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| How To Build A Stone Bubbler
Remember, location is everything! Not only visually, but audibly too. Be sure to consider the scale of your bubblers in relation to the surroundings; ie. Trees or shrubs, house, fence, etc. Keep in mind you will need power to run the pump as well. |
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A. Check with local building codes and appropriate utility companies before digging.
B. Excavate at least 12-18" deep, more for bigger columns. You can either dig a hole to that depth, or build a short wall above the existing grade to create another level. This will help set it apart more too. Give yourself at least 18-24" around the outside diameter of any bubbler to contain any splash, more if they are taller.
C. We suggest laying a protective barrier between the bottom of the hole and the pond liner to help protect the pond liner. We offer a strong underlayment fabric but some other ideas might be using sand or old carpet (watch for staples).
D. Lay out your underlayment and pond liner in hole. Remember to order enough liner to cover the diameter of the area plus the height of both sides, plus an extra two feet. It's better to have too much than not enough. For example a 5'x5' area plus a 1.5' depth times two, plus an extra two feet, will require a 10'x10' liner. Any leftover liner, including the corners can be cut off and added to the center now to act as an additional layer on the inside.
E. There are a few different ways to set a bubbler, but it will depend on the size and/or shape of your bubbler. You can set them directly on the bottom of the reservoir (utilizing shims to raise it enough to get the tubing through). Or to get them higher and reduce wasting bubbler height, on a pile of round river rock, or on large heavy concrete or rock blocks. A strong insulating styrofoam works great for shims too.
F. Plumb the system and connect the pump. We suggest running the hose all the way up the rock, and don't forget to include ball valves which help control the flow of the water especially if there are multiple bubblers. Have PVC glue handy to connect fittings.
G. Finish the bubbler by fine-tuning the ball valves and shimming the rocks with the water running to attain desired flow. If dry-creek look is desired fill entire area with round river rock. River rock acts as a good natural filter giving you a low maintenance water feature. Add plants or other details to accentuate it even more.
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