Fountains: Your Guide to Gorgeous, Tranquil Water Features

When you want to install a fountain for your pond or other water features, it’s important to choose the right size and style to suit your property or golf course. Vanden Bussche Irrigation offers numerous fountains by quality brands, such as Aqua Control, Arbourdale, and Aquascape. We also offer pond care products, such as pumps and various pond treatments to help maintain the proper pH balance. Additionally, diverse nozzle patterns and lighting options allow you to customize the fountains and aerators you can offer to your clients. That’s great news for golf course managers, landscaping designers, and property owners.

What Are the Benefits of Installing Fountains?

Most fountains installed on golf courses and landscape or commercial projects aim to provide the following:

  • Aesthetics: Fountains add elegance to commercial properties and golf courses. They are also standout features for large estates. Fountains come in many different styles, sizes, and designs, so it’s easy for landscapers to get creative when using them in small or large ponds.
  • Aeration: Aerators circulate the water in ponds or pools, preventing stagnation and odor. Aeration increases oxygen levels in the water, which can improve the health of aquatic plants while discouraging unwanted algae growth. 
  • Cooling Effect: Fountains create a refreshing mist that can provide a welcome respite from summer heat. 
  • Ambiance: Quiet but powerful pumps move water efficiently and create soothing sounds that muffle disruptive noises such as traffic and construction work. The soothing sound of falling water can also create a sense of tranquility.

Considering a fountain for your landscape? Our products are modular in design to avoid large single components that are difficult to transport and expensive to repair. Find answers to your most pressing questions on fountains and accessories below.
 

Top FAQs about Fountains and Aerators

Our team has answered some frequently asked questions that will help you buy and install fountains and aerators.
 

What’s the difference between a fountain and an aerator?

Fountains use a centrifugal pump to create a high water pattern with a low flow rate. Pumps prioritize thin streams and heights. In contrast, aerators have higher pumping rates and create wind-resistant streams and shorter fountain heights.


What are the major fountain components?

Although fountain components vary somewhat by brand, most have these major components: 

  • Float: This component keeps the fountain on the surface of the water. 
  • Power drive assembly: The mounting structure, pump/propeller, motor, and nozzle make up the power drive assembly. 
  • Electrical service cable assembly: On some models, this includes a submersible cable and a quick-disconnect connector to safely supply power to the fountain. 
  • Timer/controller: Multiple on/off trippers make it easy to conserve water by turning the fountain off during the hottest part of the day.

 

How can I install propellers on an aerator?

Look for the number stamped on the propeller hub. Put this side down toward the motor. As a rule of thumb, the rounded side of the blade faces the motor (down). When installing two propellers, make sure to offset the blades. Reach out to your Vanden Bussche Irrigation representative for assistance on specific models.
 

How is a propeller pump display fountain different from a centrifugal pump aerating fountain?

The propeller pump aerating fountain pumps a large volume of water into the air by creating millions of microdroplets. This process expedites oxygen transfer from the air to the water, improving the water quality for aquatic life. This type of fountain can operate in dirty water without clogging. However, it’s mainly used for aeration rather than aesthetics.

The centrifugal pump display fountain requires high pressure to shoot water into the air through nozzles. The nozzle patterns vary to make the water feature more attractive. It’s easy to customize these fountains for aesthetic purposes. The centrifugal pump display fountain is easy to install and uninstall. However, you should only use it for your display fountain rather than aeration purposes.
 

What are the benefits of using subsurface aeration diffusers?

Subsurface aeration diffusers inject oxygen at depth, creating more surface area for oxygen transfer and better convective currents. They also grow a biofilm of beneficial bacteria that help reduce aquatic weed growth.
 

Should I get a surface aerator instead?

Surface aerators create a splash and spray effect that increases the oxygen exchange. They also create appealing visual and auditory aesthetics.

 

What features do aerating fountains have?

It depends on the effect you want to create and must choose your aerating fountain accordingly. These fountains have a modular design that makes them easy to install and maintain. They give your clients or customers a wider choice of power, size, and spray patterns. These fountains can improve the water quality by adding oxygen and circulating the water.

 

What types of aerators does Vanden Bussche Irrigation recommend?

