How to Make a Tabletop Fountain

A tabletop fountain is a low-cost item that can reduce stress in our rushed and highly technological world. Right on your desk, you can reconnect with nature, breathe cleaner air and beautify the environment.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Seashells
• Stones
• Vinyl/plastic Tubing
• Decorative Pottery
• Plants
• Towels
• Towels
• Glass Bowl
• Glass Bowl
• Towels
• Plants

1. Collect ideas for your tabletop fountain. Check out the Internet and books, but also notice the way rocks look in natural streams and pools - or pull an original design right out of your imagination.

2. Start at the bottom, with a container large enough to hold all the rocks, ornaments, plants - and water! - for your creation. The container can be a single color and unobtrusive, if you want to emphasize the other elements, or it can be an eye-catching ceramic, glass or metal art piece.

3. Find the rocks or other ornaments for the water to flow over. Now is the time to use those stones or shells you collected just because you liked them. If you don't have enough items for the fountain, collect more or buy smooth river rocks from a garden center or online.

4. Choose a small pump. The size will depend on the size of the fountain - so work out that question first.

5. Buy plastic tubing to carry water into the fountain. Tubing is often used to extend the length of a pump's spout or to redirect the water.

6. Block out an hour or so of unhurried time to experiment with the fountain elements. Find an arrangement that pleases you with its appearance and the way the water flows. This step is part of the fun of making a fountain, so don't rush it.

7. Make sure your arrangement allows water to trickle and splash over the rocks or other ornaments - but not out of the container and onto furniture or carpeting. Sometimes, only a slight adjustment in the angle of the materials will fix this problem.

8. Pick a spot to display your fountain. If it's a wooden tabletop, make sure it's protected from spills and humidity. Place plants or more stones in a semicircle around the back of the fountain to hide the pump's cord.

Tips & Warnings

• A tabletop fountain's look is limited only by your imagination. It doesn't have to be made of rocks or shells. For a more contemporary look, direct the water over pieces of rusted metal or shards of china plates.
• Check the water level daily, as much water can evaporate. The fountain needs to be full for the pump to operate efficiently.
• Clean the bottom of the fountain and the stones with a meat baster every one or two weeks.
• Use a few drops of bleach to rid the fountain of algae.
• Clean the pump according to the manufacturer's instructions.
• Test the pump in water before making your fountain. Be sure to read all the instructions for the pump and take necessary precautions.
• For safety, the National Electrical Code requires that you use a different kind of electrical wall socket, a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter), with a pump. This socket comes with a circuit breaker that will automatically shut off power in case of a pump malfunction.

on 6/30/2006 Use distilled water to keep mineral deposits from clogging your pump and leaving white hard water deposits on your fountain.

on 11/22/2005 Use filtered water to fill fountain. Add bacteriostat {used for de-humidifiers}. Use food coloring to add a bit of color. Refill water daily.