Reneepren, I don't have any answers for you, but I do have the same questions! We recently put in a small fountain, too. Ours is just a simple plastic bucket with a recirculating pump. We dug a hole in the ground to make it ground level. The main reason we got the thing was to make a nice clean fresh water source for our dogs. They drink out of it just fine. What I am worried about is algae, because someone told me that it will probably grow algae. They said I need to find an algaecide (sp?) that won't harm my dogs, of course. I have looked at Home Depot and Lowe's and Walmart, but all the algaecides they have are harmful to fish and animals. Maybe I am worrying over nothing, since our fountain water seems to be clear and good.

Anyway, I am hoping to see someone who knows about this stuff that will talk to us.

Good luck with your fountain, reneepren.

-Ivy

I ordered some of the stuff in this link which is supposed to keep fountain clear and be safe for dogs and animals.

http://www.outdoordecor.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/online-store/scstore/p-EC10TTFC4.html?L+scstore+wxjl4762Overture-FountainCareffde67de+1091054118

Will let you know how it works

Today my DH found a visitor to our little pond. We had put a plastic squeaker frog in the pond just for fun, but evidently she is pretty enough in the frog kingdom to have attracted a mate. We named him Frisky, since he is such a little go-getter. Aren't they cute?

Is there anything special I should know about, now that I have a frog? Never had a frog before!

Here is a link that might be useful:

I would think any pet store that sells aquarium supplies would have something to inhibit alge growth. I use something called Fountec. It is for fountains and water gardens. The label says, Safe for birds, plants, and animals, "not for fish". But to make sure, I would use something that is safe for fish as well.
Leslie

I want my fountain to attract birds, but I'm worried about waste clogging the pump. Any ideas would be appreciated!

We also have a small pre-formed pond that our cocker spaniel and cat like to drink from when they are outside. Neither one has ever been ill from the water. To keep the water clear and cut down on algae, we use pond plants - lettuce, hycinth and oxygenators (these look like seaweed and are weighted with a small metal band to keep four or so of them in the bottom). We do, however, drain the pond in the spring, give it a good cleaning and refill with fresh water.

I went to a fountain/pond seminar this spring and they said the worst thing you could clean your equipment with was bleach. Apparently it breaks down the plastics in the hoses and the pump parts. I'd check around and see if you could find a pond nursery or store online and find out what product they would recommend to control the algae that wouldn't hurt your dog.

Hmmm, was that seminar put on by someone trying to sell you anything? I had a pool for over 10 years and used bleach (sodium hypochloride) to keep it clean and algae free. All the plumbing and many of the pump parts were plastic. I never had any of those parts degrade. I was going to suggest that bleach was probably OK to use and as safe as anything for pets as long as it isn't too strong.

I used vinegar recently and it cleaned the water, but also stripped a bit of the fountain's finish. We use apple cider vinegar to clean the chicken's water bowls. If you don't have a finish on your fountain that would get harmed, a small amount of vinegar is a good way to go.

I have a decorative metal painted water fountain. I read that vinegar to clear the algae from my water fountain base can also remove the paint from metal ... I found out that a product called Fountec will remove the algae and at the same time not affect the paint finish on my metal fountain ... please reply to rsierrausa@ramerican.business