How to make a fountain pump with your own hands: a step-by-step master class

Making a home fountain

Nowadays, it has become very popular to have a small fountain in your home. According to the laws of ancient Chinese teachings, fountains are specially placed indoors to ensure prosperity and abundance to its owners. In addition, the sound of running water has a calming effect, promotes relaxation and rest.

Is it possible to make a home fountain with your own hands? Of course - yes!

Required to purchase:

• regular pump for aquarium;
• silicone tube for the pump;
• glue - sealant;
• the basis for a fountain in the form of a vase, planter, flower pot or an ordinary small basin (the main condition is tightness);
• decorative stones of large and medium sizes, shells and other elements of your choice;
• upper tank. As it is used specially prepared (that is, drilled) jugs, plates, etc .;

Manufacturing method:

install an aquarium pump into the bowl of the future fountain using glue or special suction cups that come with the pump;
insert the silicone tube into the pump in a strictly vertical position;
lay out the prepared decor elements in the form of a slide, leave the end of the tube open;
attach the upper decorative tank to the tube;
pay special attention to sealing and structural strength (due to glue).

Regardless of the type or shape, any do-it-yourself decorative fountain will delight you and everyone around you.

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 alpine slides 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 an open system, then 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

1. Under the reservoir or reservoir, they dig a recess in the ground equal to the height of the container plus 5 cm.
2. On the side where the drain will be directed, deepen by 40 cm.
3. Geotextiles are laid on the bottom.
4. Equip a drainage layer of coarse sand with a thickness of 5 centimeters.
5. The tank is immersed in the resulting "hole".
6. 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 there is a spring in the summer cottage, 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.

You can create a fountain with your own hands using the law of communicating vessels according to the ancient method of Heron, even 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

Materials for creating a water pump

Having decided to move to the country, you should think about the cozy arrangement of the site. One of the options are various figures with water. The chosen form should be in harmony with the overall situation. The choice of materials should be approached responsibly.

For assembly you need:

• nozzles;
• hoses;
• atomizer type cascade;
• spray kit.

The spray form is also selected - a geyser, a jet separation system, and others.

A decorative fountain is a decoration of the site that will lighten and moisten the summer atmosphere. But for him, you should stock up on equipment that will ensure the fountain's uninterrupted operation.

Tanks, reservoirs and reservoirs

The size of the building can be very different. It is from the desired dimensions that you need to build on when choosing a bowl. If you are thinking about how to make a small fountain in the country with your own hands, a large flower pot mounted on a pedestal, or even an ordinary basin dug into the ground and decorated with pebbles around the circumference, is suitable for this. It remains only to fill it with water, lower the pump and connect it to the network.

For a more solid structure, you can also pick up a tank by buying a ready-made one in a store or adapting an old bath. Finished containers are made of plastic and composite materials. The former are cheaper, but do not differ in high strength, the latter are more expensive, have considerable weight, but serve for a long time.

The reservoir can be of any shape and size.

Installation of the finished container

To mount the tank under it, they dig a pit of the appropriate size and depth in the ground, taking into account the sand cushion, which is covered to the bottom with a layer of 5-10 cm and rammed.

The bowl is installed in the pit, leveled and sand is poured under it around the entire perimeter. To compact the sand, it is shed with water.

Video description

Installation of a tank for an ornamental pond and fountain is shown in the video:

Making a bowl with your own hands

Not finding a suitable container in the store, you can approach the issue differently, how to build a fountain at the cottage with their own hands. This will require sand, geotextiles and a film for pools or a regular thick plastic film (it is cheaper):

• First, a pit of the required size and depth is dug.
• The bottom, after removing the roots, stones and other bulges, is carefully compacted and covered with sand.
• Then the pit is completely covered with geotextiles to prevent plant germination.
• A film is loosely laid on top of the geotextile. It should not be stretched, and the edges should extend to the surface of the earth by at least 25 cm.
• Along the perimeter, the edges of the film are pressed with boulders; pebbles and rounded stones without sharp edges that can damage the waterproofing are also laid on the bottom of the bowl.

Ready pond for the fountain

The cable from the pump is brought to the surface, hiding between the boulders. To reach it to the outlet, a shallow groove is dug from the reservoir to it and the cable is laid in it, having previously passed it through a corrugated or plastic water pipe.

Waterfall device

It is a little more difficult to solve the problem of how to build a fountain in a country house with a waterfall. You will have to perform additional work, namely:

• build a cascade of stones on the edge of the reservoir;
• lay a pipe from the pump outlet to its top.

The cascade can also be bought ready-made or folded from large stones, fastened with cement mortar.

Ready-made design for a waterfall

In the process of laying the cascade, a pressure hose from the reservoir must be laid between the stones if a submersible pump is used. Or the suction pipeline of a surface unit, for which it is necessary to immediately prepare a place protected from precipitation.

