Help with water feature please

Ideally, we'd like a small water feature to bring some 'life' into the dark corner (formed by the house and our neighbour's fence) of our patio. We've disregarded the idea of solar power but electrical connection isn't a problem since we have an electrician in the family should one be needed.

Our concern is the reservoir the water feature would require, since all those we've seen require the digging of a 2' - 3' hole but there a two very good reasons we can't do this : first - we're loathe to start lifting paving and brindle blocks knowing they'll never go back properly but second, and probably more importantly - where any such hole would be, is directly above the soil pipe outlet.

So my question is .... do all water features need an 'underground' reservoir or can someone recommend a shallow, surface mounted one (for want of a better description) which we could hide in a raised bed of say, 12"?

 

Store bought water features and there's dozens of different types, (including some real horrors), sizes and prices, don't usually require a reservoir, the water they require is contained within the feature. You could run them indoors if you chose.

These of course usually only have a low rate of flow.

If you want to see "gushing water" in a self-built feature then it's still not a problem if you site the pump within the body of water to which the flow returns.
The only consideration is that the visible reservoir is large enough to accommodate all the water when the pump is turned off.
The size of pump required, depends on how much water you want to see flowing, the length and diameter of the pipework used, the number of angled bends in the supply pipe and most importantly, how high the pump is required to lift the water.

 

Hello Fidgetsmum, I wouldn't have put it quite like Doghouse Riley has, but, he does have a valid point.

I would also concur that you would be better off making a water feature, that way it can be unique to you.



This type of water feature is in-between, as like this one you don't bury the sump, but there is a version of it where by you do bury the sump.

(I don't like this one, I just found it)

 

Thanks for the replies.

We 'kinda' know what we want, something about 3' 6" high with a gentle bubbling trickle and perhaps the occasional 'plop', to use technical terminology! Those we've so far seen, such as watergarden pictured, are far too futuristic for us and our garden, then there's the other extreme, things fashioned from resin featuring all manner of animals and/or gnome-like creatures frozen in such awkward poses that you actually feel sorry for them! And whilst I appreciate the efforts some companies go to, to produce something which is supposed to look like rocks, the constant 'running tap' sound tends to have you sprinting to the loo every hour on the hour.

Clearly, we've not been looking in the right places but can only visit what's within a reasonable radius of home (40 miles so far!) and whilst I appreciate there are many online stores, I'd rather hear what it's like before committing to a purchase.

However, your replies have been very helpful and as a result Mr. F'smum has begun investigating the submersible pump and transformers market and scribbling on odd pieces of paper with the intention of building something himself (although I'm slightly concerned by his use of the word 'building').

 

You could build yourself something quite acceptable out of fine concrete mix and rocks.
Concrete is cheap and easy to form if you make it only slightly moist.

I've been considering making one myself for the the bed to the side of our patio. I've yet to see a ready-made one we really like.

I'd use a combination of natural rocks and waterproofed fine concrete mix with a mortar render coloured with cement die to appear like natural sandstone. This was how I built the waterfall in our koi pool, seen here in the building stage.

Just a suggestion, mind.

 

i used to have a water feature on my patio which was a big galvanised container, you can get oval or round ones - the old tin bath sort of thing. they hold quite a lot of water and you can submerge a pump. i have also used a half barrel which was also quite good

if you put a metal grid in and then stones and rocks on that the water can pump through and then trickle (and plop!) down


just a case of finding the right container! i will try and photo mine and put them up


loopy

 

Actually, the best time to buy a water feature from a garden centre is in the autumn, they often reduce the ones they have on display to make way Christmas trees or whatever.

 

here are some of my containers

i really like the old copper one!

the others are galvanised, oval, square and round!!

Loopy

 

Fidgetsmum, it sounds like you want a balancing feature.

Anything that the water constantly flows through will not make a "splosh" sound because the water is constantly following the same route.

The clip I have linked to uses bamboo, but it could be a plastic pot. its very easy since it relies on balance before emptying.
The container must have an axle only 1/3 from the bottom (Not half way as most people assume) when it gets to just over 2/3 full it tips. The bamboo ones make a loud "click" because the back hits a stone, but if you use a jug you only get the "splosh" as the water is tipped out.

I would suggest you use a "plastic" container for a water feature sump. The main reason is electrical safety. Also the pump cable will need to be brought out. if you drill a hole for the cable to exit water can get in and lift the zinc plating off (I made drainage holes in a zinc planter bucket, the bottom literally fell out where the water had got under the zinc and rusted the steel away)

Anyway.

