Filtered Pet Watering Bowl

Step 7 Enjoy the flow

Now just sit back and listen to the soft flow of the water. Your pets will enjoy the fresher water and you will enjoy how easy it is to take care of.

You will need to change the water filter about every three weeks or so. It will depend on how how much your pets either shed or slobber into the bowl. Everytime I change the filter, the bowl and filter pump all get a good scrub down.

If you have curious cats, you may need to use some tape to secure the lid of the water filter. A couple of ice cubes floating in the water bowl can give your cats something to play with as well.

Comments

[marybarrow]

What a wonderful idea. I have one the expensive units and I could make one of these for use in our trailer when we travel.  Thanks for the idea.

[aznaquarist169]

Well the aquarium filter only takes out certain containments that would affect aquarium fish...i dont know if the water is actually potable. Just get one of those Brita water filters.

[tylermusiclady]

The aquarium filters pull out the same thing a Brita filter does. They both work with a carbon filter. The Brita is a good idea, but those cartridges cost a lot more and you would still need to dump the bowl and refill it every time. This is basically an automated Brita.

[p3ngwin]

actually, waters filter like Britta do more than aquarium filters. they filter to reduce the level of Chlorine, lead, copper, cadmium and mercury. see bottom of this page: http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4675121_brita-water-filter-work.html but for a our pets, this instructible is still great, so i'm building one. to be extra lazy, i mean autonomous, i'm going to hook it into my water supply with a automated valve. so it auto-re-fills, and filters.

[codongolev]

because we're (mainly) americans, nobody would actually do this (we're too snobby), but really, attaching an aquarium filter to a pitcher of water would probably get it more clean than a brita pitcher, because it keeps circulating it.

[monkeyhihi]

...and now I want my own circulating water fountain on my desk with a tap. If I could just have like a 20 gallon bucket of water that I keep circulating/filtering all the time with a faucet-like thing on the end for my cups... *bliss*

[tylermusiclady]

@condongolev. Good point!!! If the filter is new, why not? It is the same thing some under counter filters, the counter top filters and the existing commercial cat fountains.

[Mrs. Skunkbait]

How often do you have to fill the bowl back up? This looks like something my cat would really like. He goes to the kitchen sink and gets fresh water whenever he wants (we have a bad leak). But when we fix the leak he will want to "play" somewhere else.

[Dirkus]

The bowl is topped with fresh water either daily or every other day depending on the season and usage. (We have small animals.) About once a month the filter is changed and everything is washed and scrubbed. The flowing water will sometimes create bubbles on the water surface. The cats will bat at the bubbles. I will also put an ice cube or two in the bowl for the cats to watch and play with.

[justelise]

I think this is a fantastic idea. Most pet water fountains look great and work well, but they're insanely hard to keep clean, because there are narrow areas where bacteria can easily collect. Even though i have a pet fountain, I may build one of these to replace it. The Top Fin filters are good and cheap, and the replacement cartridges are probably a lot cheaper than the replacement cartridges for a pet fountain.

[Mrs. Skunkbait]

Thanks I will have to make one soon- it is hot out and pets need to drink more now!

[g_robb53]

Love this idea - and it sounds like something I can actually do!

[otter_p0p]

I wonder if you could add an additional water reservoir - like the expensive store bought units.

[heathbar64]

 Yes! absolutely. You need a rigid container that won't collapse from suction and it must be air tight except for the small opening at the bottom. it depends on the vacuum to keep it from all running out at once. (Like putting your finger on the end of a straw)  to experiment, take a glass bottle or rigid plastic fill it up clear full of water and hang it upside down with the mouth in a pan of water. the water won't run out of the bottle until the water in the pan gets low enough to uncover the neck of the bottle.  Now you have convinced yourself that it will work, switch out the bottle for a larger bucket or something with a hose attached to the bottom. as long as it is air tight and rigid enough not to collapse from the suction it will work.  

[mets012792]

Did you put the carbon in the filter. Would that be safe.

[Dirkus]

I use the carbon packet. I figured that if it is safe for fish, it couldn't hurt the dogs and cats. So far, so good.

[get to da parakeet]

looks like a great bath for parakeets too

[sunray1]

THANK YOU!!!!