Video description

More information about the independent construction of the cascade is described in the video:

At the end of the construction, the fountain is decorated by planting moisture-loving plants around it, installing garden sculptures. Do not forget to equip a recreation area nearby with comfortable benches or a hammock.

Before you build a fountain with your own hands, you need to consider its parameters: the size and depth of the bowl, the height to which the column of water should rise, the method of decoration. After that, you can buy or independently build a water tank and select a pump. To install the finished bowl, it is enough to dig a pit under it and pour a layer of sand. A home-made pond is waterproofed with geotextiles and film. For the device of the fountain, you can purchase a submersible pump and install it at the bottom. Surface mechanisms are placed on the shore and a suction and pressure pipeline is connected to them.

Fountain decoration

After the main functional elements are installed, you need to take care of the installation of the fountain itself, or rather its upper part. If you are using ready-made sculptures, then they must be provided with special fasteners for installation.But a home-made stone fountain is best installed on metal slats, previously laid on top of the tank.

Then proceed to decorate the structure. The fountain can be decorated with plants, stones of various sizes, clay figurines, microsculptures and any other details that seem appropriate to you on your site.

You can decorate the fountain with stones, sculptures and plants

Do not forget about such a spectacular decor tool as lighting. It can be underwater lamps, light strips, floating lanterns, ground lamps - here you are also unlimited. But remember that lighting structures must be completely sealed, and all their contacts must be protected from water as reliably as possible, otherwise it will be unsafe to use them.

When all work is completed, fill the tank with water and start the fountain.

As you can see, to make a beautiful fountain with your own hands, you do not need to work hard and spend a lot of money. Do not deviate from the instructions, use high-quality materials and do not be afraid to experiment with decor - following these three simple rules, you will definitely get a functional fountain that will delight your eyes and tune in a positive way for many years.

How to choose a place

You need to carefully choose a site for a homemade fountain. In particular, the choice of location depends not only on the structure itself, but also on the nuances of the landscape area, on aesthetic details.

To arrange, for example, decorative cascades in a country house, it would be best to do this on a natural or artificially created break in the relief, which will coincide with the direction of the water flow.

A pressure fountain is suitable for a flat open space on the site. And the waterfall can give dynamics to the landscape, emphasizing the beauty of the site. A fountain for an apartment can be placed in any corner of the room, the main thing is that it does not interfere with movement.

We select and install a pump for the fountain with our own hands

Do-it-yourself fountain pump

To decorate a garden plot, you can use all the achievements of landscape design, which have appeared a lot over a long time in the development of this art. You can arrange a stepped layout of the site, you can plant a composition of various plants on it, both annual flowers and full-fledged trees, but probably the most luxurious option would be to install a fountain on the site. Today, many companies offer their services for the production and installation of fountains, however, many of the work can be done independently - for example, if you install a fountain pump with your own hands, which can save a fairly large amount of money. It is also quite within the power of any master of construction work to equip the fountain's capacity, lay a water pipe and install cleaning elements. General diagrams of the fountain device can be found on the net, from which you can understand the whole principle of its operation and draw up list of all required materials. Probably the most difficult element is the pump - you need to decide which type is suitable, choose a specific manufacturer and model.

Fountain pump - types and principle of operation

There are many models and modifications of pumps for fountains on sale, but they are all divided into 2 large groups - submersible pumps and surface pumps.

Submersible pumps have the following characteristics:

• installed and operated underwater;
• have a relatively low price;
• you can easily install a submersible fountain pump with your own hands;
• compact;
• silent.

Surface pumps are characterized by the following features:

• work on the surface of the water;
• do not require complex maintenance;
• are more expensive compared to submersible models;
• installation of a surface pump is quite complicated;
• generate some noise.

This is general information and should not be taken as a guide to action. Everyone who wants to have a fountain must decide for himself which of the types he will prefer. In principle, you can install any fountain pump with your own hands, because in any case there will be certain difficulties and features.

In addition to the type of pump, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account such characteristics as the performance of the pump, its power. The larger the fountain is needed, the more performance is needed. However, such a model should have more power, therefore, energy consumption will be greater. In principle, in order to determine the type of pump you need, you can consult a specialized store where the pump will be purchased. Of course, you can try to make a fountain pump with your own hands, but this is a very complicated process that can be just a waste of time.

Fountain Pump Installation Recommendations

The submersible pump is mounted on a small pedestal in the middle of the future fountain. The pedestal can be built of brick or flat stones. Do not install the pump directly on the bottom of the fountain - the pump filter will become clogged much faster.The pressure nozzle can be installed almost anywhere - both above the pump and to the side.

