How to Keep Your Water Fountain Rocks Clean: Cleaning Series Article 3

A fountain with no rocks in it is easy enough to clean, but what do you do if you have colorful, decorative river rock or other types of ornamental stone in your water fountain? Well, there’s always your grandma’s remedy—an scrub brush and good ol’ elbow grease! Yes, it’s pretty simple. A good scrubbing and a thorough rinse is the ticket for keeping your decorative rocks shining and colorful. However, grandma’s right about something else—”an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”!

Preventative care can solve many water fountain issues such as algae, sediment, and scale on the rocks. Here are some suggestions for keeping both the rocks AND your water fountain spic-n-span!

• Use hot water and a dedicated scrub brush.

Most fountains need to be cleaned every one to three months to prevent the build up of algae and mineral deposits. You need to clean the bowl, rocks, and pump of your fountain thoroughly. Use hot water to kill bacteria and help remove sludge and slime that may have built up.

Do NOT use bleach on your rocks and decorations! This is especially important if you have fish or other animal life in your fountain, or if animals might be drinking from the fountain. Bleach and residue can also corrode pump parts and metals. There are wonderful all-natural fountain care products that are completely safe for pets and wildlife.  Try a fountain protector such as Care Free Enzymes Fountain Protector or Care Free Enzymes Bird Bath Protector.

A scrub brush that won’t be used for anything else is ideal, as this will prevent the transfer of bacteria, etc to other surfaces. Usually, hot water and a little effort is all you need!

• Consider using distilled water for small fountains.

Calcium deposits can build up on the ceramic or stone elements of your fountain. Using distilled water can help prevent lime scale and build-up as the minerals have been distilled out of the water. It may require some effort to provide enough distilled water for a large fountain, however.

For large or outdoor fountains, try a fountain care product such as No More White Scale, which is non-toxic and safe for wildlife. Regular use of a fountain care product will help prevent algae and white scale build-up caused by hard water.

• Keep your pump running and your water level high!

Some water fountain owners turn off their fountains at night or while they are at work. While this might save a bit of electricity, it’s definitely not good for the fountain. Keeping the water clean, filled, and circulating has numerous benefits for the fountain and pump. Constantly moving water prevents the build-up of sediment on the rocks and other fountain surfaces.

Also, keeping the pump submerged and running prevents sludge from accumulating in the pump. Ensuring that the water level is high prevents the pump from burning out if there is not enough water in the fountain to pump.

When it comes to cleaning your fountain and decorative rocks, a few easy preventative steps can save hours of work. Have any other questions? Water Fountains & Relaxation, along with Serenity Health, are happy to provide you with tips and feedback!  There is also a great post on Preventing Bacteria and Algae Buildup in  your Water Fountain.

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