This article is about how to make a fountain in the country with your own hands. We have to decide what equipment is needed for its arrangement; purchase everything you need; finally, all devices and materials will need to be combined into an integral composition with an attractive design. So, let's go.
Components of success
It is obvious that making the fountain flowing is too wasteful: drinking water is not cheap, and its disposal in the simplest and most obvious way will mean an abundance of dirt and puddles on the site. Our choice is a closed system, in which recirculation is provided by a pump.
What will be needed to organize it?
- capacity . It should be large enough so as not to require frequent renewal of the water supply: the main problem with mini-fountains is precisely that due to evaporation and splashing, the miniature pond rapidly becomes shallow.
- Area around the tank, ensuring the absence of puddles in windy weather.
Note: the site should have a slight slope towards the center.
In this case, the water blown by the wind jet will regularly return to recirculation.
- Power supply . Powerful pumps are powered by 220 volts, so for their connection it is only necessary to ensure the sealing of the cable connections and its protection from mechanical damage. Low capacity devices may require a 12 volt converter direct current at the exit.
- Own pump. Technically, nothing prevents the use of any drainage; however, specialized devices look much more preferable - since their price starts from a thousand and a little rubles.
- decorative design. In most cases, the fountain is designed natural stone- boulders laid on the bottom and around the tank; however, the reader's imagination may well suggest unconventional solutions.
Gift - to the studio
Didn't the work front scare you? For those who find a significant amount of work burdensome, the current market can offer turnkey solution, and quite inexpensively. It is enough to install garden and country fountains made of polyresin on a flat area, pour water into a container and apply power.
Probably an unfamiliar term needs clarification. What is polystone?
The origin of the term is obvious: poly - from "polymer", stone - transcription of the English "stone" (stone).
The exact composition of the material is not widely available and is probably a trade secret of the manufacturer - the Chinese company Acrilica; however, since it is marketed as an acrylic stone, it is not difficult to guess the main components.
- Aluminum trihydrate Al(OH)3 (more precisely, White clay, consisting of it slightly less than completely).
- Acrylic resin (in solid form, better known to us as plexiglass).
- Mineral pigments that give artificial stone the look of natural.
Since our material is a typical thermoplastic that can be molded (as well as glued, cut and sanded), it can be made into products arbitrarily. complex shape. How is it different from natural stone?
The cost of products starts from about 1500 rubles.
Please note: many manufacturers supply the lowest price category without a complete pump.
Purchases and their application
For those who have resisted the temptation and want to build a country fountain with their own hands, we will continue. As always, great work begins with shopping; in the process of discussing purchases, we will inevitably touch on their use.
Capacity
The most obvious solution is a small PVC garden pond. These products are produced in any shape and size; the typical color of the inner surface is black. The pond can be of constant height or stepped.
Plan "B" - use a regular old bath. The outlet is closed with a plug planted on the sealant; the inner surface is etched oxalic acid and painted with any waterproof black paint.
Playground and drainage
Obviously, a small pit will have to be dug under the container. Do not rush, however, to put it on the bottom: first you need to fill the pit with 10-15 centimeters of sand, screenings or fine gravel.
What for?
- The bedding will provide drainage. After rain, the container will not be immersed in liquid mud.
- In addition, crushed stone and sand are non-porous soils. Freezing water in the cold will not squeeze the container to the surface.
Please note: backfilling is also best done with sand or gravel.
An even more practical option is backfilling with a mixture of cement and sand in a ratio of 1:5: in this case, the pond will be surrounded by a strong and rigid frame that prevents any external influences.
It is not difficult to provide a slope to the tank; but how to make the surface of the ground impervious to water?
The most obvious solution is concreting the site, followed by ironing (set concrete is sprinkled with dry cement). Alternatively, flat stones can be pressed into freshly laid concrete, imitating natural relief.
Food
The power cable is laid at a shallow depth in metal-plastic pipe 16 mm in diameter. It has sufficient rigidity and is covered with a dielectric on both sides - external and internal.
For low-voltage pumps, a low-power transformer for LED lighting systems is installed in the house. These devices are inexpensive, have high efficiency and practically do not heat up.
How to splice a cable in a section laid in the ground?
- We clean the general insulation and cores.
- We put a heat shrink tube on each of the cores. Another, larger section - on the cable itself.
- We twist or, better, solder the wires and put heat shrink on them with a hairdryer or a lighter.
