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Fountain care?
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Posted by reneepren 8 AZ Chandler (My Page) on Tue, Jul 27, 04 at 13:50
| Can anyone tell me how to care for/clean my new fountain? The dogs drink out of it so need to make it safe for them, prevent mosquitos, and keep it clean and clear. It is fairly small. Have been using fish tank suction hose to clear out most of water, then adding a capfull of bleach every 4 days or so. Any advice appreciated.
Renee |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Fountain care?
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| 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 |
RE: Fountain care?
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| 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 |
RE: Fountain care?
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| 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: Frog Photo
RE: Fountain care?
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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 |
RE: Fountain care?
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| I want my fountain to attract birds, but I'm worried about waste clogging the pump. Any ideas would be appreciated! |
RE: Fountain care?
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| 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. |
RE: Fountain care?
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| 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. |
RE: Fountain care?
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| 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. |
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