It is recommended to install a surface pump for a fountain with your own hands on a well-prepared site, closed on all sides. To get more pressure, you should install the pump as close to the fountain as possible. 2 pipes come out of the pump, one takes water, and the other pumps water into the nozzle. To make the fountain look more aesthetically pleasing, you need to take care of hiding the pipes. To do this, you can mount them in the bottom of the fountain or paint them with decorative paint.

More home fountains

Aquarium micropump

It was said above about the most powerful aquarium pumps. And the smallest ones, at 50-100 l / h from water to water, the size of a couple of matchboxes, see fig. They are inexpensive, they consume so much electricity that the disk of an electromechanical meter does not move. The electronic counter, however, senses them. Head at "drip" flow - up to 30 cm; regulated by the weakest and cheapest thyristor regulator or just a 4.7-10 kOhm 15 W rheostat. But keep in mind that in this case the regulator will be 220 V!

Indoor mini fountains

Putting a rigid tube on the output of the pump micropump, we get a room mini-fountain with a jet, pos. 1 in fig. left; the bowl, of course, can be filled with anything that does not rot, rust, or float. And with a flexible tube, you can build a desktop mini-pond with a nymphaeum. It will grow aquarium varieties of arrowhead, lemongrass (in this case, it is not a Far Eastern liana, but an aquatic plant), dwarf papyrus, etc. amphibious plants.

Scheme of the phytotron fountain

Home flower growers will have to fit the phytotron fountain from the same pump.In fact, a phytotron is a miniature greenhouse with a climate control and lighting, but a small boulder fountain will create a microclimate around itself, in which the most fastidious plants, up to the high mountains, will take root. In the phytotron fountain, it is sometimes possible to root cuttings of exotic conifers (for example, araucaria) or casuarina without heteroauxin. Scheme of the fountain-phytotron - on the trail. rice. on right.

Choosing a location for the fountain

The correct location of the fountain not only ensures the maximum decorative effect of the structure, but also makes it easier to care for it during operation. If the fountain is located in a completely open area that is actively heated by the sun, the water will evaporate and bloom faster.

You can not equip a pond with a fountain next to trees and deciduous shrubs. Firstly, this will damage the pond bowl with roots, and secondly, leaves, small twigs and other debris will fall into the water. Under such conditions, the filters quickly become clogged and fail, and the water becomes cloudy and acquires a putrid odor.

The choice of location for the fountain is of great importance.

The fountain should be located on the leeward side and no closer than half a meter from buildings and garden furniture. Splashes and mist will keep the surfaces wet all the time, which will lead to the development of fungus and the gradual destruction of materials. But the fountain should not be placed too far from the house either. Electricity is required to connect the pump, and a cable that is too long causes additional inconvenience and costs. The illuminated fountain looks very impressive, and for this it is also necessary that the energy source be at the optimal distance from the reservoir.

Illuminated fountain looks very impressive

And last but not least, the fountain must have a decorative background and be visible from different parts of the site. It makes no sense to install such a structure if it is not possible to admire it and show it to guests. Decorative fountain should be located in a conspicuous place

Decorative fountain should be located in a conspicuous place

Schemes and drawings

To create a design will be the necessary drawings.

small fountain

You will need a container for the accumulation of water and a pump. Various decorative details, such as stone slabs, are put on the tube coming from the pump. A hole is drilled in the center of each stone and strung on a pipe in decreasing order, forming a pyramid.

To prevent water from escaping from the tank, a drain system is provided. A pipe is inserted into the container, the free end of which is led to a suitable place.

Fountain Installation Diagram:

1. They dig a hole in which they install a voluminous flower pot without holes.
2. Bricks are placed on the side walls. They will give stability and strength.
3. A pump with a pipe is fixed between the bricks.
4. Fill the container with water.
5. Holes are drilled in the center of the prepared tiles and put on the pipe.
6. The free surface is covered with pebbles.

Room and desktop

Small fountains are distinguished by a low power pump. For manufacturing, you will need bamboo, which is bought at a flower shop:

1. Bamboo up to 72 cm long is cut into three unequal parts. On one side of each part, an oblique cut is made.
2. A pump is placed in the container, the largest piece of bamboo is put on, the other two pieces are attached to it.
3. The container is decorated with sprigs of growing bamboo.
4. The surface is filled with pebbles, water is poured in and the pump is turned on.

Pebble

The work involves the implementation of simple sequential actions:

• a container is placed in the recess made;
• a pump with a pipe is fixed in the center of the tank;
• the bowl is covered with a metal grate;
• then install a mesh with small cells made of strong wire;
• pebbles are laid on top of the grid.

