Bronze Water Fountains

Archive for the ‘Making a Fountain Your Own’ Category

Foggers or misters as they are also called, create a fog effect without the need of dry ice.

These great little machines employ high frequency, ultrasonic vibrations to produce ultra-fine droplets of mist without the use of heat, cold, or chemicals. Foggers can be purchased as a single unit, or as a float with up to 9 units that work together. Single units are perfect for small fountains but are usually too small to use for a pond.

Ultrasonic misters produce a low laying fog, which fills its surrounding area. Small ponds generally require a 3 to 9-piece mister to produce the same effect. In addition, misters require a minimal water depth in order to operate efficiently, because of this, when placing one in a pond ensure that you use a float with it.
With a float, the mister is made to fit to right depth so that it produces fog at optimum levels. Some fog machines include LED lights to and most includes an automatically shutoff so that if the water gets too low, the mister will shutoff.

Maintenance:

Every mechanical object requires maintenance and fountain mister are no different. The first step is to replace the water frequently to prevent scale from forming on the disk membrane, which will affect performance. If scale does form on the disk, use a soft cloth or cotton swab to clean the surface of the disk do not use cleaners or detergents for this will harm the disc. Replace the disk after you have operated your mister for approximately 3000 hours. When replacing your disc, it is not necessary to use the special tool many companies offer for an additional price, a flat head screwdriver will work as well. Replacement disks come in two common sizes, 16mm, and 20mm. Ensure that you purchase the correct size for your fogger by measuring the disc. If your mister has LED lights, they will generally last up between 80 to 100,000 hours. For misters that include water level sensors, this sensor needs cleaning approximately once a year, to do so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

When misters first appeared on the market, they usually didn’t work well. Today, misters have been improved so that they now last for years, especially when proper maintenance has been preformed. To find more information about fountain misters or foggers there are several online retailers available.

Most fountains have preset spray heads that determines the spray pattern of water that cannot be changed.

If you already own a fountain which provides the right creative touch to your pond and you want to add a little variety, you can. Most fountains have preset spray heads that determines the spray pattern of water that cannot be changed. However, there are some spray heads that have been specifically made so that you can change the spray head to produce several different spray patterns and designs.

With an adjustable spay head, you can select the spray pattern you desire based on your taste and aesthetic feel at that moment. However, when purchasing a spray head, there are other factors you should also consider, such as the size of the pond it will be placed. For instance, if the spray pattern were a wide fan design it would be ideal for a large pond, but unsuitable for a smaller pond.

The standard three-tier spray is another type of spray design with which many are familiar. This produces streams of water at three different angles from the surface of the pond to create the illusion of a three-tier fountain. With this design you can make several variation, including adding a trumpet spray head. While this design does not have multiple tiers, it is a tighter pattern.

Fountain Sprays and Pump Strength:

The fountain spray is not solely determined by the fountainhead, but also by the strength of the pump in the fountain. Weaker pumps produce streams of water, which resemble trickling flows, while stronger pumps produce a much more forceful and concentrated stray of water. In addition, stronger pumps will produce a much higher stream from your fountain. The last variable that will affect your spray pattern is the wind velocity in your area. The stronger the winds, the greater distance you need between the spray and the perimeter of the pond. Small water particles can travel great distances, getting people very damp and even soaked.

Lighted fountains are not just for commercial ponds and lakes, but they can also be used in residential settings.

If your pond is located at an entrance to your home or complex, then a lighted fountain can illuminate both the waterworks as well as information signs to your complex. For ponds, which are located behind your residence, lighting gives you the ability to enjoy your pond both during the night as well as during the day.

You can use underwater lamps or lamps mounted elsewhere to light fountains. To add color, you can purchase light fixtures, which include different colored lenses, or purchase the colored lenses separately if you already have the lights. While many basic lighting schemes include a single lens, if you prefer a more elaborate display, then you can use multiple colors simultaneously or that are automatically changed on a timer.

The cost of lighted fountains varies greatly depending on the type and style of  the lighting system you install. For a cost efficient system, consider installing low voltage lamps mounted on the surface, over the high voltage underwater lights. However, if you prefer the look of underwater lights, then the effect is worth the
additional cost. In addition to the cost of the lighting, you can expect your electric bill to increase. For an approximation as to how much, you will need to discuss this with a knowledgeable salesperson or the manufacturer, depending on where you purchase your fountain.

Using Lighted Fountains to Get Customers to Notice You:

The key to increasing sales is to attract more customers. One way to do this is with a lighted fountain, which will differentiate your business from any other in the vicinity. No matter what type of business you operate, an illuminated fountain will capture people’s attention. This can be especially useful if your business
is located on or near a major road. Drivers are more likely to notice you as they pass by and many will stop, if for no other reason than to get a better look at your fountain.

In many areas, you can count on the rain to fill your outdoor garden fountain.

An outdoor fountain can enhance any yard, or garden, even small private gardens can benefit from the beauty of fountains. For these areas, you can purchase a statue fountain or a small pond created and fed directly from a well.

In many areas, you can count on the rain to fill your outdoor garden fountain. However, there are advantages and disadvantages of this. The main advantage is it saves on energy, and conserves water, making it more environmentally friendly option.

The disadvantages with having rainwater fill your fountain including high maintenance in order to keep it clean, and the cost of the pumps are more expensive. The pump, which is needed for rainwater fed fountains, is a trash pump. This type of pump will not be clogged by leaves, sand, dirt, and mud, which can ultimately destroy a water pump that is not specially designed to handle them. Any outdoor fountain that is filled with rainwater will have natural debris and will require a trash pump. These do cost nearly twice as much as a plastic pump or a clean water pump, but last longer.

