Water Feature

[ChrisW]

Hiya,

 

I'm currently TD for a production of the importance of being earnest! but thats not the point. We are looking for ideas on how to use a water fountain/feature, or where to get one and what the best way of installing it will be? we are using steel decking so we wont be using the 'real' floor.

 

Any ideas will be REALLY helpful as we (myself and SM) am now getting earfuls from the Director,

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[Grahame]

We are looking for ideas on how to use a water fountain/feature, or where to get one and what the best way of installing it will be?

 

How big does it need to be? You can knock up a smallish one fairly cheaply using garden pumps such as the Hozelok range, which you can get at B&Q or any garden centre. There is an 'indoor' pump that will pump water to 1m and you can put a spray head or whatever on it.

It's also fairly easy to knock up a base container of some sort, as long as it's waterproof of course! For example, I once made a container from a plastic B&Q plant holder with some sand or gravel in it for ballast. Decorate as required! :)

 

Grahame

[ChrisW]

Thanks very much had a look on B&Q can u tell me as I am in-experienced with gardening/water features what connections I will need? and how it will connect to water and where will the water that comes out the top of the fountain go? and any pics will be a gread design help! but the main question is after having a water inlet..where does it go from there??

 

Thanks

 

Chris

[mikienorth]

If it needs to be portable, use a windscreen washer pump and a leisure battery, a similar set up made a very, very nice power shower at le mans a couple of years ago (using solar technology to heat the water, aaaahh)

I will try and ask at my old work, they used one a couple of years ago which was portable and, even better, will be in storage at the company somewhere. I don't know any more but can try...

[ChrisW]

That would be great, just it is now doing my head in! the only problem I can see is its not a well equipt theatre, so I would imagin I could get a wather inlet but are you meant to drain the water out the bottom of the feature?? or does it get recycled?

[mikienorth]

I am not an expert or anything but have just seen a load in for a show using a very posh fountain that lit up and danced ffrom an off stage control.

This was filled up by connecting a hose to a tap in a toilet. I presume you just use a tank, place the pump in there and go fo it, with the water falling back into the tank. For a better visualisation, think tank=pond.

basically with water features you have a tank water is in, it also contains the pump. Any water pumped into any feature, or at least the majority of it, should, in the design of the feature, return to the tank after it has looked pretty/made a noise, any other thing you wanted to do to it. The feature can do anything, as long as the water goes back into the tank to be re-used. Hope this helps, if not, watch an episode of ground force, they build a water feature every week following a similar principle. In the last job I had fountains, dancing ones, waterfalls and rain systems all following the tank-pump-outlet-tank cycle.

[ChrisW]

Thanks very much, it seems a bit clearer now! but we will see, I will have a play and post some final working pictures.

 

Regards

 

Chris

[Grahame]

the main question is after having a water inlet..where does it go from there??

 

You haven't been watching enough Charlie Dimmock on Ground Force, have you Chris? :blink:

The basic concept of any water feature is that the pump sits in the water that it's pumping, and the water that comes out of the pump gets recycled. So some sort of sump, be it a garden pond or a large basin, is an essential part of the setup.

Apart from the pump itself, you will probably need only a length of hose that will connect to it (indoor water pumps in B&Q need 13mm hose), cut to length as required, and possibly some sort of nozzle for the end of the hose. And something to function as your base 'pond' of course.

If you're going down the Hozelok route, you can probably find out all you need to know at your local B&Q or garden centre. They usually have information displays on how to hook the components together.

Hozelok also do an interesting permeable hose stuff that lets water leak through, which might sound mad but is great for onstage rain effects.

 

~Grahame

[Jivemaster]

Unless you are on mars there should be a B & Q nearish ready to supply everything bar the water. ---pump, sump, hose , and fountainhead(s). Otherwise your local garden centre. All you have to do is design the visible bit using the available parts - bit like meccano!!

 

Lots of backlight to bring out the water droplets and a teaspoonful of thin bleach a week to sanitise it, for a long run change the water often!!

[jagardner1984]

often you can get these kits - everything in a box kind of thing, that will do you the job for you, and quite affordable.

[oh lordy]

Hi there,

 

A company called Water Sculptures in Lancaster is one of the best companies. they specialize in shows. They are very good from experience. As always we should use the experts.

 

Oh Lordy

[jagardner1984]

Although the pros will probably do a better job, I reckon the kit is ideal for the cost conscious technician - and I have found dead simple to use.

[oh lordy]

Hi again,

 

Just like to say that one day jagardner1984 you might be wanting to make a living in this industry I would like to think that you become competent in a certain feild. This is where you will specialise and hopefully become sort after. This is why you should recomend the correct person for the job. As soon as you decided that say you are a light tech and are going to take on water you firstly have denided some else a job and also make yourself respobable when it all comes crashing down around your ears. Water every where, well done.

As Chris asked 'what is the best way to insall it' then the answer is use someone who knows.

Maybe you are syudying water at college if so then sorry.

 

Oh Lordy

[jagardner1984]

Unfortunately, oh lordy, it is not always an option to get in "the Pros" - the reason why so many gardens and the like have water features is thanks to these kits. They have been sucessful because:

 

1. They are relatively cheap.

2. They are easy to install and use

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, They do a good job.

 

Thousands of the Great British public are not stupid, they see a product that works at an affordable price, so they purchase it.

 

I also used the phrase cost conscious. The answer for someone who is cost conscious is to get something cost efficient, not just the cheapest. Of course if there is a complex setup, or anything which might be dangerous, then the professionals should be brought in, because that would be the cost efficient thing to do. But if there is a small manageable setup entirely self-contained with very little risk, then there is nothing wrong with using what is working for thousands everyday. Is there?

[sam.henderson]

Just like to say that one day jagardner1984 you might be wanting to make a living in this industry I would like to think that you become competent in a certain feild. This is where you will specialise and hopefully become sort after. This is why you should recomend the correct person for the job. As soon as you decided that say you are a light tech and are going to take on water you firstly have denided some else a job and also make yourself respobable when it all comes crashing down around your ears. Water every where, well done.

As Chris asked 'what is the best way to insall it' then the answer is use someone who knows.

Maybe you are syudying water at college if so then sorry.

 

So you are completly apposed to anyone doing DIY- as after all a doctor who on a weekend off decides to put a up a set of shelves is not qualified to do that?

 

Sam