Do you want to hear the relaxing sound of running water in your home or garden without spending millions of rupiah? This guide will teach you the basic steps to create a unique fountain customized to your liking. These steps can be followed to create a fountain that fits your style, craftsmanship and budget.
Step
Step 1. Plan the fountain
Decide where you want to build it, how big you want it and what it will look like. These factors will affect the material you will need.
- Your fountain will consist of three main elements: a water reservoir, a water pump and a design feature.
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The location must have easy access to a power source and be able to have cables without being interrupted or disconnected from the power source to the pump
Make an Outdoor Fountain Step 1Bullet2 - The style is up to you. Create one that fits the landscape that you already have and according to your personal taste of course.
Step 2. Gather equipment
- Water reservoirs. This can be a watertight container such as a plastic tub or even a sheet of plastic that covers the pit if you build it underground. If you're building above ground, you can build a reservoir as part of the design, such as half a barrel of wine, anything as long as it holds water.
- Water pump. Pumps can be purchased at most building and landscape supply stores. You need a pump with sufficient force (power is measured in liters per second) to push the water to the top of the fountain. Since these pumps can vary based on your design, we recommend consulting someone with knowledge of pumps before you buy.
- Pipes and tubes. Pipes or tubes will deliver water from the reservoir to the top of the fountain. Many pumps come with tubing, but if they don't, or if you need something specific to your design (such as copper tubing), you'll need to purchase them separately. Rubber tubes are the easiest to use.
- Design features. The elements above will depend on your design, such as river stones, or carved fountain heads. If the fountain head you've chosen doesn't have holes, you can make your own with a drill.
Step 3. Milk the parts of the fountain
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If building underground, dig a hole that will fit into the water reservoir. Don't forget to leave gravel for drainage under the shelter. If you want to hide the power cord, you will need to dig a separate hole from the water reservoir.
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Fit the pump in the reservoir before adding water. Make sure all tubes and electrical connections match and work properly.
Make an Outdoor Fountain Step 3Bullet2 -
Add your design elements. The water pump must be kept easily accessible for adjustment, repair and cleaning. Either by opening or door, or by easy disassembly.
Make an Outdoor Fountain Step 3Bullet3 -
Fill the fountain with enough water to submerge the pump and keep it submerged while operating when water will circulate through the top of the fountain.
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Step 4. Adjust the water flow
Turn on the water pump (adjust the pressure if needed) and arrange the design elements to ensure water returns to the reservoir. The appearance and sound of the fountain can also be adjusted by adjusting the angle of the fountain head and other obstacles in the path of the water.
Step 5. Enjoy your fountain
Hide unsightly surfaces or objects or visible mechanisms with design features such as stones or plants.
Tips
- Lay the power cord out of sight, or away from lawn mowers or other garden maintenance lines that could damage it.
- Buckets, buckets, rubber tubs, large watertight pots and plastic-lined pools are all good water reservoirs, you can use anything that can hold water.
- To make it more interesting, try creating a secondary runoff. For example, if the head of your fountain is water coming out of an inclined bucket, try building a pile of rocks in your water reservoir to produce the sound of water ripples.
- A very simple example of a fountain could be made with a 38 liter rubber water container 20 cm or more deep (sold at farm or farm supply stores), a hose, a water pump and a pile of rocks. Dig a hole 2.5 cm deeper than the water container, adding a 2.5 cm layer of sand so that the surface of the container is parallel to the soil. Place the pump in the housing and connect it with a 60 cm hose to the pump. Pile the stones around the tube in the container, leaving the pump visible. Make a small mountain pointing to the center. Use putty when it is difficult to keep the stones in place. Cut the tube near the top of the rocks. Fill the container with water, adjust the pump speed and enjoy!
- To hide container borders, tubing or other structural elements, try planting plants that can grow in shallow soil, cover with rocks, or pile landscape stones or other objects that match your fountain design theme to hide the area.
Warning
- Always connect the pump to a GFI (ground fault interrupt) or mains disconnect fuse. If you don't have one, install it yourself or hire an electrician.
- Make sure you change the water every few days. Because otherwise it will become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
- If you need an extension cord, make sure you buy one that works outdoors and fits your pump.
- Do not let the water reservoir dry. Doing so could burn the pump or even cause a fire.
- If you must lay the power cord in an area where the mower is used, plant the cord, or remove it before mowing.
- Use only a submersible pump that can be used outdoors.
