Finished removing the turf from where the bath/pond is going, put said item in place and filled it with water.  Not perfectly level but good enough.

Some photos - two of the second pond and one of the planting round the wildlife pond.  I had a plant with orange flowers but the flowers have gone and I reckon I know the culprit.  Four legs, head and a short tail - brown and white.  And a voracious appetite for anything vegetable.  Answers to the name of Belle!  Sometimes.  My fault though - should have protected it from the caprine appetite!

Nice miniature water lily would be good in there, the leaves would provide shade to discourage algae.

Dave

Sounds like a good idea

The water pump I've bought will go in the big pond so I'm thinking of getting a smaller one for the wildlife pond - just a small fountain to oxygenate the water and provide a bit of extra interest.  I've tested the pump I've got and it will sent a goodly amount of water 6ft into the air.  It's bigger than wanted for the small pond.  Looked at the self-contained solar panel and pump ones that just float on the water but they only work in full sunlight.  Probably none too suitable for UK weather.  Pity.

The trouble with fountains in a small pond is the wind can actually blow the water sideways and empty the pond.

Dave

Decided to get the lower power version of the same make I have as this one seems good.

40 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

The trouble with fountains in a small pond is the wind can actually blow the water sideways and empty the pond.

Dave

Yes, that's why I went for a relatively low power one to produce just a small fountain.  I'll turn it off when windy too.

I'll 3D print a small fountain head as the pump is just that - no fountain part.

Designed and now printing a fountain.  Six holes facing upwards and slightly outwards.

Here's a cross-section of the top.

I see some experimentation with holes sizes and angles ahead  - ideal subject for 3D prototyping!

If you have a central hole you can print a mushroom top like a giant drawing pin to fit in the windy weather so it produces a dome of water.

Dave

Tested it on the large pump and with the flow set to minimum I got a height of over a foot which is more than I want so should be alright with the small pump.  (Due to arrive tomorrow.)  Tested in the kitchen sink - now waiting for the floor to dry ?

3 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

If you have a central hole you can print a mushroom top like a giant drawing pin to fit in the windy weather so it produces a dome of water.

Dave

Ah yes, I think a dome of water might be rather nice.

I shall be having a play with various designs but had better wait for the small pump so that the water remains in the sink and not all over the floor  ?

I've designed and now printing a fountain head which should produce a sort of doughnut shape hopefully with a smooth surface.  We'll see.  Here are the top part diagrams.  This forms a ring where the water comes out with an outwards tilt.  The inner part will be held further down with a ring with slots in for the water to pass through.  A further tube will connect to the pump.  All parts in ABS and will be solvent welded together.

Three parts printed using my Titan printer with 0.6mm nozzle.  Would probably be better printed with my Mini printer but that has a problem.

Just done a test with the larger pump and the fountain is just a vertical jet with a tumbling top.  Not a bad effect but not what I was intending.  I reckon I could get the same with a simple single hole.  Increasing the flow rate simple resulted in a higher plume.  Maybe the slot needs to be narrower and a flatter cone.

This might be a better design.  A cross-sectional diagram showing both top parts.  I don't see how the water could possibly go straight up now!  ?

It may work better if the top bit had a curved underside and the bottom tube could probably just be straight sided.

Dave

Something like this, excuse the wobbly drawing.

It should produce a mushroom shaped water effect which can be fine tuned by raising / lowering centre bit.

Dave

Ah yes, I see what you mean bend the water more evenly.  That's a good thought.  Also I think I should probably make it bigger - 25mm diameter is a bit small.

I'd have thought 25mm ID would work OK if you made a standard bottom pipe you could experiment with different top bits to produce different effects

Dave

Here's a new design for the middle bit.  This is 40mm diameter at the top.

17 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

I'd have thought 25mm ID would work OK if you made a standard bottom pipe you could experiment with different top bits to produce different effects

Dave

Yes, I shall be doing just that ?  The bottom pipe can be TPU (flexible filament) to fit over the hose connection on the pump and the top tube to the fountain top.

Did a test with the 45° ring version and it produced a horizontal spray - not what I want.  The latest, curved "plug" may be better.  The small pump hasn't arrived yet so still testing with the bigger one (at minimum flow) and getting "drowned" ?