Indoor Tabletop Serenity Water Fountain With Rocks/Pebbles

Design

• Design a serenity water fountain as a focal point or as a background fixture for a tabletop. The fountain's basin dictates the design; decorative planters and vases stand out more than those that blend into the background of the room. Serenity fountains often bubble at the top from within the basin, but you may design yours with water flowing from an exterior design element. Rocks or pebbles primarily cover the fountain pump, but they also add color to the fountain and can mute the sounds of splashing water.

Materials

• To make a tabletop serenity fountain with rocks or pebbles, you need a basin to hold the water, silicone sealant and/or plastic to seal any openings in the basin, a small submersible fountain pump, wire mesh to protect the pump from the rocks, and a channel for the water. Small river rocks or decorative glass rocks work well for tabletop fountains. Bubbling fountains only need a fountainhead extension to send water from the pump up to the top rim of the basin.

Assembly

• Seal the openings in the basin with silicone sealant and let the sealant dry. For larger openings such as drainage holes, cover the holes on the inside with rubber or plastic, then seal around the cover with silicone. Place the small submersible fountain pump inside the basin; drape the power cord over the side closest to the power outlet. Alternatively, drill a hole in the basin to run the cord out from the inside. Seal around the cord to make the basin watertight. Attach a fountainhead extension to the pump spout to make a bubbling fountain; stretch the extension to just beneath the basin's rim. Cut a section of wire mesh to cover the pump, then cover the wire with rocks and pebbles. Fill the basin with water and plug in the pump.

Options

• Direct water from the fountain pump to an external source to make a flowing serenity fountain. A length of flexible plastic tubing running from the pump spout to the top of the external water spout directs water flow. External water spouts for tabletop fountains may be anything such as stalks of bamboo standing upright inside the basin, or small birdhouses perched on the rim of the basin. Attach the external water spouts to the basin using waterproof construction adhesive. Duct tape comes in handy when you're attaching the plastic tubing to the pump spout and to the water spout. For example, if you're directing water from the basin through a birdhouse and out of the birdhouse entry hole, the plastic must be attached securely at the inside edge of the entry hole.