How to Build Tabletop Fountains

Tabletop fountains can be pricey. Follow these instructions to make your own fountain.

For the cost of a pump (usually about $20) and an interesting container (which you may already have on hand), you can assemble your very own bubbling fountain.

All About

Product Ideas

More Product Ideas

You see them everywhere these days. Popular as decorative touches in the home, gurgling tabletop fountains have even made their way into the workplace. The problem is the fountains can be pricey, so why not try making your own for about one-fourth the cost of buying one? Design expert Ingrid King joins Michele Driscoll Alioto to demonstrate how easy it can be.

Figure A

Materials and Tools:

watertight container and a pump (available from pond supply stores) with water flow control (figure A)

sturdy plastic container, cut to fit over and protect pump assembly

tubing, black or clear

pieces of pre-cut PVC pipe

plastic embroidery grid, cut to fit fountain container

window screen, cut to fit fountain container

marbles, river rock, beach rocks, polished pebbles, pink quartz or flagstone

copper elbow to direct water

chlorinated water

Figure B

Place the pump in the bottom of the container and cover the pump with a sturdy plastic container, with places cut out on the sides for the cord and water intake (figure B) and a place cut out of the top for water outflow. The plastic container will protect the pump from the weight of the heavy rock. Add a length of tubing to the pump outlet.

Figure C

Surround the plastic container with PVC pieces (figure C) and place a piece of plastic embroidery grid (available at craft stores) and a piece of window screen (available at hardware stores) on top of the PVC pieces (figures Dand E); make sure the pump tubing extends through the top of the grid and screen. (The grid and screen support a layer of filler rocks and protect the fountain so that if debris falls in, it won't enter the water supply and clog or disrupt the pump flow.)

Figure F

Place decorative filler material (rocks, pebbles, etc.) on top of the window screen (figure F). Use any material that won't fall apart over time. Flagstone, quartz, polished rock and many kinds of river and beach rocks are all good choices. Avoid material such as sandstone, lava, mica and moss rock, which will eventually degrade with the water flow.

Figure G

Add the copper elbow to the end of the tubing (figure G), directing it so that the water flows where you intend, then conceal the tip with another decorative rock.

Figure H

Fill the container with water (figure H) and plug in the pump.

Figure I

For a final touch, surround your new tabletop creation (figure I) with plants of your choice.

Figure J

You won't be able to plant directly into the fountain. If you want to add plants, make sure they are completely contained within a leakproof planter (figure J).

Important notes:

Make sure you experiment with the flow control on the pump before building the fountain. There's nothing more frustrating than piling the rocks on and then plugging in your finished fountain only to find the water flow too fast or slow.

If you live in an area that has hard water, you'll want to use distilled water to avoid mineral deposits.

Indoor fountains can be kept in low light or in direct sun (either one is fine) and will probably need to be cleaned only about once a year.

Figure K

To protect tabletop surfaces, place the fountain on a Masonite-backed cork mat. For further protection, add small plastic-disk coasters to the bottom of the cork mat (figure K).

Resources

Guests
- Ingrid King
  Owner, Stone Leaf Pottery
  6225 W. 48th Ave., A-107
  Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
  Phone: 303-463-8081
  URL: www.stoneleafpottery.com