- We apply a little silicone sealant to the area with the stripped general insulation.
- We shift the thick heat shrink and heat it. The resulting connection is completely sealed.
Pump
Our choice is a submersible pump with an adjustable spray nozzle. The presence of a tee in front of the nozzle, designed to organize a waterfall, is welcome. Even if it is not included in your plans - the arrangement of fountains in the country implies their drainage for the winter; by connecting a hose to the outlet, you can quickly drain the container.
In the photo - several pumps of different capacities.
The main problem in choosing a pump is to find its optimal performance. It is linearly related to the expected jet height; for that, in turn, the optimal value is equal to a third of the cross section of the pond.
Here is a table of the relationship between performance and jet height for domestic Cascade pumps.
Please note: the height of the jet depends not only on the performance, but also on the nozzle used.
Be sure to read the documentation before buying.
The pump is installed in the pond at a slight elevation: in this case, it will not become clogged with silt.
Decor
Decoration is a matter of personal preference; to impose one's opinion in this area is frankly a thankless task. We can only offer the reader a few interesting ideas.
Conclusion
We hope that the material offered to the attention of the reader will help him decide how to build a fountain in the country. Good luck!
Site decoration - favourite hobby gardeners and homeowners. Beautiful flower beds, flower beds and even beds are a true decoration. However, nothing is more pleasing to the eye than ponds and ponds, surrounded by beautiful vegetation. And if a stream of water still shoots out of it, then the corner turns into the best place recreation. If you still manage to make not only a fountain with your own hands, but also a beautiful backlight, put a swing or benches nearby, in the evenings all the inhabitants will gather on this patch.
This fountain is handmade, as is the lighting: waterproof LED light with remote control to change color
Fountain device
To make a fountain in the country does not need very big expenses. Of course, it all depends on the size of the reservoir and how you imagine it. According to the method of construction, fountains are closed and open type. It is about the cycle of water use. The closed type uses the same volume of water, driving it in a circle. Open - all the time new. Garden and country fountains are made mainly of a closed type: their device is simpler and more economical. Of course, water has to be topped up and changed periodically - it evaporates and becomes contaminated, but still, the costs are not very high.
When installing an open-type system, you will have to think over the water supply system, its level control, drainage and discharge. You can, of course, use the fountain reservoir as a container for heating water before watering, and make wiring around the garden from the bowl, but watering is not needed around the clock, and the fountain can work in this mode.
The plastic container is visible, and the pump is at the bottom, right in the place where the pipe sticks out of the water
In the very simple version to make a small fountain, you need some sealed container and a submersible pump. Any container can be adapted - a special plastic one for a pond, a barrel, an old bathtub, a basin, a cut tire covered with foil, etc. Pumps are a little more difficult.
Fountain pumps
Fountain pumps are sold special, with built-in filters. To make it easier to make a fountain with your own hands, you can buy such models. It is very easy to work with them: put them in a container, fix them so that they do not move, fill them with water, carry out the starting manipulations (described in the instructions) and turn them on.
Fountain pumps come in different capacities, raise the jet to different heights. Often included are interchangeable nozzle nozzles that change the nature of the jet. They are powered by a 220 V network, there are models that operate from solar panels. Made hermetically, so there will be no problems when connecting, step-down transformers are not needed. The only thing that does not interfere is the machine and the RCD on the line to which the pump will be connected. This is just in case, to increase security. The price of the smallest low power pump for the fountain - $ 25-30. Performance models cost several hundred or more.
You can use any submersible pump for the fountain. But you need to buy or make a filter for it (you can make a sand filter) and a step-down transformer. A security group from an automatic machine and an RCD on the line will not be superfluous here either. This circuit is worth fiddling with if you have an old pump that is in this moment not used.
How to do without a pump
Is it possible to make a fountain without a pump? Yes, but open type. For example, bring a water pipe into the pond - central or supplying water from a well or well. The water coming out under pressure will give a jet of some height. By installing a tip on the pipe, we can change its shape. But with such a construction, it is necessary to figure out where to divert water. You can - back to the well or to the river, to the area for irrigation, etc. Although a pump is present with such an organization, it pumps water into the house, and the fountain is only one of the flow points.