For the best possible answer, work directly with your sales representative. However, here’s a general overview of aerators we recommend and offer:

  • 2-outlet pond aerator: This is a type of pond aerator that has two outlets and can supply air to two air stones. It works on ponds with up to 2,000 gallons of water and a maximum depth of 3.5 feet. 
  • 4-outlet pond aerator: This is a type of pond aerator that has four outlets and can supply air to four air stones. It can aerate ponds with up to 3,500 gallons of water and a maximum depth of 6.5 feet. 
  • We also offer Aquascape’s Pond Air 2 and Pond Air 4 retail line of aerators. However, they are not outdoor rated and need protection from the elements. You will need to store them in a dry location. Or you may want to consider the Pond Air PRO 60 which is outdoor rated and does not need weather protection.

 

What type of fountain pumps does Vanden Bussche Irrigation offer?

Depending on the type of application or use for the pump with your water feature, here are some of the pumps we offer:

  • - AquaSurge 2000 - 5000 & AquaSurge Pro 2000 - 8000: Ideal for ponds or pondless waterfalls. Flow rates range from 2000 - 8000 GPH.
  • - Ultra Pumps: A complete solution for supplying water to run fountains, water features, and external features.
  • - AquaForce: These pumps can be placed directly into the pond, combining energy-efficient performance, high flow rates, and ease of maintenance.
  • Statuary Water Pumps: Ideal for supplying water to run fountains, water features, and external filters.

 

Electrical Considerations for Fountains

Here are some of the most common questions on electrical considerations for fountains. 


Can I use the same control panel for multiple fountains?

Yes. For example, on Aqua Control fountains, a multi-panel can combine two control panels. To combine more than two panels, you’ll need a customized multi-panel. 


What will it cost to run my fountain?

Follow these steps to determine your monthly costs:

  1. For the pump, estimate the kW usage based on the HP. 
  2. Multiply this by the number of hours per day you’ll run the fountain. 
  3. Multiply that by the number of days per month you plan to run the pump. 
  4. If you know your cost per kW hour, multiply that by your average usage calculated above to budget your monthly costs (not including lighting). 


What is the amperage for various fountain components?

Use this cheat sheet to calculate amperage for fountain motors, compressors, and lights.

  • Lights: Divide Watts by Volts.
  • Motors: Divide Volts by Watts by 0.39.
  • Compressors: Divide Watts by Volts divided by 0.42.


What does voltage drop mean?

Voltage drop describes a decrease in voltage along the cable. It depends on factors such as amperage, cable length, cable gauge, voltage, and phase. Cable sizing depends on a voltage drop of less than 5% and the cable’s ampacity. 



What can trip a GFCI on my fountain?

A leak-to-ground occurs when the insulation around power cords breaks down. At this point, electricity can leak into the water, causing the GFCI to trip. Animals sometimes chew through the water and algae can also cause the insulation to break down. Large surges and fluctuating frequencies can also trip the GFCI.


Why is my overload circuit tripping?

An overload trips when the motor draws excessive amps. Mechanical problems that may cause this include:

  • Motor bearing issues
  • Debris wrapped around the motor shaft
  • A clogged nozzle
  • Broken components

Electrical problems associated with this issue include loss of phase and low voltage.



What are some Vanden Bussche Irrigation fountain parts I should always have on hand?

It really depends on your specific needs. As a direct distributor for landscapes and golf courses, Vanden Bussche Irrigation keeps the following fountain parts on hand for your customers or projects:

  • Fountains create jets of water for functional purposes and increase the enjoyment of any landscape.
  • Aerators circulate water to reduce stagnation and create water effects that delight your eyes and ears.
  • Decorative ponds create natural-looking and low-maintenance water features for landscapes. They include components such as liners, skimmers, filters, pumps, lights, and accessories.
  • Pond treatments help maintain the health and balance of pond water. They address issues such as algae growth, organic debris, clarity, and odor.
  • Pumps move water through a pond, pool, or other water feature. They provide essential filtration and pH balance in aquatic systems. 

If you have questions to add to this list, reach out to us at your convenience. Your sales representative can also spearhead the effort to get the answers you need quickly.

Contact Vanden Bussche for more information on fountains, aerators, and the components needed to make a splash with your water feature.