What kind of water feature do I want?

Start with the why. What made you think about adding water in the first place?

Maybe you were on vacation, lounging by a lake. Maybe a shopping center fountain stopped you in your tracks. Or maybe it was a magazine photo of kids feeding fish in a pond, and you pictured your own family out there with them.

That vision is your answer:

• Hours of interaction with nature, fish, and plants... you want a full water garden.
• Just the sound of running water while you sit on the deck or patio... a pondless waterfall will suit you fine.
• Curb appeal near the front door... a stylish fountain does the trick.

Space and budget shape the choice too. The good news: a fountain or pondless waterfall can be tucked into just about any corner of the yard.

What is a pondless waterfall?

Exactly what it sounds like. A recirculating waterfall or stream, minus the pond.

The water disappears into a lined basin filled with water storage blocks and rock, which also houses the pump vault. That basin holds all the water the stream and falls need to run. No open pond required.

That makes it the go-to for families with small children... you get the sight and sound of running water without the safety worries. And because there is no pond, maintenance is minimal. You can even shut it off for the winter or run it on a timer.

I set up my fountain and the pump is too noisy. How do I fix it?

Check the water level first. 99.9% of the time, a noisy pump means there is not enough water in the fountain. Add water until the pump is fully submerged and the noise stops.

Still noisy after that? The pump is probably vibrating against the side of the pan. Tuck an old sponge underneath or beside it to isolate the pump and quiet things down.

Do fountains do the same thing as aerators?

Not quite. A fountain does add circulation to your pond, but it cannot move as much water as a true aeration system. And it is much less likely to circulate water in the critical zone near the bottom, which is exactly where you need it most.

How much water do I need?

For an indoor fountain, at least a few quarts. More is fine... several gallons or more for a large room.

Outdoor fountains need real volume to be effective. Plan on at least 25 gallons, and more if you can manage it.

How many hours a day should I run the fountain?

Run it continuously if you can. The pump will probably last longer that way.

An automatic timer works too. Just make sure it runs at least a few hours a day.

Does it matter how fast the water circulates?

For a fountain, this one is about your ears and eyes. The speed should look pleasing and the sound should be relaxing... not raging water, not a harsh splash.

For a pond, circulation is a job, not a look. Water that does not move cannot regulate itself. Moving water distributes oxygen, carries waste to the filter, and prevents the stagnant pockets where debris and algae collect. The goal for most ponds is turnover of about once an hour: the whole pond volume through the filtration once every hour.

Why doesn't my pump move as much water as the box says?

Because the number on the box lies.

That printed GPH rating is measured at zero head: water pushed straight out of the pump with no lift, no tubing, no fittings. The only way a 2,000 GPH pump actually moves 2,000 gallons in an hour is if it never has to push the water anywhere. Your setup is not that.

Every foot of lift costs flow. So does every foot of tubing and every elbow. To figure your real head height:

• Start with the vertical rise from the water's surface to the highest point the water reaches.
• Add roughly 1 foot of head for every 10 feet of tubing run.
• Add roughly 1 foot for every couple of sharp elbows or tight fittings.

So a pump lifting water 4 feet through 20 feet of tubing with a few elbows is really working against 7 to 8 feet of head... and that "2,000 GPH" pump might actually deliver 1,200 to 1,400 GPH. Good pumps publish a flow chart showing GPH at different head heights. Read the number at YOUR head height, not the headline on the front of the box.

My waterfall flow is getting weaker. What's wrong?

Low flow almost always traces back to one of three things: clogged intakes, filter restrictions, or a pump that is placed wrong or sized wrong. It rarely fails all at once... circulation usually declines gradually as something gets restricted. Catch it early and you prevent oxygen loss, algae outbreaks, and stressed fish.

Start with the easy stuff:

• Empty the skimmer basket and clear debris from intake openings.
• Inspect the pump intake screen.
• Rinse dirty or compacted mechanical filter pads, then re-seat them so water cannot bypass.
• If you run a pressure filter, backwash it. Most have a built-in dial and a pressure gauge that tells you when it is due.

If flow drops again quickly after cleaning, suspect an undersized pump. Dead zones in the pond point to poor pump placement. Persistent low flow with no single obvious cause usually means multiple small restrictions... inspect the whole system.

How do I keep a fountain from splashing?

Two easy fixes: turn the pump down to a lower setting, and keep the fountain filled high. Both cut splash.

That said, some fountains are simply designed better than others. A few will splash over the container no matter what setting they are on. Construction matters... it pays to pick one that is built well.