Scheme of organizing a fountain without a submersible pump
The second option is to put some kind of container at a height, supply water to it, and from there it is fed through pipes to the fountain located below. To create a more or less decent jet height, the container must be raised by 3 meters or more. But the question remains: how to supply water there. Again with the help of a pump, but no longer submersible. They are cheaper, but require a filter. You will also need a pit in which the equipment is installed. A system of pipes connects it with the bowl of the fountain.
Learn how to make a waterfall here.
Fountain lighting
In this area, everything has become easier with the advent of LEDs. They are powered by 12V or 24V, which is much safer than the regular mains. There are even solar-powered lamps.
Fountain lighting
Lighting can be done with waterproof LED strips or the same spotlights and lamps. To power them, you need an adapter that converts 220 V to 12 or 24 V, but they are usually sold in the same place as LEDs, so there should be no problems. Installation is simple: spotlights have mounting brackets, the tape can be “shoot” from a stapler, only the brackets need to be found more sizes tapes: it is unnecessary to punch it so as not to break the tightness.
There are LEDs that change color. Shades from 8 to several thousand
Schemes of fountains of various configurations and photos of their design
Surely you know that the main component of the fountain is its bowl. In fact, this is the same pond, but having optional equipment- pump. The pond can be made at least a dozen different ways and some of them are described in a separate article, because we will not describe how to make a pool bowl. We will pay maximum attention to the organization of fountains and their decor.
small fountain
The device requires a container and a pump. A decoration is put on the tube that comes from the pump. These can be stone slabs in which it is necessary to drill a screw, with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe. These plates are strung one on top of the other like a children's pyramid.
Scheme of organizing a decorative fountain for a summer residence
To avoid water overflow, it is necessary to provide a drain system - just below the maximum level, insert a pipe into the container, the second edge of which should be connected to the sewer, drainage system or garden. You can do it differently: arrange a water collector around the bowl - make a concrete groove or dig in a plastic one. Collected water is also taken somewhere. Usually in closed systems, the problem is not overflow, but a lack of water - it evaporates, but you can play it safe.
Do-it-yourself fountain: photo report 1
And now a photo report of how a do-it-yourself mini-fountain was made according to this scheme. It turned out interesting.
It took several hours to create this decorative fountain.
To make this fountain you need:
- square plastic flowerpot without holes;
- small fountain pump;
- plastic pipe 0.7 m long, diameter such that it is put on the pump outlet;
- a bag of decorative pebbles;
- three bricks;
- sawn red granite on slabs.
From tool - drilling machine to drill holes in granite with a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the pipe.
Fountain container installation
We install a bowl in the prepared hole, put bricks in it, closer to the edges. They are needed for the stability of the structure and in order to reduce the amount of pebbles. They also serve as a support for the stone structure. Between the installed bricks we put a pump with a tube put on, pour water and check how it works.
Holes were pre-drilled in the slabs in the workshop. They should be located approximately in the center so that the stones do not overturn the structure with their weight.
Stacking up the fountain
The first plate rests on the lying bricks, the rest are strung so that the center of gravity does not shift. Having laid the first, we fill the remaining space with pebbles. After the last piece is laid, a mark is made on the pipe. The very last stone is removed, a pipe is cut off just below the mark, then returned last snippet in place. When the water is turned on, it looks like it is running straight out of the stone. Very unusual and easy.
Photo report 2
The next version of a small fountain is made according to the same principle, only instead of a pipe it is used flexible hose, and instead of a stone - a snag. The effect is just wonderful.
We make a small fountain with our own hands
Everything is so clear that there is no need for comments. It differs from the previous design only in the presence of a grid. This is to increase the volume of water: the pan is small.
Fountain decoration
Until you see it, it's hard to imagine how easy it can be to make amazing beauty things. As for pipes - it is better to use polyethylene pipes - they bend well and are not afraid of ultraviolet radiation.
How to make a fountain out of a tire, see the video report.
Room or desktop
Mini-fountains are made according to the same principle, only pumps use very low-power ones. Suitable even for aquariums, but without aeration. They even work almost inaudibly. We will make a fountain in the Japanese style. In addition to the pump, you will need a small ceramic container for this. In our case, it is oval made of baked clay. A piece of bamboo - about 70 cm long (bought in flower shop, sold as a support for climbing plants), a bunch of living growing bamboo and some small pebbles. This is what beauty comes from.
