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“Divers”, “Moonlight Rainbow”, “Bellagio” – these are the names of the most beautiful fountains abroad. These are hundreds of meters of falling luxury, enhanced by dancing lights and sculptures. At home, to build this, of course, will not work. But a small fountain, made by hand in the country, is quite a feasible task.
Principle of operation and types
Beauty is created by the movement of water. In this case, the jets can diverge in different directions or move in the same direction. In choosing a particular type of structure, it is important to be guided by the characteristics of the bottom and the presence of living creatures. The shape of the fountain is formed by nozzles: “tulip”, “bell” or “fish tail”.
The principle of operation of outdoor mini-devices is quite simple. A nozzle is installed on the pipe, that is, a nozzle of a certain size. The minimum height of a replacement part is half a meter. From its end, disks are fixed, between which an adjustable gap is created. The thickness of the water jets depends on it. If they plan to breed fish in a pond, it is important that the falling water does not harm its decorative inhabitants.
The hemisphere fountain is a complex structure. Its main elements are from 3 to 5 nozzles of various shapes. They must be positioned so that the jets appear as dense shells of a single hemisphere. It is impossible to do this by hand, so it is better to use ready-made parts from the construction market.
With the right combination of fishtail and bell nozzles, you will get an equally attractive Tiffany design. The main thing is that in both nodes the water circulates under different pressure. To avoid technical errors, you need to thoroughly study the structure of a homemade fountain:
- The volumetric bowl is not only filled with water, but also hides hydraulic equipment in the form of pipes of different diameters.
- Jet nozzles regulate the thickness of the streams and create original patterns on the water.
- The illumination of small fountains is not designed for high voltage.
- Special sensors provide automatic liquid supply in case of intensive spraying or evaporation.
- Several pumps, consisting of rotating motors, create the required flow force. In this case, the height of the jets should not exceed the dimensions of the structure itself.
If it is important for the owners to build a tall fountain, pay attention to the “tiered sprayer” from improvised means. A feature of this design is a large number of thin jets that form spirals during movement.
Video “Do-it-yourself fountain in the country”
From this video you will learn how to make a fountain in the country with your own hands.
DIY construction
Scoop shovels, plastic wrap, boulders, sand, gravel and natural stone will certainly come in handy in the work for decorating an already finished structure. The main thing is to choose a suitable place in the country. This site must have all the conditions for the safe installation of communications.
For a better concentration of moisture, fountains are recommended to be located in a lowland. Illumination of the territory is an equally important aspect of the choice, which should be taken into account even at the planning stage of a hydrotechnical facility. In this regard, preference is given to shady places where perennials, fish and turtles feel better.
When placing a fountain in the garden, do not forget:
- trees nearby can destroy the plastic bowl;
- the walls of the outbuildings, located a few meters from the structure, will eventually become overgrown with fungus and mold;
- one decorative individual up to 12 cm long needs about 55 liters of water, so a cramped pond is not the best option for breeding fish;
- low wind places reduce the amount of liquid carried away, due to which 95% of the water remains in the tank.
With a limited budget, you will have to make a closed-type garden fountain. The same volume of water is used here. True, the liquid in such structures evaporates 2 times faster, and cleaning work must be carried out at least 3 times a week.
If you make the base yourself, you will definitely need liquid glass and concrete. These materials withstand temperature fluctuations well, ensuring a long shelf life of the fountain in any region.
bowl making
The liquid collection tank can be rectangular, oval or round. For this purpose, plastic products with a minimum capacity of 15 liters are suitable. They can be light or dark. In the first case, an excellent view of the source is provided, in which, alas, silt and food residues are better visible. If there is neither time nor desire for regular cleaning of the bottom, install a black tank. Its sides can be decorated with colored glass or pebbles.
At the preparatory stage, it is important to remove the snags and level the bottom with a sand and gravel layer. In the intervals between the walls of the pit and the bowl, earth should be covered. For self-arrangement of the bowl under the fountain you need:
- dig a hole 2-2,5 m deep;
- cover the bottom with plastic wrap, fixing its edges with boulders;
- install the pump;
- fill the finished bowl with water;
- test the design for tightness.
Pipes and pump
For the device of the supply pipeline, steel products will be needed. Unlike ordinary polymer pipes, they have greater resistance to bursting pressure, and excellent oxygen tightness allows them to be used in any engineering systems. If it is important to minimize the cost of fluid supply, it is more profitable to buy PVC products. They are 5 times lighter than steel pipes, due to which quick installation is possible without the help of specialists.
When choosing pumps, it is important to take into account their power and liquid lifting height. In both cases, it is better to prefer submersible units with a capacity of 16-20 l / m. Their main advantages include anti-corrosion coating and reliable protection of equipment components from any external influences.
It’s cheaper to buy a surface pump that provides a 2-meter jet. Only for its stable operation you need a protective cover from precipitation and dirt.
Decor
Experts recommend decorating fountains with wear-resistant materials, including opaque colored glass and durable polystone. The latter, in comparison with natural stone, better tolerates moisture and low temperatures. In terms of strength, it is not inferior even to butu, but is processed easier than an array.
Reservoirs should be placed surrounded by moisture-loving plants, impressive with long flowering and dense foliage. These include lysichiton, variegated sedge, calamus and European beech. Of the fruiting species, hawthorn and quince are suitable. Clay sculptures of gnomes, mermaids, lush maidens and, of course, abstract figures made of concrete look great on top of the structure.
Underwater lamps are needed to illuminate the fountain. Better than any above-water devices, they emphasize the beauty of plants and the elegance of the interior decoration of the building.
Different variants
Incredibly, you can make a fountain with your own hands even from an old bathtub. Going through dozens of non-standard ideas, the owners of summer cottages often stop at options from plastic containers, clay pots and oak barrels. It is only necessary to stock up on high-quality watering hoses and powerful pumps.
Colored pebbles and algae are suitable for arranging the bottom. And in order for creativity to deserve the positive assessments of others, the structure should be supplemented with fiber optics. Then the water jets will glow with all the colors of the rainbow.