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Water fountains and water control.

slow-poke

slow-poke

Ultra Member
Seems like the members here are knowledgeable about a lot more than metal working, so thought I would give this a go.

My wife and I installed a water fountain in the backyard yesterday and now I need to make sure it does not run dry. Fortunately I have water and power close to the fountain. We re-jigged the backyard to have a circular lawn with a mulched garden outside the grass center, and when I made the circle I buried two, 3/4" irrigation lines around the entire circle that I can control from both the sprinkler controller as well as a wireless link that has one end in the shed near the fountain. The idea was that these two lines would form a sort of spoke and hub arrangement with the spokes running to whatever needs watering in the mulched portion. One line for things that need watering often and one for things that only need watering perhaps once per week. That's all up and working as it should.

So I'm now planning to tap into the "daily" feed and run a small hose to fill the fountain automatically when it gets low. I think the easiest thing to do is use some sort of ball float type valve (much like a toilet) that when low will open and then when the daily water turns on will fill the basin back up And then close to prevent over filling.

Amazon has some really cheap humidifier valves that look like they will fit (bottom water reservoir is about 5" deep), looking for something reliable.

Does anyone have any experience with such valves?


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We had a similar need for a small fish pond and plants in a container water garden on the deck at our previous home. I used a livestock watering trough control valve. Never had any problems with it. They come in different sizes and work exactly as you describe. You can get lots of fancy valves but the animal watering devices are all time proven and not too expensive.

I agree, I love the diverse and expansive knowledge and experience of the membership! There is always somebody who knows something about my interests and even if not, somebody is willing to help me brainstorm it!
 
I have a small humidifier float valve in my fish pond filter box that keeps the water level topped up. It's fed by a 1/4" poly line and works well keeping the pond level up. The issue I see with your fountain would be the splashing water not allowing the float to stay still enough to remain shut off properly and could overflow it. If you can set up some sort of timer that shuts down the pump while the fill line is fed, it might help.
 
BMW Rider said:
The issue I see with your fountain would be the splashing water not allowing the float to stay still enough to remain shut off properly and could overflow it.
Click to expand...

I think most of those fountains have internal Chambera for floats and pumps. If not, it's easy to add a fake rock.
 
I figured I could count on you guys to make good suggestions. I was a bit impatient and picked up a humidifier style from Home Depot this morning and installed it, it seems to work well. If it proves to be unreliable I will go with the livestock or water reservoir style, both of those look to be smaller and will be easier to hide. I have the source programmed to come on for 10 minutes a day, that should be enough to keep it topped up.
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jcdammeyer said:
Been wanting a fountain like that for years. Maybe when I retire or reach 85. Whichever comes first.
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John,
Don’t wait til you are 85, that pail of water will be a mosquito nest.

I built this little unit because it produces soft trickling sound.
It also hides the Natural Gas Line that was supplying a previous BBQ.
 

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LenVW said:
John,
Don’t wait til you are 85, that pail of water will be a mosquito nest.

I built this little unit because it produces soft trickling sound.
It also hides the Natural Gas Line that was supplying a previous BBQ.
Click to expand...
My body no longer handles mosquito bites very well.

Clever. Why the C clamp on the hose?
 
The little submersible pump would build up enough head to spray the flow about 3 ft.
I was using the C clamp to regulate the flow.
LOL
 
jcdammeyer said:
My body no longer handles mosquito bites very well.
Click to expand...

LenVW said:
Don’t wait til you are 85, that pail of water will be a mosquito nest.
Click to expand...

You can get this shaker can from Home Hardware of active bacteria chips. You put a few chips in the water and an hour later all the mosquito larvae are dead.

I put it in stagnant water all over the farm. Minnows and dragon fly nymphs work well too.
 
Susquatch said:
You can get this shaker can from Home Hardware of active bacteria chips. You put a few chips in the water and an hour later all the mosquito larvae are dead.

I put it in stagnant water all over the farm. Minnows and dragon fly nymphs work well too.
Click to expand...
What’s it called?
 
Tom O said:
What’s it called?
Click to expand...

Yes, AquaBac. Prolly the same stuff as what @Doggggboy said though. The bacteria is "Bacillus Thuringiensis". Comes in a big cannister. That original cannister has lasted 12 years now. I have 4 more unopened.

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I sprinkle a few chips (each is a tiny dried cake about 50thou x 50 thou) on any standing water except the pond. Lots of natural predators in the pond and I use a bubbler to keep the water moving and oxygenated.
 
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