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Selecting a Pond Fountain
What does a Pond Fountain do?
A floating pond fountain is one of the easiest ways to add interest to any size water feature. A pond fountain serves multiple purposes in a water feature. It adds visual interest and beauty to the pond by creating a stunning display of water jets and patterns.
The movement of water also helps to aerate the pond, which is essential for maintaining a healthy ecosystem. The fountain pump circulates the water, preventing stagnation and promoting oxygenation. The surface disturbance from the fountain spray controls some nuisance floating plants, like duckweed and watermeal.
When pollen or dust settles on a pond it can create a thin layer of pond scum. A fountain in a pond can prevent this by pulling the scum layer under the water and circulating the pond water.
Some fountains come with LED lights, which enhance the visual appeal of the fountain and create a captivating nighttime display. You can program some LED fountain lights to change colors or set them to a single attractive color. Overall, this easy addition enhances the aesthetics of the pond while also improving its water quality.
How do Floating Pond Fountains work?
Floating pond fountains use a waterproof electric pump to circulate water creating a stunning display of water spray patterns. A plastic float holds the pump below the pond surface with the nozzle at just the right height above the water. The fountain pump pulls water from the pond and pushes it through a nozzle or spray head, propelling the water into the air, and creating the fountain effect.
Most fountains draw water from the top 6 feet of the pond. Large lake fountains with high-horsepower motors can draw water from even deeper.
A waterproof cable connects the floating fountain to the fountain control panel located on the pond edge. The fountain control panel contains a timer to turn the fountain on and off. If you have an LED fountain light kit, the lights will automatically turn on at night and off in the morning. A light sensor called a photocell controls the fountain lights.
Types of Pond Fountains
Decorative Fountains
Decorative pond fountains focus on interesting spray patterns that force streams of water high into the air. High-pressure pumps force water through nozzles to create various patterns. You can change the nozzles of most large decorative fountains to vary the spray patterns.
Aerating Fountains
Aerating pond fountains, also called Surface Aerators, have a significantly different pump design. Engineers design the pump impeller to move large volumes of pond water. This means that the spray patterns are lower, but the fountain pumps move far more water than a decorative fountain. These aerating fountains usually have a simple V-pattern for the water spray. Watch the fountain video below to see some of the options!
Pond Fountain Components
There are 5 significant components for a floating pond or lake fountain. The float, pump, fountain nozzle, cable, optional lights, and control panel are all important for the system to work properly.
Fountain Float
The fountain float is typically a molded plastic shell that holds air for buoyancy. The float has holes to attach the pump, anchor points for mooring lines, and mounts to attach fountain lights.
Fountain Pump
Manufacturers often rate water pumps for large ponds from 1/2 to 5 Horsepower. Larger lake fountain pumps can have ratings as high as 25 horsepower. Most pond fountain pumps use 120-volt or 240-volt electrical supplies. Larger lake fountains require 208 volts with three phases or 480 volts for the largest fountains.
The fountain float holds the water pump submerged just below the pond surface. This helps to cool the fountain motor while keeping it quiet.
Fountain Nozzles
The fountain nozzle attaches to the top of the pump and creates a spray pattern. Small nozzle openings force high-pressure water into high arcs while larger openings create a broad spray to create more aeration. Some nozzles have a combination of high, thin jets of water with lower, broad fountain displays. All fountains increase oxygen levels to some degree no matter the water fountain pattern.
Waterproof fountain cable
The electrical cable for the pump varies in size based on the water pump's size and the length of the cable. Thicker power cords are necessary to maintain voltage over long distances. Watertight quick connections make installing the fountain fast and easy.
LED Fountain Lights
There is nothing quite like a pond fountain with lights to add interest to a water body at night. Watching water flow through glowing lights is relaxing and soothing.
LED lights for fountain displays can be simple bright white lights or more complex color-changing LED lights. You can pair white fountain lights with colored lenses to add a limited number of colors. You can adjust color-changing LED lights to almost any color in the spectrum to shine through the water flow.
Fountain Control Panel
A fountain control panel is the nerve center for operating the water fountain. It controls when the fountain turns on and off. The control also manages the LED fountain lights turning them on and off plus controlling the light color.