Do-it-yourself home mini fountain
First of all, we cut a piece of bamboo into pieces of different lengths. It's hollow inside natural pipes, which also for a long time don't rot. One of the sides should have an oblique cut, the second - even. Sawing so that the longest piece near the evenly cut end has a “joint”. The lower incision goes about 5 mm below this thickening. It’s just that there is a partition inside, with its help it will be easy to put this segment on the pump outlet. It is difficult to cut, but it was possible to saw through a thin trunk with a metal blade.
Saw bamboo into three pieces of different lengths
We put a small pump in the bowl, put on it the longest piece of bamboo - its length is about 35 cm. On the other hand, we put a bunch of live bamboo, fill the space between them with pebbles.
Filling the Mini Fountain
We tie the remaining two pieces of dry bamboo to our "pipe". You can use hemp rope. That's all, we made a mini-fountain with our own hands. It remains to fill the water and turn on the pump.
By the same principle, other models can be made. Now you understand how and it will be easy to change the design. A few photos for inspiration.
Another indoor bamboo fountain in Japanese style
Outdoor fountain made of granite bowl and bamboo
Another type, more traditional and familiar to us, uses almost the same idea and the same tools. Difference in design. You can take a large ceramic or even plastic pot. It is only important that it be without holes for drainage. Then it’s a matter of technique: divide it with a plastic partition into two or three zones, pour more soil into one and plant one of the moisture-loving plants.
How to make a mini fountain
The second part will be the reservoir. Only when organizing circulation, multi-stage filtration is necessary: water is very polluted. Therefore, cups made of filter materials with different cells are inserted one after the other - first, a wire or plastic mesh, then a fabric with a different cell, and inside this design, a small pump.
Desktop Mini Fountain
You can make your own hands not only the composition of such a table fountain, but also a pump. How? Watch in the video.
Pebble fountain
A very interesting design at the fountains with pebbles. Their bowl is disguised so that it looks like a dry fountain without a bowl. In fact, there is a bowl, but it is decorated with pebbles, which are laid on a grid that covers the tank.
Dry pebble fountain - device diagram
A certain container is installed in a dug pit. Its volume and dimensions should be quite decent: to collect all the splashes, or at least most of them. A pump is placed in the container, covered with a metal or plastic mesh with a small cell on top. It serves to protect against the ingress of large contaminants into the water, and a thick wire mesh can be laid on top of this fine mesh. This is if you use pebbles. If you will be laying stone slabs, you can use boards or bars.
How to make a "dry" fountain with your own hands
With pebbles, it is probably better to do the opposite: first, lay a grid with a large cell as a base, and on it with a small one. So you don’t have to suffer with the choice of large pebbles, and garbage will not get into the water.
Rockery with a source - this fountain may look like this
For decorating a garden modern style more suitable option
If you turn on fantasy, you can come up with very interesting compositions on this basis. For example, one of the options with a garden watering can. If your garden is decorated in a classic style, a watering can fountain is unlikely to fit well, but very much so in a country style.
Watering can garden fountain
As you can see, water is collected in the same vessel, hidden under pebbles, and from there it is pumped into a watering can with a small pump.
Near the wall
it classic version- a small or large trickle of water runs from the wall, flowing into the bowl. As you may have guessed, there is a pump in the bowl that supplies water through a pipe to the water outlet point. It's simple if you know how. It's just a matter of implementation and decoration.
The scheme of the organization of the waterfall at the wall
In order for the pump to float, it is screwed to some kind of heavy plate. At least to the sidewalk, as long as the size fits. The case usually has corresponding mounting holes, but you should pay attention to this when choosing.
Classic wall fountain
If you plan to do something similar near the wall of the house or fence, take care of its waterproofing. Even if the water does not flow down the wall, splashes will fall on it and the humidity will be high. At a minimum, it is necessary to coat several times with a hydrophobic composition. Try to find one that doesn't change the color of the surface too much.
Another version of the fountain against the wall
The design style may be different. At the top bowl make a flat surface from which water flows down the wall. The effect is very interesting. It is important that the surface from which the water falls is mirror-smooth and absolutely horizontal.
A beautiful fountain for a summer residence in a minimalist or modern style
fountain cascade
Iridescent jets look very interesting. Fountains of this type are called cascades or cascades. With this organization, water is poured from one bowl to another. In the case of a country or garden fountain, you can come up with interesting shapes. For example, a fountain made of buckets, watering cans, kettles and even old garden carts.
