Sunday, February 19, 2012

Moving Water Features




All small features with moving water have the same basic equipment; a submersible pump and a reservoir to hold the water. The reservoir can be bought for the purpose or made from anything that holds water, from an inexpensive central heating header tank to a hole lined with flexible pond liner. The reservoir needs only to be deep enough to completely cover the pump with water, but larger reservoirs are much easier to maintain because they require topping up less frequently, especially in summer.
The easiest way to create a small water feature with moving water is to sink a reservoir into the ground so that it is about 2 inches below the surrounding soil. Then create a catchments area for the feature but sloping the soil around the hole towards the reservoir, so that when it is lined with heavy duty polythene or a flexible pond liner, water will drain back into the reservoir. Position the pump in the reservoir and cover with heavy duty steel mesh and smaller mesh to prevent smaller pebbles from falling through. Arrange cobbles and pebbles on the mesh to hide the reservoir and the catchment's area to create a pebble fountain.
You can change the display by adding a millstone or another focal point, or by adding different types of fountain jet on the outlet pipe of the pump to create all manner of display fountains. Mark out the diameter of the reservoir and dig a hole slightly wider and deeper than its dimensions. Place a shallow layer of sand at the bottom. Ensure the reservoir rim is slightly below the level of the surrounding soil. You need to backfill the gap between the reservoir and the sides of the hole with soil. Firm in. Create a catchment's area by sloping the surrounding soil slightly towards the rim of the reservoir.
Place two bricks at the bottom to act as a plinth for the pump. Then position the pump. Ensure the pipe used for the fountain spout will be 3 inches higher than the sides of the reservoir. Line the catchment area with a plastic sheet and either cut it so the plastic drapes into the reservoir, or cut a hole in the center for the fountain pipe. Then fill it with water. Position the plastic sheet over the reservoir, with the fountain pipe protruding through the hole and fit the fountain spout. This is exactly the steps needed for you to make a pebble fountain.


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5123451

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