bubble pond -my new thoughts!!

Was thinking at the weekend that i would like a bubble pond (if thats whats its called)-either a shere or slate monolith with water cascading over the top. Just beeen having a look how its done and I think I am ok with that but have yet to decide on the top bit.

the choices I like at the moment are

a stainless steel sphere
a sandstone sphere
a greenish slate monolith (about 2 foot high)
a lump of green glass

I really like the look of the drilled glass rock but its only available from somewher London way and am waiting for them to come back to me with a size of it as it may be too tiny.

never had any kind of water feature before and apart from the obvious water and elec together thing wondered if there are any drawbacks to any of these possible scenarios?

 

Sandstone will quickly atract algal growth, the others less so.

[ 18. February 2008, 08:14 PM: Message edited by: Pro Gard ]

 

I find you get a better overall effect with slate.

 

Its actually called a water feature. A bubble pond is literally as the name says a pool of water which bubbles, but that aside, back to your suggestions.

Stainless steel sphere
Nice but will loose its shine with lime scale build up

Sandstone sphere
Nice, heavy and costly, shows algae

Slate monolith
Needs to have big base, if not can be pulled over by small person in error.

Green glass
Can be lit from underneath wont show too much algae (since its already geeen)

Bear in mind with monoliths and other drilled things, some places charge extra for the hole, I am not joking. I went to a garden centre chose a nice rock with hole, it was a reasonable price, then the bloke measured the depth of the hole and charged per inch of hole (Yes I know it has to be drilled but I thought that was taking the P) I promptly left without buying anything.

I guess the choice is yours,

Oh, i did a google and found the following for you

green glass rock

installing a water feature

 

Ive drilled them myself before with my big SDS and a 1m bit, sure as hell wouldnt pay extra for the drilling.

 

not everyone has access to an sds drill. and it was a nice looking rock (as far as rocks go)

But my point was to ask if they do charge extra for the hole.

 

thanks all for the replies. I did wonder if stainless steel would get dirty quickly!! Hmm must admit I hadnt thought about a monolith type toppling over so will have to give that some thought.

that green glass link is the one I was looking at. I do like it but am waiting for them to tell me how big it is to see if its suitable.

It seems that none of the things I like are cheap either- the monoliths drilled are about �£120 up wards depending on size and the spheres are expensive too!!! am going to go round as many water garden centre places as I can to get an idea of what these look like in a proper setting.

 

be careful in doing that.

as you said its a "proper setting" which means a good place will take time in making it just right, but when you buy one it doesnt look the same.

May i suggest if its close enough, you go to stapley watergardens (its in nantwhich cheshire)

if you have never been and like water gardens, you must go at least once in your lifetime

link

i did just check the website, they are having maintenance on the displays, so go in the summer, it really is well worth it

oh, what ever you do dont buy a solar operated feature, you will regret it, you may want to see this

 

sorry to hijack your thread LG, but i would like to ask watergarden what she thinks of my idea of making a water feature out of this..

 

what is it? (a bigger picture would be nice)

 

Is that better water garden? i bought it in November, its frostproof, and i would like water coming out the top, i just wondered if you think its suitable? sorry the pics a bit dark..Dee..

 

Pots can easily be made into water features.
You will have to very carefully drill a hole in the bottom for the inlet hose. You can always seal round the hose with genuine silcone selant.

The ony "problem" i can see is that of weight, it will need to stand on a sump, not in one but on one, in order for water to spill over the top it needs to fill first (via the pump) but when its full its going to weigh a lot so it will need to be standing on bricks in the sump to take the weight.

Frost is not a problem because when the pump is off it will drain back through the hose in the bottom into the sump. (the hose must sit just inside the pot not say half way up, in order for it to be able to empty

You are going to need a big sump to hold enough water to fill it and still keep the pump submerged.

Water storage tanks are good (available from any good diy store / plumbers merchant)

you may find this link of use

[ 20. February 2008, 06:58 AM: Message edited by: water-garden ]

 

water-garden-thanks for that. No I have never been there but will maybe go there in late spring/summer

 

Thanks for the info watergarden, I definatley want a water feature this year, Im just running ideas around in my head for now..Dee..

 

pictures are used for inspiration, try

here

here