Yes, It's Really Easy To Construct Your Own Bamboo Water Fountains
|
|
Many homeowners love the appearance of a water feature -- in particular, bamboo water fountains -- but are put off because they think that this will be a difficult, time-consuming and expensive task. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth -- and even if your do-it-yourself skills are very modest, you will find that it is actually quite easy to construct your own bamboo water fountain.
Survey Your Site -- The Importance of Choosing a Good Location
Before you begin work, you should first of all scope out the site, or location, where your bamboo water fountain will be located. You're going to need to dig into the ground in order to install your fountain, so make sure there are no underground pipes or utility lines located there. In addition, you should make sure that your location is not situated under trees -- in the fall your bamboo water fountain will become full of leaves and the pump will get clogged up.
Decide on the Type of Fountain You Want
All types of fountains -- bamboo water fountains included -- fall into one of two categories: those with fish and/or plant life, and those without. The advantage of installing a bamboo water fountain with live fish is that your fish can eat insects such as mosquitoes and other critters that might tend to accumulate in a pond without them. Bamboo water fountains that include live fish should provide a source of moving water -- this will help to oxygenate it, enabling your fish to breathe properly.
Unless your bamboo water fountain will have a large pond enabling you to anchor your plants deep under the surface, you probably don't want to have a fountain that moves the water too fast -- your plants will have difficulty in staying anchored -- and if they become detached, they can clog up your pump mechanism. Also, make sure that the pond you install for your bamboo water fountain is not too shallow -- otherwise the water will evaporate pretty fast when the hot summertime weather comes.
Assemble All of Your Materials -- Before Beginning Work
In order to install your bamboo water fountain efficiently, you should gather all of your materials before hand. You will need, of course, shovels or other implements to dig out the earth for your fountain pond (if it will have one). You will also need a supply of soft sand and waterproof lining material, as well as your water pump, fixtures and tubes, the various lengths of bamboo, etc. Much of this material should be included for you when you purchase your bamboo water fountain kit.
Dig It -- Install It -- Test It
Once you are ready to begin work, dig out the necessary size hole in your yard and line the bottom and sides of that hole with soft sand. Using soft sand will help to ensure that the liner will not be punctured, which will cause water to leak out of the pond . Of course, you should be careful to remove all sharp stones from your hole before putting the waterproof liner in.
After digging and preparing your hole, the next step is to actually install your bamboo water fountain -- specifics on this will vary, depending upon the manufacturer of your pump, so follow their directions to the letter. If you are adding any "extras" such as plant life or fish, make sure that this will not cause problems with the type of pump you have purchased.
Finally, once you have installed everything, you will need to test your bamboo water fountain. Make sure that the pump is operational and is actually recirculating your water as it should. Check to make sure that there is no possibility of small objects, debris, etc., becoming detached and clogging your pump mechanism. Also check from time to time to make sure that the ground near your bamboo water fountain is not becoming wet and soggy -- a sign that you may have leak in your liner. Properly installed, that outdoor bamboo water fountain will provide many years of faithful service in providing you with a touch of peace and relaxation in your favorite outdoor space.
|
