Pond or Fountain ideas?
HI, I want to make a little fountain type thingy for my little son. I want to create a little outdoor garden patio area for him. I have the little chairs and all the plants, but I want to make a little fountain or pond for him too, I don't want to dig, I have this old galvanized tub, and I was thinking about putting some rocks in it, and a few lily pads? Will the tub rust??? Does the water have to be moving? Will I have to put a little pump and fountain in there? Or does anyone have any better ideas for what I could use for a little fountain for him. Remember: I am trying to keep things low to the ground??? Thanks so much for the time, Emily
Best answer:
Answer by tro
keep in mind the possible danger to the child with this even small bit of water that he could get into and heaven forbid, drown
yes a tub will rust, and if the water isn't moving it could very well develop problems you don't want to have to correct
a fountain isn't a fountain if the water isn't moving, so yes you will need pump
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I made a little water garden for my daughter when she was little. Using the tub you have,
go to Michaels or Hobby Lobby , buy the cheapest rocks you can find. Then
go to a garden center and ask for help with water plants. We bought a pond lily and
another green plant that did well in “stagnate” water. You will have to change out the water,
maybe half at a time to keep it fresh, but in dappled sun the plants will do well. You can even
get some goldfish to throw in there :) MIne didnt make it thru the winter , tried to bring it inside,
but it was fun anyway!
Good Luck
I agree with Tro about potential drowning. Whatever you decide to do, make sure the little guy is supervised. I like the idea of creating a space for your child. We use a galvanized tub designed for livestock to water our dogs and so far we haven’t had a problem with rust. You will need a pump. Check the garden centers of Walmart, Home Depot, etc. or even the aquarium section. Look for a kit that contains not only the pump but the plastic tubing as well. You’ll have fun “decorating” your fountain/pond with rocks, plants, etc. Shopping for these items or searching for them in your yard or nearby creek will be a fun adventure you can share with your son. You’ll also want to keep the mosquito population in check because they will seek out your lovely water feature to breed in. Purchase “mosquito dunks” (harmless to fish and other animals) or visit your county’s mosquito abatement center to get mosquito fish. Most counties have this and often give out the fish for free.
Have fun!
If you can find a small birdbath top, or even a birdbath, take a 7-8inch terracotta pot and place it upside down in the center. On top place an 11-12inch right side up terracotta saucer. Got that picture in your mind? If not sketch it out on paper. Now you need to soak the pot in water for about an hour, then using a round file make a notch for the pump cord on the rim. Also soak the saucer in water for about an hr, and in the center mark an x and using a 3/8 masonry drill bit drill thru the center mark. After both pcs dry use a waterproof sealant and glue together, making sure first that the holes are big enough for the stem of the fountain head to fit snugly through. If not use a conical shaped rasp and gently file to the right size. You are almost there! Use a ‘bell’ fountain head and place it thru the pot and saucer connect the water tubing and hide the pump under the upside down pot with the power cord running out thru your notch. Now you can decorate with rocks, marbles, or whatever around the base. The water flowing thru and spraying in a ‘bell’ pattern is beautiful! If you can’t find a suitable birdbath use a larger saucer or bowl-shaped shallow terracotta pot. Use your imagination and you and your son can make all kinds of things with pots!You can even use the larger saucer or bowl shaped terracotta pot instead of a birdbath, make it the same way except make 4 notches on the rim of the top saucer for water to flow over and place a small strawberry pot on top with enough gravel to almost come up to the first opening. Make sure the top of your fountain head (which in this case doesn’t have to be fancy) sticks up above the gravel. Place a small flower pot in the top of the strawberry pot with a sprig or two of ivy or periwinkle. I hope you understand these instructions! It is really simple, and with a little paint from your local hobby store your son can even put his artistic stroke on it! Good Luck! Have Fun!