Fountain-cascade from garden carts
The principle of organizing such a cascade is simple: several vessels or bowls fixed one above the other so that a stream of water falls from one to another. Below is the largest tank, and which is the pump. It delivers water through a hose to the uppermost of the vessels.
Another decorative garden fountain
How to make a fountain bowl
If you need classical form- a round, square or oval bowl from which a stream of water beats, the easiest way is to find a suitable plastic tank. They are different shapes and volume - from tens of liters to several tons. They are mostly black and blue in color. Although it seems that for our purposes it is better to take blue color, keep in mind that pollution is more visible against such a background. So that your fountain does not seem like a swamp, you will have to clean such a bowl often. From this point of view, it is more practical to take black - the water looks the same, but it needs to be washed less often.
plastic bowl garden fountain
The selected tank can either be buried flush with the ground level, or a side can be left. Most often, the sides are decorated with stone or pebbles. Depending on this, choose the depth of the pit. It is dug out in size a little more than a bowl.
You can read about how and with what you can decorate the site here.
When the required depth is reached, all stones-roots-snags are removed, the bottom is leveled, rammed, sand is added, with a layer of about 10 cm. It is well leveled and spilled - so that it compacts. Put a bowl on the prepared base, fill it with water. Sand or soil is poured into the gap between the walls of the bowl and the pit. Sand - if the soil is clayey, and the soil - if it drains normally. Having fallen asleep a small layer, it is compacted - carefully, with a pole or a deck, falling into the gap to be filled. But no matter how well you compact, be prepared for the fact that in a couple of weeks you will have to add more: the soil will sit down a few centimeters.
The bowl protrudes above the ground
You can do without a plastic bowl. There are two other options: make the tank out of cast-in-situ concrete. In this case, you can make a fountain with sides. The process is long and costly, and even waterproofing needs to be taken care of.
Most cheap option- dig a pit and lay it out with a film. In principle, any polyethylene high density but it will last a year, maybe two. Then she starts to let the water through. Special films for pools are more reliable in this regard, but they cost decent money, but they can be used for years. The manufacturing technology of such a bowl for the fountain is captured in the photo.
Pit marking and earthworks
The first stage is digging a pit and leveling the walls. After the required shape and dimensions are reached, the horizontal platforms are leveled and covered with a layer of sand. It will protect the film from possible damage.
We lay the film in the finished pit. Inside, it should lie without tension, freely. Its edges are covered with soil, pressed with boulders. To prevent the germination of plant roots through the film, it is not advisable to spread geotextiles under it. This non-woven fabric is very tear-resistant. It is used when laying roads so that the soil is not crushed and trees do not sprout. So she protect the fountain without difficulty.
Laying in the pit of the film
Boulders are laid out on the laid out film. If the pit is stepped, boulders should lie on each step. When the design of the bowl is almost completed, the pump is placed. The bowl is filled with water and tested - and the bowl for tightness and pump performance.
The film laid in the pit is decorated with boulders. Then put the pump
Actually, that's all, if the electricity is connected, you can start the fountain.
Photo design ideas
- Video: we make a mini stream on our own
- Video: pond, stream for home
- Principle of operation
- Video: a small version of the stone yourself
- Design features
- Construction assembly
- Video: interesting option from a tire
The fashion for fountains for apartments and houses appeared in our country a long time ago and is currently experiencing its second birth. Such a decorative technique for interior design of living rooms is still considered an original solution to revive it and give some freshness to the interior space of the premises.
How to make a fountain with your own hands? If there is enough space, it is possible to build a home fountain or a small lake with water lilies - all this is a matter of your imagination and taste.
A home fountain can be a good way of arranging the little lived-in corners of your apartment (balconies with plants, for example). If the area is small, then you can make a mini waterfall.
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Video: we make a mini stream on our own
Before you start building a waterfall, you should study a number of examples in photos and videos on the Internet, where indoor fountains are presented in all their diversity. Having decided on the size (mini or larger version), appearance, design (waterfall, stream, etc.), you can start creating a fountain with your own hands.
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Video: pond, stream, home
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Principle of operation
The indoor fountain is very simple and consists in organizing the circulation of the water mass in a closed cycle, which is carried out by means of a compact electric pump. At the same time, water rises to a collection point located at some elevation, from where it flows or falls like a small waterfall into a special storage tank.
