copper fountain and pond life

18 years ago

I recently acquired a small copper fountain...I did read that it might be toxic to the pond life...it is a bowl with a tube going up and fills a little bucket which spills back into the bowl...I decided to put the whole thing into the pond so that the water spills over the sides. Does anyone out there have a better way for the fountain and bowl to work with the pond? I would really like to use it in or around my pond. Thank you!

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Comments (4)

Perry Smith
18 years ago
Can you post a picture of it?

Sounds like the water comes from the bowl (via a pump) up the tube. Then into the bucket and back into the bowl. Is that right?

If that is right, then you could just put it in the pond on a small pedestal. That would keep the water in it separate from the pond so it would decrease how toxic of an effect it has. copper should not be toxic I would think anyway but I'm not an expert.

The other thought, depending upon how adventuresome you are, is to change where the water comes from (the pick up for the pump) so that it draws water from the pond.
sleeplessinftwayne
18 years ago
It is possible the copper will not be good for your fishies. Saying that, it is not the copper metal that causes problems, it is the copper compounds that develop after a time. The solution to the quandry is to use a longlasting sealer on the copper. Look for a transparent marine latex paint or sealer. There should be several available. Sandy
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rhodyman
18 years ago
The good news is that copper is toxic to hair algae, also known as blanket weed and string algae, at concentrations as low as three parts per million. The bad news is that above this concentration copper is toxic to fish.

However, copper is toxic only in its ionic form and copper ions readily precipitate out of solution at pHs above 6.8. So if you can keep the pH above 7 you may not kill the fish. The toxicity of copper ions to fish increases as water temperatures increases. It is especially a problem during hot summer months.

Copper can cause oxygen concentrations to drop, which may result in fish kills. Pond algae is a major source of oxygen production and by removing it this source of oxygen is also removed.

Copper is also toxic to invertebrates, such as snails, and also most of the zooplankton in a pond (daphnia, rotifers, etc.). If your water is low in alkalinity, or if you have a heavy algae bloom and no aeration, copper must be avoided.
ezponder
Original Author
18 years ago
Sorry I haven't posted before now, I've tried once, but the computer wasn't cooperating. I decided to take the fountain out, but I hope to figure something out in the future...a taller stand would help and I wouldn't have to have the water spilling into the pond. I really enjoy the verdigris look the copper gets as it ages, so I'm not sure about covering the bowl with a sealer. Thank you to all who answered my plea! I'm sure I will have more questions in the future. Happy ponding!;)