Belfast Sink water feature

Discussion in 'Water Gardening' started by Paul Raybould, Sep 6, 2019.

  1. Paul Raybould

    Paul Raybould Gardener

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    Hi everyone.

    I have an old belfast sink, which was sat in my old garden unused and we brought it with us to the new house last year. I would like to make it into a water feature in the garden and have a fountain or something in it to give the sound of running water.

    My question is would a solar fountain be up to the job or would I be better to have an electrician install an outside power point to run a pump.
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

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    Why not try a solar powered system Paul? Much cheaper and simple to install.:)

    Personally I prefer a simple bubble effect rather than a fountain.....sound is more subtle too :)

    They work pretty well down here but light levels and sunshine levels are usually pretty high.

    If you wanted a permanently working pump then mains powered is the way to go.
     
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    • Paul Raybould

      Paul Raybould Gardener

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      Thank you.

      I'm not bothered about it running all the time just when we are out in the garden, which is normally when it is sunny. I am thinking on using a plastic basket to go over the pump and then filling it with decorative stone. I would just like the sound of water in the garden as I find it quite relaxing.

      Can you recommend one that give the bubbling affect?
       
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      • Who am I?

        Who am I? Gardener

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        • Paul Raybould

          Paul Raybould Gardener

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        • luciusmaximus

          luciusmaximus Total Gardener

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          I have Belfast sinks and have tried in the past with a small and a larger sink to make them into wildlife mini ponds. Not very successful as too shallow I think. Currently have one as a mini Bog garden, which is doing okay. I thought awhile ago about turning a sink into a water feature. I shall be interested to see how yours turns out @Paul Raybould . Pictures please :)
           
        • Paul Raybould

          Paul Raybould Gardener

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          I have ordered the pump and will be getting the other things over the next couple of days I will update this thread with photos when it is completed
           
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          • Paul Raybould

            Paul Raybould Gardener

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            Installed the pump and put a plastic tub over it to create a void under the stones for a water reservoir. The pump only came with a 5cm plastic pipe so wouldnt allow it to sit on the bottom of the sink and reach the top so I managed to find a length of tubing the right diameter to extend it.

            It came with several fountain attachments but we decided on having it just trickling to have the sound of water. We found that with the fountain attachments the wind blew it all over

            IMG_1789.jpg
             
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            • Paul Raybould

              Paul Raybould Gardener

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              Modified one of the fountain tops by drilling a larger hole and now I have the water flow I was after. Then I used a bit of fence post to mount the solar panel.

              The only downside to this pump is that if the sun isn’t out it stops working I think it would be better if it charged a battery pack to enable it to run if it is cloudy but for £13 I can’t complain and when it is sunny and I’m sat in the garden I will have the sound of water to listen to

              300EECA4-AA2E-4804-A499-AE5AACB012F1.jpeg
               
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              • Who am I?

                Who am I? Gardener

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                I had a solar water feature that only worked when the sun was out and actually found it quite pleasing. When it was on all the time I tended not to notice it after a while but when it was switching itself on and off it was kind of drawing attention to itself, which I liked.
                 
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                • Paul Raybould

                  Paul Raybould Gardener

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                  That’s a very good point actually I think you are right if it was on all the time you wouldn’t notice it as much
                   
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