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Video: a small version of the stone yourself
The choice of a suitable shape and design, according to which a home fountain will be created, will, of course, depend on the features of the interior of your apartment. At the same time, you can always complement the waterfall with well-designed lighting and unobtrusive soundtrack so that it turns into decorative element your dreams. Home fountains should relax the owners and decorate the room, causing delight among the guests. Suitable options can be searched in the photo.
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Design features
The simplest do-it-yourself indoor fountain can be made from the following minimum required set components:
- base on which indoor fountains are mounted (receiving tank);
- standard silicone hose;
- mini pump from an aquarium or another pump option;
- a container used as a source (or several to make a waterfall, as in the photo at the beginning of the article).
In addition, for the design of the composition and decoration, you will need decorative soil, expanded clay and other auxiliary materials. Home fountains should look interesting to decorate the interior. Examples can be seen in the photo.
You can use a sea shell as a source big size or an elegant mini jug in which an inconspicuous hole should be drilled. It will be needed to install a piece of silicone hose into the “source”, through which water will be supplied to this container using a pump or pump. As a base (receiving container), you can use a regular flower pot.
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Construction assembly
We begin to assemble a home fountain with our own hands by fixing a piece of silicone hose on the pump tip and placing the latter at the bottom of the receiving container. We also put expanded clay here and cover it all with a dense plastic film (preferably black), in which we cut a hole and pass a piece of hose from the pump through it.
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The film will delay expanded clay from surfacing when the container is filled with water. On top of the film we lay a layer of colored decorative soil. Do-it-yourself indoor fountain is almost ready.
The source stand can be built from stones glued together with waterproof glue, before passing the hose from the pump through it. After that, you just have to pass the hose through the hole drilled earlier in the source and cut off its excess. Your waterfall, stream, pond is ready!
Similar content
Decorative ponds and fountains personal plot may be the main elements landscape design. Next to them you can arrange a cozy seating area. The murmur of living water will create a feeling of peace and tranquility. You can create such a corner with your own hands, even if you have little skills and means.
The principle of operation of the fountain and its types
In order to understand the device of this useful and decorative building, enough elementary knowledge of physical laws. All existing fountains are divided into two large groups:
- having a closed system of fluid movement;
- with an open water system.
The first type of fountains needs a reservoir filled with water. It can be either a pond or a specially selected container, for example, a plastic basin. The circulation of water is started by a pump. After the wet “salute” splashes out, the liquid returns to the reservoir and repeats the same path again. It turns out the water cycle - but not in nature, but in a system of tubes connected to the pump.
Fountains of the second type are distinguished by the absence of circulation and, as a rule, are connected to flow-through hydraulic structures. In particular, if you make a hole in the outer water pipe, you get the most primitive fountain. In this case, no capacity is required. It remains only to think about how to direct the water flows further.
The diagram shows all the components of the fountain
The principle of operation of any type of fountain is that liquid is supplied under pressure into a pipe ending with a spray nozzle. The type of nozzle sets the water output to the outside in a certain shape.
Cascade
The liquid, overflowing alternately from one container to another, resembles a multi-tiered waterfall. Instead, you can also run water over "steps" of stones. It is allowed to do without nozzles, while the end of the pipe is masked.
Water is transferred from one bowl to another, forming a cascade
Geyser
Vertical discharge of water - distinguishing feature this most common type. It reminds of natural springs gushing out of the ground - geysers. Noisy splashes give garden plot liveliness and irrigate nearby plantings.
The geyser resembles springs gushing out of the ground
Bell
A vertical jet of water passes through a special nozzle of two discs, distributing evenly along its edges. The walls of the resulting water hemisphere become smooth and continuous.
Water passes through the nozzle and is converted into a "bell"
Spray
The nozzle for the spray fountain has a lot of holes for the release of water. Some nozzle options are capable of moving and rotating under pressure, creating either rain or a shower.
The nozzle has many holes, the water at the outlet turns into small splashes
Pump selection
For small fountains the best option there will be a submersible pump. It is not only more expedient in a home-made structure, but also cheaper.
External pumps are required only where the fountain has a complex structure and occupies large area. Their noise is not extinguished by the water column, and in order to avoid theft, outdoor equipment has to be masked separately. On the other hand, "dry" outdoor pumps are easier to maintain.
