Adding indoor water fountains to your tabletop or desk can instantly add a touch of elegance to your decor and provide you with the benefits of soothing white noise as the water flows over your fountain. While you can certainly choose to purchase one of these indoor fountains from a variety of traditional and online retailers, you can also choose to make this product yourself. If you choose to take the DIY approach, following the steps below can help you to get the job done right.
What You Will Need
- Ceramic bowl (make sure the bowl has no holes in the bottom)
- 5/8 inch plastic tubing (you will need about a foot)
- Assorted rocks, pebbles, plants, moss, and other decor
- Small submersible water pump (less than 100 gpm)
Step 1: Attach Pump
Begin by placing your pump in the bottom of your ceramic bowl with the electrical cord draped over the back of the bowl. If your pump includes suction cup feet, these feet can be used to easily keep your pump in place. However, if your pump does not offer this feature, you may wish to use a small amount of spray adhesive to help keep the pump in place.
Once your pump is securely in place, add enough water to your bowl to completely cover the pump. Next, plug in the pump to ensure it is working properly before moving on to the next step.
Step 2: Attach Tubing
Your next step will be to attach your plastic tubing to your water pump. After attaching one end of the tube to the output valve on your pump, allow the pump to fill at a few inches of the tube with water before moving on to the final step.
Step 3: Add Decorations And Enjoy
There really is no right or wrong way to add decorations to your fountain. While many people choose to use large rocks in the base of their fountain in order to minimize the total number of rocks required, this is not a requirement. You can choose to use large rocks, small pebbles, sea shells, glass beads, live plants, plastic plants, or virtually any other waterproof product that you can think of.
When adding your decorations to the fountain, be sure to leave ample room for the tubing to pass through the decorations to the top of the fountain without being pinched. If this tubing is pinched too tightly, water will not be able to flow properly over the top of your fountain.
A Final Thought
In order to keep your new fountain clean and working properly, you will need to keep a close eye on the water level. Anytime that the water level begins to drop, be sure to add a bit of fresh water. It is especially important to ensure the water level is never allowed to drop low enough that it no longer covers the pump. Running your pump dry could cause it to overheat and stop working. You may also wish to add a few drops of bleach to your water in order to keep algae away. These maintenance tips apply regardless of whether you choose to make your own fountain or purchase one from a local retailer.
