see one of the little holes just above the water line.  Behind the bamboo faucet.

For the newest one I just put the open end of the tubing down in the coffee pot under the lid.  You can see it in the picture & you can also see holes drilled in the barrel right behind the white floating flower.

 

 

 

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jo1923_AL replied on 05-24-2012 9:02 PM

You're very creative, Gayle.  You make it sound simple enough that even I could do it.  I really like the coffee pot, and I already have one similar to the one you used.  Hmmmm......

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gardenwayKYz6 replied on 05-24-2012 10:14 PM

Thanks, Gayle.  The type extension cord needed?

I have a fountain, the kind that was so popular for inside some years ago - was popular here at least.  I use to have it on my desk at work.  I've thought of putting it on the front porch (wouldn't need an extension cord) but I'm afraid I'll forget to check the water level or will forget to unplug it at night

~GW

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cove2700 replied on 05-24-2012 11:55 PM

gardenwayKYz6:
The type extension cord needed?

 Outdoor extension cord.  I put a pot over where it plugs together or tuck it under something to keep it dry.  I always worry about it getting wet in rain, etc.  Do the same thing with Christmas lights

will forget to unplug it at night

Put it on a timer.  My bird bath fountain out front is on a timer but the ones in the back are plugged into the outlet right outside the back door so just as easy to plug those in when I let animals out in morning & unplug when I shut down for the evening.

 

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cove2700 replied on 05-25-2012 12:04 AM

jo1923_AL:
like the coffee pot, and I already have one similar

  JoAnn it took a little while to figure out ow to get the coffeepot out over the water.  I originally had it sitting on a plant stand but couldn't get it tipped over enough to keep the water from running down the side instead of back into the barrel.  Then I remembered I had a couple of mini shepherd hooks that I got from Dollar General last year & that is what it is hanging on.  Worked like a dream.  Where there's a will there's a way & I can usually find it with persistence & determination.  LOL

 

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steve232__nc replied on 05-25-2012 9:02 AM

Gayle you have done a really good job. I have always wanted a small pond for a water feature but never got the courage to try it lol.

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jo1923_AL replied on 05-25-2012 9:14 AM

I'm thinking Ben could probably rig something up to hang the coffee pot on.  He's good at that sort of thing.

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gardenwayKYz6 replied on 05-25-2012 10:22 AM

gardenwayKYz6:

 The type extension cord needed?

probably seemed like a dumb question.  I knew it would have to be an outdoor ext. cord, but all of mine are the super-duper orange or yellow ones for various outdoor equipment

gardenwayKYz6:

 but I'm afraid I'll forget to check the water level or will forget to unplug it at night

meant because I don't use the front door that often

~GW

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cove2700 replied on 05-25-2012 2:54 PM

I did go get a green cord for this but I needed another cord anyway.  In only a very short time the cord kinda buries down in the grass & you can't even see it.  I run right over it with the grass cutter all the time.  Never even touches it.

 

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