Near the wall

The water jet coming from the wall back into the bowl looks beautiful. In the center of the bowl is a pump that pushes water through a pipe of various lengths to a given point.

fountain cascade

With this design option, water flows from one reservoir to another. The fountain is easy to make from any improvised materials. Suitable buckets, watering cans, carts. The principle of operation of such a design is simple:

• the selected containers are attached to each other so that water flows freely overflow from one container to another;
• below, under the containers, install the main, large bowl;
• a pump is attached to the main tank;
• a hose is attached to the pump, which will pump water into the uppermost container.

Tiffany

The design is a combination of a fish tail (several pipes for the exit of a jet of water) and a bell (one powerful pipe is installed in the center for the exit of water). Thick jets fall in one or more directions.

Tulip

A powerful pump with a pipe nozzle is installed in the center of the bowl. Spherical discs are placed at the upper end of the nozzle. A jet of water is supplied at a slight angle, forming a flower shape at the top.

Ring

Install a strong pipe, bent in the form of a ring. Holes are made in the pipe at an equal distance from each other. Guide nozzles are inserted into each hole.

singing

A musical fountain will decorate any landscape. The design consists of a bowl, a music control system, a water filtration system and jet height control.

From a bath or other improvised materials

Any container for the accumulation of water is chosen; it is not necessary to line the pit with a film. The main thing is that the container is free of damage, cracks and chips. An old bathtub, barrel, flower pot or basin is suitable.

The fountain from the bathroom is made according to the following scheme:

• a bath is installed in a dug hole, hermetically sealing the drain holes;
• smooth, oval stones are laid on the bottom;
• fix the pump;
• fill the container with water.

Installing a pump and decorating a garden fountain

When the bowl is ready, the pumping system is installed. Depending on the size of the fountain, the pump power is also selected, as well as additional equipment - a pipeline system, a filter, etc. The whole system must work according to the following principle: the water ejected through the nozzle will be collected in the bowl, from which it will begin to flow into the drain hole, from where - into the pipeline, passing first a rough and then a finer cleaning, then the pump from the pipeline will pump the already purified water back to the nozzle.

After installing the pumping system, the fountain itself is mounted, and then it is drawn up.

To decorate the fountain, you can use special nozzles that give the jets of water the shape of geysers, tulips, domes, umbrellas, hemispheres, etc.

Additionally, the fountain can be decorated with lighting. The lighting system must be protected from water by sealed packaging.Decorative lighting can be installed at the bottom of the bowl (along the contour) or you can use all kinds of floating lights, buy a ready-made floating fountain with lighting.

This includes all the same requirements that apply to the maintenance and cleaning of artificial reservoirs. In small containers, water must be drained for the winter, the container should be cleaned and securely covered with a film that protects against dust, dirt and precipitation. It is also desirable to dismantle all removable structural elements for the winter period.

Watch the video "Garden Ponds with Fountains" to better understand how this work is done:

Fountain device

Creating a country fountain is not a difficult task that requires a lot of time and money. In most cases, the owners decide to install fountains in the country. Of course, the situation with the cost will change in the case of the construction of a large structure.

All structures are divided according to the method of construction into: closed and open. For construction, the type of structure is selected depending on the method of water supply. Closed ones use the same water, and open ones use new water. The simplest are the first fountains, they are not only easier to install, but also cheaper to maintain. Despite the closed system, you will periodically have to add water, as some part will pour out and evaporate.

An enclosed fountain is easier to install and cheaper to maintain.

When arranging an open-type fountain, it will be necessary to take into account the need to create a system for supplying water, maintaining the required level and draining it. In some cases, the design is also used to water the garden or vegetable garden.

Fountain pumps

A pump is a necessary thing that allows you to "push" water in the right direction.The easiest to handle are models equipped with built-in filters. This design allows you to free the owner from the need to perform unnecessary actions. All that is required is to periodically pour water.

A rich market allows the owner to purchase a pump of the required power, depending on the desired jet height. The type and nature of the jet can be modified thanks to interchangeable nozzles. The pump is powered from a 220 V network, and for warm regions, models that are charged using solar panels are suitable.

The pump power depends on the desired jet height.

All such pumps are specially made for liquids, so they are hermetically sealed. But owners often install additional equipment: an automatic machine or an RCD, which are mounted on the pump connection line

Such precautions will never be redundant.

Fountains without pumps

There are two ways to make a fountain without a pump, the first is an open type design. In this case, the main thing is to find a way to obtain water under pressure. Pipes of the central water supply system or from a well and a well are well suited for this. Changing the shape of the jet is possible with the help of tips. But in this case, you will have to consider a way to drain water, for example, back into the well or use it for irrigation.

The second way is to install a container of water at a certain height, so that the liquid will go through the pipe to the fountain below. To achieve a medium-sized jet, it is necessary to raise the water tank by at least three meters. But to supply water to the tank itself, a pump will also be required, but no longer submersible. Thanks to this, it will be possible to save money, since the cost of submersible pumps is high.