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!