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How to Install a Fountain
Most fountains are fitted to add visual interest or sound effects to a water feature or pond but they also add oxygen to the water and that helps fish and wildlife too. A fountain needs an electricity supply and a pump – both are easier to fit at the same time as the feature or pond is built, rather than as an afterthought.
To choose a fountain, go to an aquatic supplier and see a range of spray patterns made by different jets. Here you will also get advice on what size pump you will need and what spray patterns are suitable for your type of pond. If you have ambitious plans for a large fountain you will need a large pond and a powerful pump. This will add greatly to the cost, so check out all the options first. A statue or sculpture is not necessary, but if you opt for one find out if it has a brass fountain jet incorporated, then all you need is a length of flexible plastic pipe plus a hose connector to join it to the pump.
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Submersible pump (a pump rated 1000 litres/hour is ok for small fountains); fountain jet (these are sometimes supplied with the pump); flexible plastic pipe, hose connectors and fountain stand (only needed if the pump is installed at the edge of the pond); slabs or large terracotta pot; plastic conduit; plug; RCD (residual current device).
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You need to be able to get at the pump and fountain to maintain it. If you have a small pond or water feature then it is easiest to put the pump in the middle with the fountain jet directly above it. However, in a large pond, it is worth putting the pump at the edge (ideally under an overhanging edge) and having a flexible plastic pipe connecting the pump to the fountain jet in the middle of the pond.
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The pump needs to be raised up from the floor of the pond to reduce the amount of debris sucked in, and to ensure the fountain head is just clear of the water. Use an upturned terracotta pot or slabs to get the right height (you may need to tie small pumps on). Most pumps have a pre-filter supplied to prevent debris getting sucked in. This will need cleaning every so often.
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The safest option is to have a proper outdoor power socket with an RCD fitted by a qualified electrician, a waterproof plug is then fitted to the pump. If this is too expensive and the fountain will be near the house, you can plug the pump into an indoor socket. First protect the cable by pushing it through plastic conduit, then fit a normal plug. If your house does not have RCD protection then buy a plug-in RCD.
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One person needs to adjust the flow of water to the fountain by turning the flow adjuster, a screw in between the pump and the fountain jet, while another looks to see that all the water is returning to the pond and turns the power on and off.
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A central fountain is best in a small pond |
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Position your pump and fountain base |
The jet should be the right height for your pond |
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