Build a Bubbling Rock Water Feature – The Great Outdoors
Build a Bubbling Rock Water Feature – The Great Outdoors
Materials Needed:
– plastic 5-gallon bucket
– rust-proof paint
– piece of expanded metal that fits the bucket opening
– approximately 1/2 bag of large round gravel
– scrap piece of copper tubing
– submersible pump
– 2-inch piece of plastic tubing (used to connect copper tubing and pump)
Tools Needed:
– spade or digging shovel
– tubing cutter
– scissors
– bubble level
Steps for installing a 5-gallon water feature
Step 1
Bury the bucket. First things first, dig a hole deep enough to accommodate your 5-gallon bucket. Keep in mind that the top of the bucket should be at ground level. You will also want to make sure that your bucket is setting level in the hole.
Step 2
Install pump and platform. Next, place the pump in the bucket and connect the copper tubing to the pump; using the small piece of plastic tubing.
You will have to cut the copper tubing to the correct length. Cut it long enough to reach slightly above the platform. After your pump is in place, install your expanded metal platform inside the bucket. You may want to paint your platform with rust-proof paint if it is not galvanized.
Step 3
Test the pump. Fill the bucket with enough water to cover the pump. Plug your pump in and make any necessary adjustments. Remember that when the water level reaches the top of the copper tube, the force of the “fountain” will be reduced. When your pump is adjusted, fill the bucket to the correct level.
Step 4
Backfill the hole and install the gravel. The final step is to backfill the area surrounding the bucket, and cover the platform and the surrounding area with gravel. Place several larger rocks around the top of the copper tubing. This will help to keep the “flow” of the fountain open.
NOTE: Remember you will have occasionally add water to your fountain to compensate for evaporation.
This is such a great idea. Thank you
Awesome thanks for that,it looks amazing
This is wonderful, just what I was looking for, and I hope to make it very soon. Thanks for the video.
I did this project with a 5 gallon bucket in my pond as a DIY filter. Bucket was full of lava rock with some holes in the bottom of the bucket to promote water flow. I highly recommend this small pump https://amzn.to/2RxApj0 (afiliate link). It’s been running daily since I first built my bucket water feature/filter last year. My pond water is crystal clear and my fish are happy!
Live it
What size pump did you use? Thank you so much for this video!
This perfect for the rock water feature we are building. Thanks!!!
Where it went sideways: outdoor electric, "my tubing cutter" lol. Burying the bucket, so you don’t ever want to clean that bucket out? Ah well. Did like the copper tube. This can be adapted to a solar application.