Need help with new water feature please.

[enlightened]

I built a water feature for the wife this week.  it is an old pump like the kind they used way back when with the handle.  It pours into a small barrel, which sits atop a half wine barrel.  The water then runs over a spillway and pours into the bottom half and then a submersible pump starts the whole process over again.

my questions are.
1.  Is there something I can do to get the water to stop foaming?
2.  Is there an additive I can use for this small an area to keep it from becoming stagnant..or growing algae?  I was thinking household clorox bleach..I read it somewhere.  but am afraid that will deteriorate the pump and tubing used.

Thanks for any input.

Mike

[perplexed ponder]

There are fountain water conditioners that should work. Are you going to have plants in it? Some may not be compatible with plants. i think you can use small amounts of bleach, but you will probably get birds coming for a drink and that probably wouldnt' be good for them.

[enlightened]

Thank you for the response.
No I will not be having plants or fish in this feature.  You are probably right about the birds drinking from here.  I will check locally for fountain conditioners.  I will refrain from any additives until i get more information from this great site,  or have had a chance to check next time we make the trek into town (58 miles round trip for us)

Thanks again.

[SueSTx]

Welcome...can you send a pic of fountain...curious minds like to look.

We have to drive 30 miles round trip for milk and bread so I understand about the "trip to town"

[Johns]

Use clorox.  The birds will not drink it if it is strong enough.  Have you ever seen birds drink from a swimming pool?
Keep fresh water in a nearby bird bath for the birds.

[enlightened]

Johns,
thank you for the response...And of course I never thought of all the swimming pools. 

I do have several bird baths and a small creek that runs through the back yard for them anyway.
I'll try and post a pic, although it is nothing as grand as what i have seen within this site.

thanks again for the responses.
Mike

[Timgod]

Well I was going to reply but I see Johns beat me to it.

Good luck with your new project.

Tim

[Ky Kim]

Same here, Johns said it all. 

We want to see pics though.  We love pics, the more the better.  I made a water feature just out of a clay pot, and pebbles.  I posted that, I was proud of it and you should be of yours.  I bet yours is awesome. 

Kim

[miguynmkoi]

the pros know what they're saying    How's 'bout some pics