Another disadvantage is that you will have to clean your fountain regularly. However, this can be take care of by placing a wire mesh cage around the pump, which catches most of the debris when it is drawn toward the pump, making it easier to be removed. In addition to the wire cage, you should also have a net that you can use to scoop debris floating from your fountain.

When designing a fountain into your yard, garden or home design you need to give some thought as to the type of pump you will need for your fountain.

There are two types of fountain pumps. The first is a clean water pump. This is for ponds that are small, man-made and do not use rain runoff to fill them. The bottoms of these ponds are made of plastic or concrete, and are filled with water that is clear, is not cloudy, and contains no debris. Clean water ponds are very few. However, if you do have one, then you can use a clean water pump. These are stainless steel pumps that have a lip, which separates the water chamber and the electric compartments. I do want to iterate a word of caution. These pumps do have a long life span, providing that the water is clean. Even the smallest particles of debris will damage a clean water pump and resulting in it requiring repairing or replacing.

The next type of pump is the trash pump. Trash pumps are for any pond that gets its water from rain runoff. This type of water is generally somewhat cloudy, contains dirt particles, leaves, clay, and other natural debris. There are several different models of trash pumps some are ideal for comparatively clear water, while others are made to handle water in outdoor ponds that contain such foreign objects that cannot be removed by the occasional scooping of the surface.

Another problem with floating fountains occurs when the water level drops, and the pump can and often times does sink down into the mud. This will cause most pumps to clog, including the strongest of trash pumps. To help reduce the damage this can cause, a mesh filter cage can be is well worth its price. You can find one for approximately $75.00, which will keep the pump out of the mud even during droughts.

If you have a pond already in your backyard or garden you can add a small fountain to it to help create a sense of movement, but you do need to follow some basic guidelines.

Fountain ponds offer a sense of tranquility and beauty to a backyard or garden. However, when you are deciding where to place a fountain in a pond which contains fish and plants, there are a few things which you should considered. Unfortunately, not all fountains are good for plants and fish. If the fountain is too high the constantly falling water can over aerate the water and cause stress for the fish. In addition to harming the fish, the turbulence caused by the fountain can disrupt plant roots. The best rule of thumb for a fountain is that it is small enough that it does not create a splash.

However, water fountains can be beautiful garden sculptures, and bring sound and motion to the garden and help create a beautiful tranquil spot. There is nothing saying that you cannot have a fountain in one area of your garden and a pond in another area. That way if you want a beautiful work of art, which is also a fountain you can have it. If you want something that you can display beautiful water plants and fish, you can have that as well. Just don’t combine the two.

Fountains make beautiful additions to any garden or yard. Just do not add fish or plant to them. Both fish and plants thrive in calm, serene environments, placed in an environment that has even the smallest amount of turbulence can be unhealthy for the fish and uproot any plants. When creating water flowing structures, such as fountains, you have to be very conservative, or better yet do not add any thing such as plants and fish to it.

You’ve landscaped your yard and now you want to build a waterfall for your garden or pond, but before you begin you should consider some simple ideas.

You’ve landscaped your yard and now you want to build a waterfall for your garden or pond. Before you begin, there are a couple of simple steps, which you need to follow to ensure you build a solid, reliable, and beautiful waterfall that’s also beneficial to your pond, both for its beauty and in contributing to the health of
the pond.

Basic steps on building a Waterfall:

1. Size does matter. A waterfall which is too tall for a pond will create turbulence that is harmful to both plant and fish. This is one reason why you never see fish or plants in fountains. You want your waterfall to have a gentle, peaceful flow of water. This means that the water should cascade down over a gradually slanted hill of rocks to the pond below.

2. Make it look natural. Whether you use natural rocks to create the waterfalls formation or pre-molded fiberglass, you want it to look as natural as possible. The base structure of the waterfall should be trough or hill shaped, and if possible lined with the same material used to line the pond to prevent water runoff. You can cover the lining with stones or strategically placed plants.

3. Because your artificial backyard waterfall will not have a river feeding it, the water which flows into your pond will have to be circulated back to the top of the waterfall with a water pump and PVC pipe. The continual circulation of water will help to keep the water clean, purified, and oxygenated for the fish.

Don’t think that just because you do not live in a spacious mansion complete with two separate staircases ascending into a grand foyer, that you cannot enjoy a spectacular fountain.

You may not be able to have this beautiful marble or bronze fountain in your home, but you can design a simple outdoor water fountain that has as much opulence as the fountains some people have installed in their homes.

You can install a timer on your outdoor fountain so it will operate only during specific times. Others have lights and times installed especially if the fountain is visible from the front of the home so that others can see it, or so that you can enjoy your fountain both day and night.

There are several aspects of an outdoor water fountain that you should consider. One aspect is the spray pattern of the fountain. Your pattern can be a simple vertical mist or an elaborate design such as a trumpet pattern or starburst. If your pond or lake is large enough you may even consider using multiple fountains to create an even greater display.

Another aspect to consider is lighting. There are several lighting options that are available to you. You can use a simple spotlight focused on the fountain to showcase it, or you can purchase a lighted fountain, which uses underwater lights. This type of lighting can create a more dynamitic look. There are also lights with
different colors that can be changed with a computer to create a spectacular light display as well as water display.