In this Instructable I will show you how to create a multi tiered garden fountain using piping, plant pots, plant pot saucers and a submersible pump.

All the items with the exception of the pump were purchased from my local DIY outlet.

Tools Required

Drill

4mm drill bit

32mm hole cutter

Saw

Mitre Block

Ruler

Marker

Clamp

Spirit level

fountain.mp4
Download

Supplies

32mm( dia.) straight couplings - Qty 5

32mm (dia.) waste pipe access plug - Qty 1

32mm (dia.) poly pipe, Length 170cm - Qty 2

Plant pot saucers - Qty 4 (150mm, 240mm, 320mm & 360mm)

Plant pots - Qty 2 (300mm dia. x 230mm high with rolled edge*) & (380mm dia. x 270 mm reservoir water pot.)

*The rolled edge is important to enable the pot to sit firmly in the inverted state.

Overflow Reducer (Dia)32mm x 21.5mm - Qty 1

22mm poly pipe, length 170mm - Qty 1

Submersible water Pump

Optional

Spray head attachments

LED lights.

Step 1: Design

The original concept design is shown in the BlockCAD image.

Further design modifications and amendments for real world requirements resulted in the final plan showing all the required elements.

Step 2: Saucer and Pot Preparation

Each of the 3 saucers require a 32mm hole cutting in the centre.

Finding the centre is not too difficult due to the presence of a moulding mark created during manufacture.

However, this may have a ridge which may cause a shift in the drill tip if using a hand drill.

Simply cut the ridge off with a sharp blade or cutters.

Fit a 32mm hole cutter in the drill chuck, clamp the saucer to a sacrificial piece of wood on the drill platform and centre with the moulding mark and proceed to cut the hole.

Repeat the process on the remaining two saucers.

Next repeat the process of cutting a 32mm hole in the bottom centre of the plant pot.

Each of the 3 saucers now requires drainage holes using a 4mm drill bit

Drill 8 equidistant holes at 45 degree intervals around the circle in the base of the saucer 1cm from the perimeter.

Repeat the process on the remaining three saucers.

Step 3: Pipe Preparation

Using a mitre block and saw cut the required number of lengths.

A total of 5 lengths of 32mm pipe will be required to be cut.

170mm length - Qty 2

80mm length - Qty 3

These will be used in conjunction with the couplings and saucers to assemble the tower.

Additionally a length of 22mm pipe cut to 170mm will be required.

This will be connected to the pump outlet.

Step 4: Assembly

Remove the cap (it's use is no longer required), from the Waste pipe access plug and fit the Overflow waste reducer in the open end, which should be an interference fit.

This provides the water outlet in to the top tier.

Push the narrow end through the hole in the small plant pot saucer and fit to one of the open ends of the Straight coupling this will sandwich the saucer between the two parts.

Tighten the the coupling and complete the top tier.

Push a 170 mm length of pipe in to the other end of the Straight coupling and tighten.

To the end of this pipe fit a Straight coupling and tighten.

Insert an 80 mm length of pipe into the open end of the Straight coupling and tighten.

Place the medium second saucer over the end of the protruding pipe and fit a Straight coupling and tighten.

This completes the middle tier.

Insert a 170 mm length into the open end of the Straight coupling on the middle tier and tighten.

Fit a Straight coupling onto the end of the pipe and tighten.

Into the Straight coupling fit an 80 mm length of pipe and tighten the coupling.

Place the third large and fourth larger saucer over the end of the protruding pipe followed by the inverted plant pot and fit a Straight coupling and tighten.

This completes the bottom tier.

Take an Overflow waste reducer and fully insert a 170mm length of 22mm piping.

This 22mm pipe will sit over the outlet of the pump

Fit this assembly in to the Straight coupling and in addition a length of 32mm pipe cut to no less than 80mm and tighten the Straight coupling.

The short piece of 32mm pipe holds the Overflow waste reducer in place.

The completed tower of 3 tiers stands ~ 80cm

Step 5: Installation

***** Ensure you read the safety instructions for the pump prior to used. *****

Sit the pump in the larger plant pot which will serve as the water reservoir such that the outlet is centrally placed and include sufficient water to cover the water inlet.

At this stage you will want to ensure the pump works and that the flow rate is sufficiently high.

For this pump the flow rate was set to maximum.

Ensure the water reservoir pot is level on the surface it will be seated on by using a spirit level this will ensure the fountain tower is stable and the water cascades evenly.

Place the tower into the larger plant pot with the 22mm pipe covering the pump outlet, there is no need to fit additional sealing using this pump and tower height combination.

Fill the larger pot with wafer such that it covers the inverted pots rolled edge lip by a couple of centimetres.

The rolled edge of the inverted pot helps the water press the inverted pot down to prevent the tower tilting. particularly for a plastic pot which has little mass.

Subject to location particularly if exposed add more water or add some small stones/pebbles/gravel for additional ballast if required around the rolled edge.

Although unless the small stones/pebbles/gravel are contained, disassembly to access the pump and or cleaning will include retrieving them from the bottom prior to reassembly.

Alternatively, a ceramic pot could be used being significantly heavier than a plastic pot.

Step 6: Attachments

Further attachments can be added to the top in the form of a spray head for example.

Insert a short length of 22mm dia. pipe in to the Overflow reducer and insert a 20mm dia. pipe into the 22mm dia. pipe upon which is placed a fountain spray head.

However, the ability to make use of these attachments will depend upon their size and form the additional height added to the tower and the capability of the pump.

Night time is no reason to turn the fountain off, the addition of LED lights can prolong and enhance the experience, the main requirement is that they are waterproof if they are to be in contact with water.