How to Build a Tabletop Fountain
A tabletop fountain can add a relaxing and decorative element to your home's interior or exterior room design. You can build a tabletop fountain with basic components that include a reservoir to hold water and a submersible fountain pump, a method to channel the water to the top of the fountain design and decorative elements to camouflage the mechanics. The reservoir container is also a central design element in a tabletop fountain. Short containers such as dish gardens or taller containers such as ceramic planters are elements used to build fountains based on specific design aesthetics. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Ceramic planter
- Flat-backed cabochons
- Viscous craft glue
- Rubber disc
- Scissors
- Craft knife
- Submersible fountain pump
- Silicone sealant
- Wire mesh
- Wire cutters
- Long-stemmed glass flowers
- Glass marbles
Instructions
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1
Select a decorative ceramic planter that is at least 8 inches in diameter for the fountain. Make sure that the planter has a drainage hole in the bottom that is at least 1 inch wide.
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2
Glue four flat-backed glass cabochons to the underside of the decorative ceramic planter. Cabochons are like marbles with one flat side; glue the flat side to the planter with viscous craft glue. Let the glue dry. The cabochons elevate the planter enough to fit the electrical cord from the pump beneath it.
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3
Cut a rubber disc to fit over the drainage hole in the base of the planter. Slit the rubber disc halfway across. Fit the power cord from the submersible fountain pump through the slit. Slide the rubber disc up to within 2 inches of the base of the pump.
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4
Fit the power cord through the drainage hole in the planter, from the inside to the outside. Glue the rubber disc to the planter with viscous craft glue. Seal around the disc, over the slit and around the cord with silicone sealant. Allow the adhesives to dry.
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5
Attach a fountainhead to the fountain pump. The pump should be in the center of the planter. Extend the fountainhead.
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6
Cut a piece of wire mesh to fit inside the planter, 2 to 3 inches beneath the top rim in an inverted U shape. The sides of the inverted U should rest against the bottom of the planter. Bend the mesh to fit snugly inside the planter. Fit the mesh over the extended fountainhead. Fill the planter with water, up to the wire mesh.
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7
Lower the fountainhead until it is slightly above the wire mesh. Turn on the fountain pump. Water should flow from the fountainhead to land inside the planter. Adjust the fountainhead as needed so that the water does not escape the planter.
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8
Stand three or more long-stemmed glass flowers inside the planter, through the holes in the mesh. Anchor the flowers and cover the mesh with glass marbles.
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