How to Build an Outdoor Zen Garden Water Fountain

Add to the serenity of any setting with the soothing sounds of a fountain you make yourself! Find project details here: http://low.es/1oXkYQR

The fountain is basically just a base, a ball, and a pump. The pillar base and the ball are both made from concrete. To pour the pillar, place a bucket upside down on your work surface, and lodge a piece of pvc right into the center- the pvc shouldn't extend more than an inch or two into the bucket, and should be taller than the concrete form.

Place the form over the bucket, and fill it making sure your pvc stays centered. The bucket will create a void in the bottom of the pillar to house the pump for the fountain, and the pvc will provide a path to feed up the tubing for the fountain and that's the base.

The form for the ball is just a globe for a light fixture. Spray the inside with cooking spray so you get a clean release, and fill the globe all the way up to the base. This gives the ball a flat surface so it will sit nicely on the pillar. Just like you did with the pillar, create a path through the ball. Use another piece of the pvc, with the end taped off and push it all the way down to the other end of the globe. Use some tape to hold it in place. This is a lot easier than trying to drill through the ball later!

Once the base and ball are dry, release them from their forms. You can just tear or cut away the casing on the pillar, but you need to be more careful with the globe. Wrap it in some heavy duty plastic, wear gloves and eye protection, and then tap the globe so it shatters into the plastic for a quick safe cleanup.

Use a dowel to clear away the tape. At the end of the ball, and then trim away the excess pvc. Now you're ready to assemble the fountain. Prep a hole and place a pan like this in it so the lip is flush with the ground - put a layer of river rock in the pan, place the pump on it, and then surround the pump with more rock With the pillar on it's side, feed the tubing up through the pvc, then tip the pillar into place over the pump.

Now, feed the tubing up through the ball so you can gauge the length before you trim it back. You want the tubing to come 'almost' all the way to the top of the ball.
Seal around the base of the ball with some silicone and once that's dry -- just fill the pan with water, and turn on your fountain. See, it's that simple!

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