DIY Project - Portable Tub Fountain

My fiancé and I have been looking at different type of water features for her garden for quite some time but just have not found one we liked or that was size appropriately to fit in her garden and look half way decent. We both enjoy listening to fountains or little waterfalls when we are outside relaxing, however sometimes they are either too large or not affordable on our budget at the stores near our house. This week I was able to find a DIY project that combined a small scale water feature that would fit in her garden along with an affordable price tag.

The materials needed for the DIY project consist of:

·         Submersible fountain pump that has at least 2 feet of tubing

·         Galvanized tub (ours is about 18 inches square)

·         Several clay pots or other filler, such as aluminum cans or foam blocks

·         50 pounds of various-size river rock

·         Galvanized 10-inch-diameter bucket

·         Drill and bits

·         Hammer

·         Metal file

·         Ceramic or glass 6- to 8-inch-diameter gazing ball

Step-by-Step

1. Start by placing the pump, with tubing attached, in the bottom of the tub, making sure the intake faces downward. Fill the bottom of the tub with upside-down clay pots or other filler.

2. Place a layer of rocks over the pots, but don’t pile them all the way up to the tub’s rim yet. Make sure the tubing comes up where you plan to set the bucket. For example, if you intend to place the bucket in one corner of the tub, be sure that’s where the tubing is positioned so that you can easily run it up through the bucket when the time comes. Run the pump’s power cord up and out of the tub.

 3. Drill a hole for the tubing in the bottom of the bucket, close to the edge. The hole size will depend on the tubing and should be no larger than the minimum required. This could require a fairly large drill bit, perhaps 3⁄4 inch or more. If you don’t have that size bit, drill several smaller holes in a tight cluster, then use a hammer to drive a chisel through them. Be sure to file away any sharp points.

4. Run the tubing up through the hole in the bottom of the bucket. The end of the tubing should extend at least several inches above the bucket’s top rim. Place the bucket in the rock-filled tub. In our example, the bucket is in one corner, but you could also place it in the center. If you want to tilt the bucket so the water will spill over one side, place a rock or two under the bottom of the bucket to give it the desired tilt.

5. Fill the remainder of the tub and the bucket with rocks, being sure to keep the tubing in place. Set the gazing ball on top of the rocks in the bucket, running the tubing up the back side of the ball (opposite from where the fountain will be viewed).
  
6. Place the fountain in your favorite garden spot and fill the tub. After you’ve added water, plug in the fountain pump. Adjust the tubing so the water creates the pattern you like best. Use rocks to hold the tubing in place. Adjust the tubing to alter the fountain’s pattern and change the look, sound, and amount of splash produced.

In six quick steps you can have a unique and even personalized water feature that can be created on any budget. My fiancé actually found a rock with a “K” on it for our last name to replace the ceramic/gazing ball as our centerpiece of the tub fountain.  It looks great and fits perfectly in our rather small garden, yet gives us the sound and relaxation that we were looking for.

Source
http://www.diyideas.com/howto/Garden/portabletub_1.html