Your Homemade Tabletop Water Fountain

A basin works well as a fountain; refill it with the pitcher.

Tabletop water fountains create a melodious flow of water to soothe nerves and help drown out other sounds. The fountain's materials and shape provide visual appeal; with light through a window or a lamp, the fountain's water flow sparkles. Design a fountain to please the senses for any room in the home. Any watertight container works for a fountain. For convenience, select the largest container you can feature in the room to reduce the frequency of refilling the fountain basin with water. Create a homemade fountain in a color suited to your decor.

Things You'll Need

• Basin and ewer (pitcher) set or other waterproof container at least 5 inches deep
• Submersible pump, 90 gallons per hour, from a pond or home improvement supplier
• 4 inches of 5/8-inch plastic tubing, available where pumps are sold
• Scissors
• Strand of small shells strung on fishing line, available at bead stores
• 2 small tan or other light-colored rubber bands
• 3 to 5 small stone statues, at least 12 inches tall
• Conch shells or other waterproof decorative items

Instructions

1. Set the submersible pump toward the back of the basin to leave room for the three-dimensional elements in the center. Most basins have a level area in the middle where a pitcher fits. The back of this level area works well for the pump.

2. Turn on the pump if it has a power switch on the pump housing and leave it unplugged. This will spare you the frustration of moving the parts of the fountain and trying to turn the pump on with water in the fountain. It's essential to leave the pump unplugged until you complete the fountain, both for safety and to prevent damage to the pump.

3. Push the end of the plastic tube into the hole on the top of the submersible pump. Cut the tube so the top of the tube will be 2 inches below the basin's top edge.

4. Secure the strand of small shells at the top of the tube with the rubber band. Wrap the shells around the fountain tube in a spiral to conceal the tube. Stretch the second rubber band and slip it down to the bottom of the tube to hold the strand of shells at the top of the pump.

5. Stand the stone statues around the pump. Face one statue front and center in front of the pump and space the others evenly around it, leaving the pump cord free, hanging out of the bowl.

6. Circle the statues with conch shells. Arrange the shells so the bright-colored underside shows. Group more conch shells in front of the statues in the center of the basin, with one of largest shells on top.

7. Move the basin to the desired stand for the tabletop fountain, such as a desk, pedestal, stand or table in reach of a power outlet. Avoid placing the tabletop fountain in direct sunlight to reduce evaporation.

8. Pour a pitcher of water into the basin, filling the basin to within 1 inch of the top.

   Plug the pump in.

Tips & Warnings

• Read and comply with all of the fountain pump instructions and warnings.

• Fill the basin and leave it sitting on concrete or a worktable overnight. Check for seepage. A hairline crack, faults in the glaze or other defects may not show up visually, but could cause leaking.

• Adapt this project to your own preferences. Once you learn the basics of fountain creation, the materials are up to your own tastes.

• In areas with hard water, use distilled water or add 1 tbsp. of white vinegar to reduce mineral deposits.

• If the pump becomes noisy or the water flow becomes sluggish, unplug it and rinse it. Soak the pump in a pan of white vinegar overnight to dissolve mineral deposits.

• Wash all the fountain parts every 6 to 8 weeks with mild dish soap.

• Use the basin's matching pitcher to refill the fountain and display the pitcher nearby.

• Always keep the fountain's water level above the submersible pump to keep the motor from burning out.

• Arrange the fountain pump cord so that it isn't a tripping hazard. For example, run it from a table to the wall, away from the room's walkways.

References

• Northwestern Health Sciences University: Find Balance: Basic Feng Shui Tools
• University of Hawaii at Manoa: Kobayashi: Tabletop Water Fountain

Resources

• Serenity Health: Water Fountain Care