Fountains have been gracefully shooting water into ponds for millennia. In fact, the first documented fountain was of a goddess in 3000 B.C. For thousands of years fountains relied on gravity to do their special thing, until King Louis XIV wanted a fountain at Versailles that required 257 different pumps.
Modern fountains were born.
Unlike old King Louis, today’s fountains are less of a statement about the power of man over nature, and more about the balance of nature.
But those of us in the business of keeping ecosystems in balance – whether natural or urban ecosystems – have long known that fountains are more than just pretty to look at and nice to listen to.
How a Fountain Works Wonders in a Pond
Circulation in a water body is especially important to maintaining balance within the pond ecosystem. It’s one of the keys to keeping the water quality the healthiest it can possibly be.
And fountains are a good step to keeping a pond aerated. A properly installed and cared for fountain can help improve water quality, reduce bad odors, decrease mosquito activity and can aid in reducing algal blooms.
That right there is a pretty good reason to install a fountain.
It can be the crowning jewel of a pond, drawing the eye, and living out its life smack in the center of your pond like a bug in a jar. But, it can also look a little lonely and over time, maybe even a little bit boring. And worse, maybe even a little less effective than you’d originally hoped for.
But don’t worry. We have just the thing... It will be like a buddy for your fountain, meant to enhance and compliment. And, like the buddy system, these two things should always be together.
Enter the Floating Wetland - the Solution to Lonely Fountain Syndrome
While it’s true here at Ecogardens we’re a little smitten with Floating Wetlands, it’s also true that the reasons for installing both a fountain and a Floating Wetland are incredibly complementary.
Here are some ways Floating Wetlands and fountains work in harmony to completely annihilate any problems you might have keeping your pond ecosystem in balance.
Improving water quality
While fountains do aid in circulating water throughout your pond and improving aeration, Floating wetlands can take it one step further. The small, microscopic bacteria populating the Floating Wetland use the oxygenated environment provided by the fountain to operate at their peak and efficiently digest pollutants and excess nutrients in the water. It’s this function that improves water quality in the long-term, converting the excess nutrients into a productive mix that the plants living on the Floating Wetland can use.
Eliminate algal blooms
Fountains are hard little workers, chugging away to keep water circulating. But sometimes that isn’t enough to stave off an algal bloom. On the other hand, a pond that is both properly aerated and outfitted with a Floating Wetland is a natural, sustainable solution to actually removing the very problems that set off algae blooms to begin with: ammonia, nitrate, phosphorus, TSS, Copper and Zinc.
Increased property values
Whether you are in charge of a commercial property, municipal landscape or are a water quality manager, you probably already know ponds add value to the landscape. And a fountain will bump it up again. By why stop there? A functioning Floating Wetland is an eye catching, year-round, functional feature that can attract local wildlife, migratory birds and fish.
Manage water quality without chemicals
In the past, pond owners and operators sometimes had to act quickly to prevent fast-growing algae or excessive nutrients from a stormwater event. Frequently, falling back on chemical applications was the only option. But studies have proven that with a Floating Wetland and a properly aerated water column from a fountain, a significant reduction in nutrient levels can be achieved.
There’s One More Surprising Way a Floating Wetland and a Fountain Work in Harmony
One of the hurdles to overcome when installing a fountain is to secure a power source. Sometimes that’s easy, and sometimes it’s not so easy. If your pond is far from an energy source, the powerful Floating Wetland-fountain duo has one last trick up their sleeve.
When installed together, the Floating Wetland can actually solve the energy source problem with a well-placed solar panel, providing an incredibly local, renewable power source at your fingertips to power the circulation of your fountain.
When designed with power in mind, solar panels will compliment both the fountain and the native plants on the Floating Wetland, and won’t interfere with the primary purpose of a Floating Wetland, which is to keep your water body clean and healthy, without the addition of harmful chemicals.
Finally, if you’re thinking about installing a Floating Wetland to a pond or water body that already has a fountain in place, there’s no need to worry.
The installation process for a Floating Wetland won’t disrupt your fountain, your pond or shoreline. And the same goes for the design. Floating Wetlands can be designed for any size or shape for any water body, and can be customized to meet your specific needs, whether that’s a desired wildlife or aquatic habitat, visual appeal or water quality function.
Thinking your fountain is a little lonely? We agree, it probably needs a buddy. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with us (over a Zoom!) to find out what works best for your unique needs. Together, these eye-pleasing, hard-working elements can help each other function at their best. And isn’t that what best buddies do?
