Help me with this water feature

13 years ago

I asked the man who is repairing some stone work on my patio if he could lay a stone foundation in my front garden so that I could place a fountain without worrying about the fountain tipping. He quoted me a very reasonable price, so I was excited to come home today and see the result.

We had a slight communication error :( but I think I can still salvage the project. He dug out a six foot circle, which he lined with concrete and then will face with stone. It is about six inches deep. I will still have a stable surface on which to put a fountain, just a little lower than I planned. I'm wondering if I can do anything else with this new space. I planned to buy a standard three tier concrete water fountain. Now I'm not sure if that style will work. Would a water garden survive in six inches of water? Or fish?

Any ideas? I'm trying to be optimistic.

Here is a link that might be useful: Here is a link to pictures

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Comments (8)

bedford8a
13 years ago
Instead of buying the tiered fountain, why not go for one of those disappearing water features-you know the ones where you have a big, gorgeous ceramic pot with water running down the sides? It's a little hard to explain - the water reservoir and pump are hidden under stones under the pot, and the water trickles down the sides. That way your fountain will be raised because everything sits above the reservoir/pump on a grate. The grate can be covered with stones. (I've included a link from a nearby nursery to show you what I'm describing.)

(Six inches of water will get too hot and cold to sustain fish, anyway) Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: disappearing water feature
rick_mcdaniel
13 years ago
Agree with that. There are some very nice options out at the fountain and statuary place, in Forney, for the ceramic base of the fountain, you might like. It is also a lot less expensive, than a regular 3 tier fountain.
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cynthianovak
13 years ago
Oh my!

I have a fountain with a 5 ft diameter base that is a big basin. The drain is on the outer edge and on the bottom. If you go with that form, you'll need a sump pump to drain it up and over the edge. I do love it and birds enjoy the tiers.

The bubbling urns are pretty too
karin4467
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks so much for your replies. I've spent some time looking around on the internet at different fountain options. I did want the tiers so that the birds could enjoy the water, but I think that if I did a bubbling urn, they could still enjoy the water via the pool basin. The previous owners left two huge stone urns that I could convert into fountains. I think I'm over the initial shock :)

Cynthia, do you have any pictures of your fountain?
cynthianovak
13 years ago
I don't find an image online. I was fortunate to get this fountain used. The very generous owner gave it to me, I just had to have it moved. I have it sitting by the house with potted plants around it...think of a fountain in San Antonio. It has the big basin, a pedestle, a smaller bowl and a bubbling pineapple on top. The birds like the top bowl best.

I have another smaller fountain I've had longer. They really like getting on the top and being king of the fountain. I also have bricks in the basins so they can get in and splash around. I'll take photos tomorrow.

c
cynthianovak
13 years ago
I hope this works. Images of both fountains

Here is a link that might be useful: fountain
karin4467
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for posting your pictures! That's exactly the kind of fountain I was hoping for. I spent the day yesterday looking at fountains at Rainbow Nursery and Milbergers here in San Antonio. That was a waste of time. Rainbow was friendly enough but couldn't tell me how to rig a fountain to uptake water from the pond vs just circulating through the bowl. At Milberger's, a customer told me that with a $25 pump from Lowes, I could make anything into a fountain. Milbergers actually had a fountain similar to yours, but I never found a sales person to give me a price. I have to coach my son's football game today and then I will swing by Lowes and see what I can come up with. I have an olive jar that the previous owners left behind. Maybe I can use that. I'd really love a fountain like yours, though. There is a stone yard on the east side of town that sells imported stone work- might also find something there. I'll keep you posted. Thanks again for posting your pictures. I bet you really get a lot of birds!
cynthianovak
13 years ago
You are most welcome, Karin
I am using a pump from Lowes and it works great! I use the one for a large fountain and it think it cost $40 or something like that.

I remember that the new to me fountain was made by Als garden art. Go there and look at the images there are some with urns. BUT there are some helpful instructions under support. I used them when we moved it here. little things like putting the electric cord into pvc pipe so you can get to it under the basin....yes!

I think you can indeed build your own at a fraction of what one costs new. And...you already have a basin right?

The nice thing about the wide ledge on the big fountain is little birds can splash around in very shallow but moving water. They love it! Bigger birds like grackles like the pineapple. The doves and pigeons like the top of the other fountain. I think they like to sit in the little bowl.

Hope you team has fun

c

Here is a link that might be useful: check support