Written by Liquid Features in Fountains & Waterfalls Although convenient and easy, chlorine is not the best option available for water features. There are many other options that can keep your water features looking clean and pristine. Chlorine, although effective in keeping water features clean, cause erosion and damage to the concrete.
Should I add chlorine or bleach to my fountain water?
For ease and convenience, many well-meaning advisers recommend occasionally adding chlorine or bleach to a fountain to maintain its appearance, but this advice is not always the best solution. While effective at removing algae and other contaminants from the water, chlorine is often not the best water conditioning choice.
Can I put chlorine in my water features?
Don’t put chlorine in water features – Do this instead! Although convenient and easy, chlorine is not the best option available for water features. There are many other options that can keep your water features looking clean and pristine. Chlorine, although effective in keeping water features clean, cause erosion and damage to the concrete.
How do I clean the water in my fountain?
Process. Add 1 to 2 tsp. of bleach to the water in the fountain's basin to clear cloudy or discolored water and to remove algae, but this action may damage and disrupt the operation of the fountain's pump. For severe algae and staining, turn off the pump and empty the water from the fountain. Dilute a cup of bleach in a gallon of water,...
How to remove chlorine from drinking water?
Install a water filter system. This can help you quickly and effectively remove both chlorine from the water. There are many different types of water filters, each with its pros and cons. The only downside to these is they tend to be much more expensive than the other methods. Dechlorination tablets.
What can I put in my fountain to keep the water clean?
Fountain pumps aren't designed to work with concentrated levels of chlorine, but if an algae bloom won't die down, add 1/4 cup of chlorine bleach for every 5 gallons of water, and run the pump overnight so it circulates long enough to disinfect the entire system.
How do you keep algae from growing in a fountain?
Since the algae thrives on sunlight, place your fountain in a shady location. No light to take energy from, no algae growth! Use fresh distilled water for your water feature. Tap water contains debris and minerals which algae may also feed upon.
How much bleach do you put in a gallon of water for a fountain?
If previously used, consider washing thoroughly, then running a solution of 1 tablespoon Clorox® Regular-Bleach₂ with CLOROMAX®/gallon of water. This should get rid of any residual bacteria and allow you to reduce the bleach level in the future.
How long does bleach last in a fountain?
When bleach and water are mixed together to create a cleaning or disinfecting solution, the solution is only good for 24 hours. The temperature of the water does not affect the cleaning or disinfecting abilities of the solution.
Do copper pennies prevent algae?
Over time a birdbath can slowly have algae grow in it. However, copper pennies in bird bath may help you solve this problem. Copper has biostatic properties that makes it incompatible with algae. Due to this, a basin, bird bath, container, bathroom sinks, or copper sinks will not trigger algae growth.
How do you stop algae in a small water feature?
How can we stop it? Replacing depleted oxygen in your pond is a great way to reduce or even prevent algae build up. Simply add an aeration device, such as a Solar Oxygenator that will provide added oxygen to the water and help prevent algae build up.
Will chlorine in a fountain harm birds?
Chlorine in water fountains can hurt birds if consumed. Chlorinated water does not do harm to birds externally but it contains hypochlorous acid to inhibit bacterial growth which can cause chlorine poisoning in birds when they swallow it in large amounts.
How do I stop my fountain water from smelling?
It's true that vinegar has a somewhat pungent odor, but this odor will quickly dissipate, leaving your fountain fresh and clean. To quickly clean and freshen your indoor water fountain, add a cup or two of filtered white apple cider vinegar.
Will bleach hurt a water pump?
WARNING. ► If your well has not been disinfected for many years, it may have considerable scale built up. Disinfecting with a strong chlorine solution can dislodge this scale and plug or damage your pump, and/or cause problems elsewhere in the plumbing system.
What happens if I put bleach in my pond?
Bleach kills algae, bacteria and other things you don't want in your pond. However, it could also kill the fish, turtles and plants living there. Putting bleach in outdoor ponds also presents the risk that neighborhood cats or wildlife will drink from the pond and get sick.
How do you maintain a fountain?
How do you maintain a water fountain?Keep the pump submerged in water. Every once in a while, you'll need to add water to your fountain. ... Clean the pump regularly. This is essential for preventing debris and leaves from obstructing your pump. ... Wipe the fountain bowl. ... Remove the algae. ... Pay attention to the material.
What is the best way to get rid of chlorine in water?
The only downside to these is they tend to be much more expensive than the other methods. Dechlorination tablets. There are various types of Dechlorination tablets and is also one of the most environment safe methods to get rid of chlorine.
How to get rid of algae in water fountain?
If algae has become a problem before you had the chance to treat it, you can empty your smaller fountain, take a brush, and scrub it out using vinegar. Once you’ve used vinegar to scrub out the fountain, spray it over with vinegar and let it dry to kill any remnants of the algae living there. Once it has dried, rinse it out with water, and you’re good to go.
What is the best algaecide for water features?
There are many different types of algaecides available depending on the type affecting your water feature. Silver-based alga ecide, for example, is most effective in treating green and black algae. If you are unsure of which type of algae you have, no worries.
How long does it take for water to dechlorinate?
One of the simplest and most basic ways to to dechlorinate water is to let it sit out in the sun in the heat for at least 24 hours. The heat from the sun will cause the gas to evaporate from the water. This method is easy and effective, but only works in warmer climates.
Can you put chlorine in water features?
Don’t put chlorine in water features – Do this instead! Although convenient and easy, chlorine is not the best option available for water features. There are many other options that can keep your water features looking clean and pristine. Chlorine, although effective in keeping water features clean, cause erosion and damage to the concrete.
Does chlorine damage concrete?
Chlorine, although effective in keeping water features clean, cause erosion and damage to the concrete. Fortunately, there are algaecides designed specifically for water features; which keep your water features clean just like chlorine, but without erosion and the other side effects. With this in mind, let’s see what algaecides are ...
Does green clean kill algae?
In fact, some of the newer synthetic algaecides, such as Green Clean Pro Granular Algaecide, can actually kill algae on impact, in addition to effectively preventing algae growth for up to four weeks at a time. Due to these benefits, a synthetic algaecide is undoubtedly a preferable option.
Question
I would like to keep the germ content down on desktop fountains. How much Clorox would you recommend I add to a gallon of water which would be used to fill the fountains?
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Bleach damages
Bleach is an extremely powerful substance that must be handled with care. It can be used in fountains, but overuse will lead to corroding and, well, bleaching. You do not want to have mottled bleach spots on your fountain’s exterior. Corroding and color change is especially prominent with concrete fountains.
Indoor fountains
There are pros and cons to using bleach for indoor fountains as well, but they are actually less prone to damage. Most are plastic or ceramic and will remain largely unaffected by bleach. With wood and metal fountains, however, bleach should be avoided always.
Other ways to keep clean
Bleach may seem like an obvious solution to keeping your fountain clean even despite the risks. However, there are many other ways to keep your fountain clean without having to worry about damage or wear and tear.