The link [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1qMrKCuYQY"]YouTube- Japanese deer scarer in Kyoto. Clear sonud![/nomedia]



Oh, and here is some information about zinc oxide

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaDJdHPykEA"]YouTube- Zinc Oxide[/nomedia]

 

fidgitsmum

i had a ponder about this, i would still use a metal container. i know that metal and electricity are a dangerous combination but then so is water and electricity.

i have a 'proper' external supply with a breaker etc so is safe outside and protects

also i wouldnt drill any holes in the containers - a black cable discreetly coming ovet the top was fine for me


if you go this route a reclamation yard would be a good place to shop


loopy

 

With any sort of water feature, the supply of electricity is always a consideration. I'm not fond of "240 volts running around in the garden" although I do have two mains voltage pumps in my koi pool sump. But the supply to both runs through a piece of 1" plastic waste pipe from the garage, completely buried in the pool's concrete collar under the path so there's never any danger.
Everything in the garage, fish room, shed and tea-house is protected by a dedicated fusebox, an RCCB and several fused two pole isolator switches.

I'd be inclined to use a low voltage pump on a "self built" arrangement, it would be adequate for the job. Branded water features usually use this sort of pump too.

We're now presently in "negotiations" over one for the border at the edge of the patio. This follows a visit to Bent's Garden Centre yesterday, for a couple of small azaleas for "gaps in the border."

A few caught my wife's eye, so I won't now make one myself.

My intention is to take out that pink dwarf azalea on the bend, the ones behind are nearly a foot taller since I took this photo, to fit a verticle 3ft "rock type" feature (no "added otters" thank you) in its place behind the little wall. As it will be surrounded on both sides and back and a bit over the top by the azaleas, I'm hoping it won't look too naff.
The idea is that my wife will be able to see it from her chair in the lounge. The koi pool is hidden from her view by the ceanothus in the narrow bed at the top of the steps to the pool.



I can drill through the brickwork to the right of these french windows, level with the top step but between it and the first concrete fence post and fit an "all weather" 13 amp socket on the wall.



But I'll put the transformer in the corner of the room, connect it to a convenient 13amp plug socket and then pass the low voltage cable through the wall to the socket. I'll then run the cable from the socket through some "speedfit" flexible waterpipe attached to the concrete base panel of the side fence and then on to the feature. It's unlikely that should I forget the pipe and cable are there, (always a consideration) a spade won't go through it. If it did it'd just be an inconvenience, as it'll be only 12 volts.

I hope these ramblings may be of help to anyone considering a water feature.

 

my 2p worth.

I have found that most shop brought water features do not use pumps that also have transformers. They use mains pumps, even tiny pumps are mains, the reason is cost.
To build a separate transformer adds more to the final cost, so why make it if its not required.

Also there seems to be only 1 supplier of 12 or 24v pumps, these also seem to only have a 3m cable, which is not of much use, compared to the mains version which has a 10m cable. I have a small mains pump and when its cable is coiled up it hides the pump as the pump is so small and the cable so long.

The maker says the 12 or 24v pumps are the same as their mains equivalent, I have yet to find one that is, they are close, but not the same.

(If you ask an electrician, he will tell you that)

Low Voltage is 50 - 1000V AC or 120 - 1500V DC (which means mains)
Extra Low Voltage is AC below 50V and DC below 120V

You are also not allowed to install a socket in your garden*

*Gardens are considered to be "special location" under the 2005 building regulation "Part P"

A part P certified electrician can install a socket in your garden, or it can be done if you contact the council first, who will then certify it (and charge bucket loads of money)

more info on part P can be found here


What you do is up to you.

 

Low voltage water features are available as are pumps with lights.
This is the first that came up when I "Googled" them.

http://www.ukwaterfeatures.com/Shop...ge-Water-Feature-Pump-with-Halogen-Light.html

I used a low voltage submersible pump to drive a waterfall for years.

 

I don't want to cause a "fall out" over this, but I never said you can't get 12 or 24v pumps, I said that most shop brought water features do not have a 12 or 24v pump.

You have posted a link for a pump to go in a water feature, its not a whole water feature. I also never said you cant get 12 or 24v pumps, so I do not dispute you ever had one, on the contary, so did I (I never thought a lot of it though)

 

Err..

I'm not trying to "lock antlers" with you, I'm just trying to add "helpful suggestions" for someone who wanted to make their own water feature, not get into technicalities and legality.
See the OP. That's why I linked a low voltage pump.