Gina

The problem with this print is that it is likely to take at least a Kg of filament. ATM my Giant printer is out of action but when it's working again I can predict the amount of filament required. OTOH there are some quite nice looking plastic planters such as these from Amazon (and something like half the price of printing a planter). Sankey from Strata GN653 49 Centimeter Oakwood Barrel Plastic Planter - Natural Oak Stewart Blenheim Half Barrel, Copper Effect, 40 cm

Sounds like a plan.

This is a design for a raised planter. Just under 400mm diameter and 700mm high. This is as big as I can print in my Giant 3D printer in one piece.

The wildlife pond is looking very small compared with the area of the garden. But it was good for a start. Having only really grown fruit and vegetables before I have a lot to learn about flower and wildlife gardens. But it's fun. I have another area covered with the huge tarpaulin I used to cover my observatory during construction, to kill off the turf and nettles so next year I should have another area to make use of. I might make a bigger pond by digging a hole and lining it. It could be deep one end and have a beach at the other end so that wildlife could crawl in or out of the pond. Probably have paving overlapping the edge around all but the beach. I have an idea for small, raised beds for flowers making use of my largest 3D printer. The principle is rather like a birdbath but holding soil and flowers instead of water. Of course, the soil will have to be kept damp but not wet so some form of irrigation will probably be required. I guess a soil dampness sensor and water valve (or pump) could be arranged in an automatic irrigation system.

There's a frog in my smaller pond now ?

Put pump etc. into pond and connected power. Two photos and a video. MVI_3906.MOV

Made a nozzle for a single jet. 4mm bore. Produces a jet just over a foot high when the jet is just above the water level. Since the small pond is a good 2ft deep I think I'll make a float to mount the pump and fountain on. Of course it will need tethering so that it stays more or less in the centre of the pond.

Ornamental essentially. One entirely ornamental, in fact just a reservoir for a water feature, the other for wildlife with a small fountain to aerate the water and help keep it clear.

Equally pathetic! I'll give it one last try - a single just off vertical jet. This little pump is probably more suitable to circulate water for my 3D printer cooling! It seems to need more power for a fountain.

Designed and now printing a five hole fountain top in transparent orange PETG.

The small pump has arrived and I've done some testing. Gone from one extreme to the other! On full flow this little pump produces far less flow than the bigger one on minimum. The six hole head produces a whole 4" (100mm) height of water! The ring type about the same outwards. I may try a fountain with smaller holes. I'll try a six hole one with smaller holes first - it's quite a nice effect and would certainly aerate the water. Or I could have five or three holes - an odd number is probably better.

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" ?

Yes, I've found lots of uses for my offcuts too. Good to see you around again Chris

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.

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

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.

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! ?

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.

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.

I have similar concrete blocks with holes in a couple of walls here. I would say they're 18" long and 9" square um... that's about 450mm x 225mm x 225mm so you're pretty much correct.

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.

How deep is the concrete block with the gravel round it?

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 ?

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

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 ?