DIY Tabletop Water Fountain

I love tabletop water fountains, yet, they are expensive and/or not my style of weird and eclectic, nor can many of the fountains accommodate additions of one's trinkets and dust-busters. I had read recently, (do not ask me for the link, I forgot who, what and where), that running water will negate some of the electrical pollution in the area the water is flowing, especially if it is rushing water, besides this being soothing to some people to watch and hear.

I would suggest not to put one in the bedroom unless you want to get up throughout the night. ;)

The one pictured below is not the first one I made. I thought using a clear glass base would be so cool. You could see the rocks, crystals and other stuff in the fountain. Do not do that, unless you want to see a spotty bowl that looks like a dirty dog bowl. You can look on YuckTube to see how others that have made the fountains. The step-by-step instructions are very good for those who need visuals. Some used clay pots, old dishes, or plastic crap found around the house. The pumps can be found at the big-box home improvement stores for cheap. The one with lights is pricey- $30+.

What you need to put one together:

1 small water fountain pump
1 old 4 oz. or so shallow plastic container (like bulk spices or some condiments come in)
plastic tubing to fit the pump (I got clear)
various rocks, crystals, bowls, etc. for decoration and direction of water flow
Fountain base- any flat-bottom water-proof container in the size you want the fountain to be, at least 4" deep
cheap-o plastic dinner mat if it is to go on a wood table
power strip (makes it easy to turn on and off)
distilled water ONLY

Nice to have: small soldering iron or wood burner tool with a fine point

First, make a hole on bottom of the plastic container big enough to feed the tubing through with the burner (easy-peasy) or cut with a sharp knife (a booger to do). Add small holes around the sides to allow water to get inside the container, since it will be upside-down. Add a cut-out on the bottom (actually, what was the top lip of the container) for the electric cord on the pump so the container sits flat. This will keep tiny stones and such from getting into the pump. The pumps usually have suction cups on the bottom, BTW.

Place the pump in the bottom of your fountain container with the tubing where you want it to be. I have mine towards the side to sort-of hide the cord coming out over the side of the pot. Make sure the tubing is longer than you think it needs to be. You can cut it down easily once you get it mostly set up.

Put the plastic container over the pump with the tubing out of the hole made for this and the cord coming out of the divot made on the bottom edge of the lip so it sits flat.

Rinse all of the rocks, gee-gaws and other stuff you want in the fountain in a sieve, or you will have cloudy water. Even new rocks, glass bits and the like need washing off.

At this point, it takes futzing to get it arranged and for the water to make its lovely sound and flow, all without the water splashing too much. Add enough water for the pump to be submerged. You can have the water go into a tipped dish, sea shell, etcetera, or just have it bubble up. It is on you, here. Cut the tubing to the size that it feeds where and how you want it to flow. Add a very loose knot in the pump cord to keep the water from dripping down to the electrical socket or power strip. Plug the fountain in and see how the water flows, adjusting and moving around things until it is to your liking. Then add more stuff as wished. I covered up the plastic covering the pump with various crystals and rocks and put some to hide the cord, though they were moved when messing with the copper tubing and I have not moved them back.

As you can see from the photo, I wanted a copper tubing spray coming down, like a curtain of rain. I bent the tubing into a Fibonacci spiral, then drilled 9 holes after placing it in the tubing to hold it in place, marking holes for the right angle, and so on. 9 holes made the water slide down the tube. Too many holes. I made another with 4 holes. Perfect! Wait... water spray was also going outside of the fountain. The fountain is on a antique wooden table that is placed between the we-fry router and TV.

Crapola.

I cut the first spiral just before the holes started, bent it a bit more, then found a blown-glass flower-like shape to direct the stream into so it flowed into it, then spilled out nicely. I propped up the glass bit with crystals, stuck the second spiral to the back as decoration and turned it on. Great. Nice sound, flow and no spray outside of the base. My base is a roasting pan, BTW. ;D

You will have to replenish the water every few days due to evaporation. Remember to turn off the fountain if you will be away for more than a day so the pump does not burn out.

That is it. Play with the concept and have some fun with it. I had a short cellphone vid showing it working, but I cannot figure out how to make it play here.