An important parameter of the equipment is its power. If the height of the water jet does not exceed one and a half meters, then it is worth limiting to an indicator of 70 watts. If the power is greater, then the cascade will come out higher. Pumps with the ability to adjust the force of pressure are preferred, they allow you to change the height of the fountain.
The strength of the water at the outlet depends on the power of the equipment
When choosing a pump, you should focus on the ratio of indicators such as pressure and performance of the device. The first parameter characterizes to what height the jet directed upwards can rise. The second indicates the volume of water that is pumped by the fountain pump per hour.
Table: pump selection for different types of fountains
| Fountain type | maximum head (Hmax), m | maximum productivity (Qmax), m3/h |
| Geyser | 0,2 | 2 |
| 0,3 | 3 | |
| 0,5 | 4 | |
| 0,7 | 5 | |
| 0,8 | 7 | |
| Cascade | 0,6 | 1 |
| 1 | 2 | |
| 1,5 | 3 | |
| 2 | 5 | |
| 2,5 | 6 | |
| 3 | 8 | |
| Bell | 0,3 | 0,9 |
| 0,4 | 1,2 | |
| 0,5–0,6 | 3 | |
| 0,8 | 4 | |
| 0,9 | 6 |
How to make a fountain with your own hands
The first step is to determine the location of the hydraulic structure. It should be:
- away from trees so that the tank remains free of foliage falling into it;
- away from walls that can deteriorate from excess moisture;
- away from the paths so as not to block the road.
A good choice would be to decorate a playground or a place for relaxation with a fountain. Flowers, stones and will be appropriate nearby. If the fountain is placed in a lowland on a site with a slope, then the air for the plants growing above will become more humid and favorable. If you settle down at the top, and even with open system, the excess water will automatically water the garden.
Preparation of materials
In addition to the pump purchased at the store, other parts can be assembled from improvised materials. You will need either an unnecessary container or a pond. For the latter, a special hydro-repellent film - a liner - is added to the shopping list. To hold the film in place, its edges are pressed with bricks or stones.
Suitable for drainage sand, gravel or expanded clay.
Often, a metal mesh is installed on top of the bowl, on which stones masking the pump are laid. The presence of such a tricky detail significantly saves the amount of other materials that would have to fill the water space without it.
A simple spray fountain scheme
Work algorithm
- Dig a hole in the ground under a reservoir or reservoir, equal to height containers plus 5 cm.
- On the side where the drain will be directed, deepen by 40 cm.
- Geotextiles are laid on the bottom.
- Equip a drainage layer of coarse sand with a thickness of 5 centimeters.
- The tank is immersed in the resulting "hole".
- The submersible pump is installed at the bottom of the tank. To keep it there, the device is made heavier. To do this, attach to it any object that has a large weight. Alternatively, the pump is placed in a basket and filled with stones.
Dig a hole for a pond or reservoir
To properly install the pump, three rules must be observed:
- disguise. All electrical must be hidden;
- transformer. The device is connected to a low-voltage transformer located inside the nearest room;
- electrical safety. All connectors for extending the electrical cable must be reliably protected from moisture. A separate machine and RCD will not be superfluous on the line.
They ensure trouble-free operation of the pump by protecting it from contamination. To do this, a filter is installed in front of the nozzle of the device that traps debris. There is also protection against "dry running".
The finished fountain mechanism is decorated, the tank is filled with water and the pump is started. If required, the pump power is adjusted. If desired, equip the illumination of the structure for the evening hours of rest.
Is it possible to make a fountain without a pump
The magnificent Peterhof is famous for its 176 fountains that operate without pumps. The source of water in them is the Ropshinsky springs, passing through many pools and locks. Therefore, if on suburban area there is a spring, you can “connect” the fountain directly to it.
Another way to do without a pump is to create a device called Heron's fountain. This option is also suitable for those who do not have natural sources on the site.
The principle of the "eternal" fountain is cyclical
Two of the three containers shown in the diagram - namely B and C - are hermetically sealed, water is poured into A - this is a visible fountain reservoir. The whole trinity is located one above the other and is connected by a system of tubules. In order to start the mechanism, it is enough to add water to the open bowl A. Pressure is created and the liquid starts to move. The magic stops when all the water from the middle vessel goes into the lower one. The thinner the tubes, the longer this moment is delayed.
