Zachariasen Studio Fountain Set-Up Instructions

1. The fountain may be used either indoors or outdoors. It should be located in a place that will not be damaged by splashing or dripping water. Place the stand to clear obstacles when the dishes are installed. Once assembled and filled with water, it will be very difficult to move.

2. Place the pump inside the base ring. Run the power cord through the slot in the base ring. Do not plug in until water is in place. The pump will be damaged by running dry.

3. If the 4 foot long plastic tube is not already installed, insert it up through the frame tube starting at the bottom ring of the stand. Placing a hose clamp on the tube inside the base, connect the tube to the outlet of the pump. This has the tubing adapter attached. Tighten the hose clamp over the fitting on the tube.

4. Place the small fountain dish on the top support ring with the spout oriented toward the center of the second support ring. Slide a hose clamp on the top end of the tube and connect to the fitting on the small dish. Tighten the clamp. Place the middle dish on the second support ring with the spout toward the center of the base ring.

5. If not already installed, connect the short tube with elbow to the pump inlet. Place a hose clamp over the fitting and tighten. Place a second clamp on the end of the tube.

6. Place the large fountain dish on the bottom ring. To protect the dish and the stand while assembling, a folded towel can be placed between the large dish and the tube of the frame. Tilt the dish and connect the short tube to the fitting on the dish, tightening the clamp. Be sure the tube does not get pinched when the dish is lowered.

7. With all three dishes roughly leveled, add water to the middle and bottom dish. The dishes can be adjusted as the water is added. The bottom dish will take about 5 gallons and the middle dish about 3 gallons.

8. Plug the pump into a 120 VAC outlet equipped with a ground fault interrupter (G.F.I.). Water should start to be pumped into the small dish. If air is trapped in the pump housing, the water will not be pumped. The pump can be primed by briefly shooting water from a garden hose into the hole in the center of the bottom dish If this is not convenient, a turkey baster can be used to squirt water into the hole.

9. When power is disconnected, the water will drain back into the large dish. It is well to keep this in mind when filling the fountain.

Additional notes:

  • The pump will be damaged by running dry. It is cooled and lubricated by the water. If the pump has power but is not pumping water, disconnect it from power until the problem is fixed. Note that the pump warranty is not valid if the pump is allowed to run dry.
  • To avoid getting air sucked into the pump, orient the lip of the middle dish so the water does not fall directly over the intake fitting in the bottom of the bottom dish.
  • Dirt, leaves. and other debris may clog the plumbing or pump. If the water flow is stopped or reduced, cleaning may be needed. Remove any accumulation of leaves, etc from the bottom dish. If equipped with a removable filter, unscrew or pull off the filter and rinse it under running water to clean it. Then reinstall the filter.
  • To clean the pump, the water may be emptied, the large dish lifted and disconnected from the tube, and the dish removed. The pump housing can be opened by turning the impeller housing and pulling off. The impeller can be removed by pulling gently. The cavity in the pump body can be cleaned with a small brush.
  • As water slowly evaporates, minerals will build up in the remaining water. It is recommended to replace some of the remaining water to prevent the concentration of minerals which will tend to build deposits. Minerals may be removed by using Lime Away or similar products.
  • Algae growth may be a problem in sunny locations. This may be reduced by adding a few drops of chlorine bleach or a pinch of dry pool or spa chlorine to the water. Excessive use of bleach may harm pets or wildlife drinking the water, but moderate use should save cleaning effort. If algae accumulates, scrubbing with a soft bristle brush or Scotchbrite type pad should be useful. A stronger bleach solution may be used to kill algae deposits.
  • If the water level in the large dish gets too low, the pump may suck air which will stop it from pumping water. If the pump is turned off, the air will be flushed out of the pump. When the small dish has drained down, refill the large dish nearly full, and restart the pump.