Why Create a Koi Pond Fountain to Make a Splash this Season

If you’re looking for the best pond fountains to make your garden or pool more beautiful, then this article is for you.

In this educational guide, we are going to show you all the types of pond fountains, their benefits, and how to create the one that best suits your pond style and needs.

What are the benefits of adding a pond fountain?

Adding a fountain to your koi pond, or designing a new pond around this stunning water feature, is a great way to add beauty and functionality to not only your pond but your yard. Fountains add oxygen to the water which can benefit the health of your koi fish, keep ponds clean, and create beautiful focal points.

Fountains reduce water stagnation, which discourages insects from breeding — goodbye, mosquitos! — as well as decrease algae growth. The splashing water forces surface-dwelling algae down below the surface, depriving it of the sunlight it needs to grow. In addition, the extra oxygen introduced by a fountain decreases excess nutrients in the pond, which helps with controlling new algae growth.

Pond fountains can be added to ponds and lakes big and small for these added benefits and beauty.

There are many reasons why you might want to add a pond fountain to your garden. Some of the benefits include:

Attracting wildlife
Improving water quality
Reducing algae growth
Providing aeration
Helping to prevent ice formation

Can a pond fountain help keep my koi fish healthy?

Owners of fish ponds often add a fountain not only to beautify the pond but to promote a healthier environment for their fish. One of the biggest dangers for fish is a decrease in the level of dissolved oxygen in pond water.

The oxygen introduced by the fountain can significantly improve their habitat, making it easier for the fish to survive and thrive. We find that a pond fountain or waterfall is nearly mandatory for healthy koi ponds.

What are the different types of fountains?

There are a few different types of pond fountains, the most popular of which are:

Solar fountains: Powered by the sun, these fountains are a great option for those who want to go green.
Electric fountains: These run on electricity and are perfect for those who want a more dramatic effect or lack enough sunlight for solar ponds.
Pump fountains: These fountains use a pump to push water up to the top to create a beautiful waterfall effect.

No matter which style of fountain you choose, a pond pump is required to pump water from an artificial pond or reservoir and force it through a pipe system in order to provide water flow.

What size can a pond fountain be?

The most common size for a large pond fountain is approximately six feet in diameter and 18 inches deep.

There are a variety of smaller fountain options for decorative ponds that don’t require as much power or space. These serve a few of the same benefits while adding a delightful aesthetic and relaxing sound to your back or front yard koi pond, so not as functional but still very pleasant.

What are spray patterns?

Spray patterns are the patterns created by water droplets as they fall from the top of a fountain into the pond and create ripples. The two main types of spray patterns are radial and concentric.

Radial patterns are more common and result in a broad, circular motion of water droplets as they fall.

Concentric patterns create a cone shape that is narrower at the center and wider at the bottom.

Both provide similar benefits and can be chosen to fit the specific size and shape of the pond.

How to Choose the Right Pond Fountain

When choosing a pond fountain, it is important to consider the size of your pond, the type of fountain you want, the benefits you are seeking, and the power requirements. This helps guide your decision to choose a fountain that circulates the water or one that just creates a decorative effect.

Ponds can also serve multiple purposes. Decorative pond fountains provide surface aeration while aerating pond fountains offer a more dramatic effect from higher volumes of moving water and aeration.

Aerating fountains are best suited for larger ponds and lakes which contain more water and surface area. Aerating fountains that spray in a v-shaped pattern perform a higher degree of oxygen transfer than decorative fountains and may be a better choice for larger ponds if aeration is a primary goal.

If your home pond or lake is considerable in size, you’ll find large pond fountain options as well as smaller options suitable for shallow ponds.

It is important to note pond fountains come in many different styles and sizes and can be customized to fit your koi pond design and needs.

How to Install a Pond Fountain

Congratulations! By now you’ve chosen the style and size of fountain you desire.

Before you install it, you will need to make sure you have the following supplies:

Pond pump
Pond tubing
Fountain head
Electrical cord
Ground fault interrupter
Waterproof cord connector
Outdoor extension cord
Landscape staples
Level
Shovel
Rake
Hammer
Chisel

Pond fountain kits are a great way to get started as they’ll come complete with everything you need to create the water feature of your dreams.

How do you anchor a floating pond fountain?

Floating pond fountains are a beautiful way to showcase water features. Anchoring a pond fountain is easy and doesn’t require any special electrical connections.

There are two types of anchors you can use to secure a pond fountain: weight-bearing anchors and tension-bearing anchors. Weight-bearing anchors include rocks, weights, and water pumps. Tension-bearing anchors include chains, cable ties, and inflatable rubber pads. One way to anchor a floating fountain is to use a large rock or weight to hold it in place. You can also opt to use a metal or plastic anchor that can be attached to the pond liner. Anchors are necessary to keep a fountain from floating out of place.

To install an anchor, first measure the depth and width of the hole where the anchor will go and choose an appropriate anchor based on these measurements. Drill a hole in the desired location and insert the anchor into it, then seal off around the anchoring area with concrete or mortar to prevent water from entering and damaging your fountain.

How to Maintain a Pond Fountain

Pond fountains do require some care and regular maintenance to keep functioning smoothly for years to come. To maintain a pond fountain, you should keep the water level high enough so that the pump is always covered.

Clean the pump regularly, taking care to remove any debris and plants that may block the pump. Keep an eye on the weather as well, and turn off the fountain if a storm is approaching.

Ready to build your perfect pond fountain?

We’re here for you! Be sure to take a look at our koi food, high-quality pond equipment for everything you need to get started and read our blog for more koi pond ideas, tips, and tricks.