Create a fountain with your own hands using the law of communicating vessels according to ancient method Geron can even be from ordinary plastic bottles. If five-liter ones are taken, then one charge of water is enough for 40 minutes of continuous operation of the mechanism. Tubes are preferred those used in droppers. The tightness of the vessels is provided with silicone sealant.
Primitive fountain model
Video: how to make a fountain yourself
How to equip
Statues and figurines always remain classics of the genre. Sculpting enthusiasts with artistic talent will be pleased to work on disguising the pump. The material for the manufacture of monumental figures is polymer concrete - an artificial stone. It retains the strength of forms even in harsh frosts.
Modeling and statues - traditional elements of decor
In a large area, even a car is allowed to be disposed of. Let the currents of living water pass through it and give strength to the green shoots around, and the neighbors will stop to take a selfie against such an unusual background.
Even an old car will come in handy
Such a still life will be more appetizing. Old samovars, teapots and cups will be used, and the pump tube will be hidden in the leg of the tea table. Abundance pouring onto the earth will be a symbol of the endless hospitality of the owner of the cottage.
Fountain still life - original composition in the recreation area
Imitation natural source will always be appropriate among lovers of natural farming. To decorate the fountain, only the stone that is under your feet is taken. Naturalness is provided by this technique one hundred percent.
Natural stone is one of the popular materials used in landscape design.
An excellent illustration of the fact that it is not necessary to engage in earthworks for arranging a fountain. A geometrically calibrated stone slab becomes an obstacle in the way of a spring allegedly beating from the depths and, unable to withstand its power, passes upwards.
An ordinary stone slab can be installed among plants on large pebbles
The Art Nouveau fountain is modern and minimalistic with its right angles. The accent of the building is given by successful lighting at the place where the water flow falls. Light bulbs for underwater "chandeliers" are purchased exclusively LED and completely protected from moisture ingress.
Good lighting will make the whole composition livelier.
You can even imitate the miracle of levitation. For the illusion of a water tap hovering above the ground, it is enough to simply veil the pump hose in a transparent plastic tube. Water enters the faucet, turns around and falls down.
Skillfully decorating tubes and wires, you can create an unusual composition
In this version, it is as if an invisible gardener is watering flowers in a flower bed. If the tube is thin enough, it will not be visible from a distance. For such a fountain, any used dishes are taken. Here, a bowl was added to the teapot.
An old teapot and a rusty bowl found a use
From these bottles will flow uninterrupted fun. With such an original fountain, it is not a shame to invite friends to barbecues. And let alcohol remain at the celebration of life only in this form - in the form of cooling water.
The original fountain, next to which you can stay with friends
There is nothing easier than putting the old musical instrument in a bath filled with water. On the waves of the pouring "music", a children's rubber duck sways quietly. Such an installation would be the envy of the best museums in the world. If desired, the structure is removed, and the bath is used for its intended purpose. The versatility of the tank is another feature of the presented masterpiece.
The design is easy to assemble and disassemble
Rules for care and maintenance
The same water, circulating in a circle, gradually evaporates. topping up new portion- the very first thing you will encounter when operating the fountain.
Periodically, the water must be completely replaced in order to avoid its deterioration. Over time, dust settles in the liquid, polluting it. The water turns cloudy bad smell. Simple measures can reduce the amount of dirt coming from outside - it is enough to close the fountain from above with any material at hand after each use.
When draining water, it is necessary to clean all the internal surfaces of the fountain. The filter, fixed at the pump nozzle, is rubbed with a brush.
The shading of the fountain helps to delay the blooming of the water.
Before the onset of the winter months, all water is removed for good, and the fountain is dried. The pump is removed and transferred to the room until spring. If the device is planned to be stored in a cold room, after drying it is cleaned of deposits. If the room is warm, you can avoid the cleaning procedure by storing the pump in a bucket of water.
If dimensions allow and the fountain is mobile, it is moved entirely under cover. If not, the structure is covered with a film.
In a pond equipped with a hydraulic structure, it is often difficult to change the water. Large debris floating on the surface is caught with long-handled nets. Planting algae and populating it with molluscs allows you to start the process of cleaning the reservoir. The more the pump nozzle sprays the jet, the more oxygen the pond will receive - this also has a positive effect on the freshness of the water.
A properly selected pump and a creative touch in the design - that's all that is required to complete the dacha happiness. They say that a person is able to look at fire and water endlessly. However, even five minutes spent at the babbling fountain can give you a feeling of infinity.
