How to Build a Pond - Adding a Fountain or Waterfall |
For many the soothing sound of running water is one of the main reasons for installing a pond. The gentle splash of a fountain or waterfall is relaxing and adds to the calming escapism in your garden. So, let's take a closer look at your details you need to consider before adding a fountain or waterfall to your pond. What do you need to consider? |
First decide if your fountain or waterfall will use mains electricity or solar power. Solar power is a great option for small fountains. Solar panels collect the sun's energy and either send it directly to the pump or store it in a battery for later use. Without a battery, the pump will only work when the solar panel is in direct sunlight. To maximise the solar energy, it's best to angle the panel toward the sun and if the pump has a battery, it will charge during sunny hours, especially if it catches the midday sun. You can then turn it on whenever you want the fountain to run and it will be ready. These types of pumps will even work at night and the majority of them come with illumination lights too. We have a fantastic range of solar powered fountains including the Pondkraft Solar Water Feature to more simpler options like the Oase PondoSolar Fountain Pump. Solar fountains
are usually quite small, typically up to 50cm tall, so if you'd like a larger fountain
then we'd recommend using mains power. It can be
tricky to get power to your pond depending on the distances involved. For a lot
of people it’s just a case of running the pump cable (they always come with 10
metres or 32’) back to an outside socket or one in the garage. We would also recommend that you use a circuit breaker either at the socket or back at the
consumer unit in the house or garage. If the pump were to become faulty (a
damaged cable perhaps) then this could literally be a lifesaver. If you need to take
the power further or you’d like to put more electrical items in the pond like lights or an ultraviolet filter (UVC)) then you should either hire an electrician in or make sure that you have the right kit. Any permanent
electrical work, like adding an outside socket, is governed by the Part P
Electrical Regulations. This means, for us non-electricians, you can only
connect your garden electrics to a plug that goes into a socket.
Fountain or Waterfall? or Both? |
Fountains make a lovely display, firing water up above the
pond surface and letting it fall back into the pond. There are lots of
different fountain types and most pumps come with a choice of fountain heads so be sure to check our our range and find your favourite. If you want a fountain then get a fountain pump,
these usually have a plastic mesh cage around them with small holes in it. The
idea is that anything that can get into the pump can also get out of the
fountain head so it shouldn’t block up too often. If it does block then just
get it out, open the cage and squirt it with a hosepipe. With that in mind
think about where you put the fountain. Placing it in the middle of a large pond can make it challenging to get to for cleaning and upkeep so ensure the fountain head is placed above the water surface. Most fountains come with a telescopic stem or tube to assist with this adjustment, so if your pond is deep, you may need to adjust the pump slightly. Options like using a stack of bricks, an upturned planting basket, or a designated pump stand to achieve the right height. Preventing Water Loss and Promoting Fish Health Fountains can be blown by the wind, causing some water to be blown out of the pond and into the garden, which can eventually lead to pond water loss. If your pond is in a windy location, try a lower-profile fountain like a bell jet (or mushroom jet) as it it less likely to be affected. Fountains add oxygen to the water, safeguarding
the health of fish in hot weather and reducing the build-up of algae. Some
people will only run the fountain when they are in the garden, others will run
it day and night - it's totally up to you. We suggest running it when you want to enjoy the garden and
whenever the weather is good. |
Waterfalls work slightly different to fountains, with a pump in the pond connected to a hose leading to the top of the waterfall. The water then flows down, and returns back into the pond in a repeating cycle. These types of pump have a plastic mesh cage with large holes in the outside so that big lumps of dirt are drawn into the pump. This dirt goes straight through the pump and is sent back down the waterfall with the water. So even though the pump is unlikely to block, you could add a filter to keep your pond clean which would sit between the pump and the waterfall. |
For maximum water turnover, make sure the waterfall pump at the bottom of the pond is as far from the waterfall return as possible. Lot's of people have their waterfall running all the time, but this is only necessary if you are using it to power a filter. Waterfalls can be noisy too so if you are worried about that then there are a few ways you can reduce the noise factor. The easiest option being to make a series of short falls where the water lands on rocks, and at the end where it does go back into the water have it just run in off a rock rather than fall. A small fountain pump might use as little as 10 watts, while a larger waterfall pump might use around 60 watts - the same as a traditional light bulb. Cheaper pumps may be more expensive to run, so pay attention to the wattage when purchasing. When choosing a pump for a waterfall, consider the size and the height of the fall. Use the table below to determine the required flow rate. All of our pumps list their performance when pumping to approximately 1 metre (3 feet) above the pond surface. If your waterfall is higher, call us on 01904 698800 and we’ll work it out for you. |
Width of Waterfall | A Thin Film of water Over a Ledge |
|---|
Inches | CM | Gallons Per Hour | Litres Per Hour | 6 | 15 | 300 | 1400 | 12 | 30 | 900 | 4000 | 16 | 40 | 1300 | 6000 | 20 | 50 | 1650 | 7500 | 24 | 60 | 2850 | 13000 |
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If
you plan to use a pump to run a filter look at our blog post on calculating
flow rate, as it is a bit more complicated, or give our friendly team a call on
01904 698800 |
If
you want both a fountain and a waterfall then there are lots of pumps for that
too. These are bigger fountain pumps that have an additional outlet to attach
to a hose, for example, our Oase Aquarius Fountain Set. The hose goes to the waterfall and the fountain sticks out of the
top of the water. There will be a tap or flow control on the fountain stem of the pump so that you can control the height of the fountain and the force of the waterfall. Bear
in mind that if you intend to add a filter then this pump will need to run all
the time. Lots of people who want a fountain and a waterfall buy two pumps.
With fountain pumps starting at around £20, for not much money you can have the
freedom to turn the waterfall and fountain off independently. Enjoy your pond! Want to know more? Introduction To Filter Pumps... Filter Pumps... Fountain pumps... Electrical Equipment... |
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