DIY Color-Changing Night-Glow Water Fountain & Bird Bath
I have a secret in my backyard, and it brings me a lot of happiness! I have created a water feature in my backyard, using an antique baby bathtub. It was a housewarming gift from my best friend and I will always cherish it!
Making a water feature like this is pretty easy! I am lucky enough to have a little “cliff” in my yard, but this could be done on a small hill or a rock pile or even a tree stump.
Watch my video for a quick demonstration on how to make your own backyard water feature! (Less than 3 minutes long!)
Supplies needed:
The links below point to products I’m using in my tutorial. They may be affiliate links where I earn a small commission and they DO NOT increase your cost at all. Thank you!
- a water-tight tub, basin or container
- a small water pump (with LED lights is optional)
- plastic tubing that fits your pump
- a short piece of copper pipe (optional, cut to size))
Instructions:
There are many, many ways to create a water feature with this type of pump, so I’m just going to give you the basic idea of how it works. I hope that you’ll use your imagination and create some amazing backyard water fountains and waterfalls!
Step 1: Choose a basin
I used a tiny bathtub, but you can use just about any watertight container. If you use a plastic planter with a hole, you can plug up the hole with silicone (found at most hardware stores). You can dig a hole and set it in the ground or keep it above ground. Just make sure that it’s level. Fill it with clean water.
Step 2: Set up your water outlet
You can use a pipe or just use the tubing itself. I put my tubing inside a copper pipe which extends from under a flat rock. You need to be careful not to crush the tubing with anything – so the water flows freely. Run the tubing down to your basin.
Step 3: Attach the tubing to the pump
The pump I used has an adapter for 2 different sizes of tubing. Check your pump’s instructions for what size tubing to use. Push the tubing firmly onto the round air outlet on the pump until it’s attached tightly.
Step 4: Place the pump (and LED light if you have one) into the water.
The pump has suction cups on it to keep it in place and reduce vibrations. Carefully place the pump in an inconspicuous area inside your basin of water.
Safety First! Check the wires of the pump and make sure everything looks firmly attached and there are no frayed wires or holes in the wire insulation. Check the plug for any flaws.
Step 5: Start the pump
Plug the pump into an electricity source. After a few seconds, the pump should start pushing water through the plastic tubing. Watch it for a minute to make sure there aren’t any safety issues.
Adjust the pump speed (if you have this option) by moving the switch on the side. You can also move the LED lights to an area that is somewhat hidden but also allows the lights to show at night. TIP: A white or light-colored container will give you the best glow!
Step 6: Accessorize!
Add plants, rocks, statues, moss, mulch, river rock, pebbles…. whatever your heart desires! I think it’s a good idea to make an area for birds to take a bath, and also for little animals to have access out of the water if they happen to fall in. Rocks are great for covering your pump. Just be sure not to block water flow!
Speaking of water flow, be sure to keep you pump free of leaves and debris. Check it every few days to make sure it’s running well. Remove the pump during the winter and store indoors.
Isn’t it beautiful? It’s amazing how much joy this water feature has given us in the past year.
I am really excited to bring this project to you and I hope you enjoy it! If you do, please comment, share and pin!
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