We have ALOT of indoor dwelling animals. Filling water bowls all day is time consuming. We have shopped for the fresh flowing commercial pet water fountains and found them to be expensive, low volume and poor quality. I came up with a high volume no frills alternative. Extremely easy to put together and very inexpensive. The critters all drink from it...large dogs to cats. The basic idea can be made to what ever fountain configuration your imagination can concieve.

Step 1: Basic Equipment

One large water tight container and one smaller container. Consider the size of your smallest critter when choosing container size and height.

Smallish clean rocks to mostly fill the small container and hold the pump inplace.

One small, low volume fountain pump. A larger, high volume pump may shoot the stream on to the ceiling or across the living room.

Step 2: Fountain Pump

I found this one at Menards in the garden section. It cost around $7. I do not remember the flow rate statistics. Just small. It produces a few inches high plume at the end of the tube. (next step)

Step 3: Rocks

We live in mid Michigan. Glacial till rocks are everywhere. Precleaned ones can be purchased at garden stores. Just check what is in or on them since your pets will be drinking the water that has been filtered around the rocks.

Step 4: Assembly

Stick a piece of tubing that is the right diameter for the outlet of whatever pump you have chosen. That info will be on the box. Tubing is at the hardware store. We had some just laying around that was the right diameter.

Cut the length to reach over the rocks and above the water line to what ever height is right for your application.

If the pump has little suction cups them stick it wear you want on the bottom of the smaller, rock containing container. Then surround the pump with rocks to hold it inplace.

Step 5: Fill 'er Up

Put your smaller container inside the big container. Place the whole shabang where you want it, then fill it with water and plug in! Done.

The larger container is used for a spill and dribble barrier. If you have tidy drinkers it may not be necessary,

Step 6: Done

Not pretty. But totally effective and easy to fill

CLEANING! Every few week at least to avoid hair and slime from clogging the pump and getting the water disgusting.

I take the small container to the sink and dump the water out and hold the rocks in to container. I put a little fruit and vegetable soap on the rocks, add water and shake/agitate the rocks until good and sudsy. Then I fill, rinse, dump and repeat until the water is clear.

The pump get gets removed and cleaned. The intake usually has crud in it and the cord that is submerged needs a wipe down with the sudsy water.

Hope someone gives it a try.

If I can get a pic or two of the critters drinking from it I will post those as well.