How to Build a Tabletop Water Fountain

A tabletop water fountain is easy to build and can be a very personal one of a kind project. The sound of dripping or slowly moving water can sooth frayed nerves, bring calmness to a room and even help you drift off into sleep. Many people use the sound of water to help them meditate.

Step 1: Construct the Base

First you will construct the base or bottom of your fountain. The container you chose will say a lot about you and the area where you plan to use the fountain. It must be deep enough to hold water and completely submerge the water pump. You can use something as simple as a glazed flower pot without a hole in the bottom. Other ideas are large ceramic bowls such as salad bowls or serving dishes, copper pans, galvanized pans or buckets or even a basket with a plastic liner. Let your imagination go wild and come up with an original idea.

Step 2: Installing the Pump

Put the pump in the base unit and cover loosely with your shells, pebbles or sea glass. You can also use marbles or other stones. You don't have to use anything in the base to cover the pump, but most people like the look better rather than just a pump sitting in water. You can also put the pump in the water, put screening on top of the base container and then sit plants on top of the screen to hide the pump.

Step 3: Add Water

Put the tubing onto the output part of the pump. This is usually a small lip that sticks out from the pump. Fill the bowl or container about three quarters full of water. Run the tubing up to and through the opening in whatever you are using for the falls or dripper part of your fountain, such as a small figure, a rock with a hole drilled through it, a piece of tile or perhaps a group of bamboo sticks bound together. Fasten the tubing securely to this piece or inside of it so it will be held in place. You may also use silicone caulking to hold it once you have tested to see if it works properly.

Step 4: Maintaining Your Fountain

Plug in the pump and stay nearby. You may want to have a towel handy in case the test doesn't go well and you get water spraying. There is a small dial on the base of most pumps that says 'higher' or 'lower' you should start on a lower setting or between lower and mid way and adjust to your own taste later. Give the water time to circulate a while so you can see how it is going to work. You can also add more water at this point to the depth you prefer. You will need to check your fountain daily to add more water as you will loose a bit each day to evaporation. If your pump ends up dry it will burn out.