Care and Maintenance of Stonesmith Products

BASIC CARE

Installation:
Each fountain and bird bath has its own Assembly Instructions Sheet, and comes with all the fittings and tubing needed to do the installation.

Stonesmith Garden Fountains should be set up on a flat, level surface to ensure proper water flow.
     
If the fountain is going to be installed on a hard surface like cement, stone or a patio tile, we suggest a thin layer of sand ½" to 1" thick underneath the basin in order to prevent stress cracks. It will also help with leveling the fountain.

Bird baths and pedestal fountains:
If you chose to install these in a planter bed area on dirt, we suggest placing them on a paving stone or other support material. Gophers and water run-off can erode the soil and topple your feature.

Containers:
We suggest placing the container off the ground with some pot feet, or pieces of pressure treated wood to leave the drainage hole clear to drain. This is especially important in climates that freeze.

Water Level:
Be sure to keep fountain full of water. If this becomes a problem, adding a tube line from a drip system will help. If water levels get too low, your pump will dry and burn out.

Pumps:
For safety purposes always plug into a GFI receptacle.
    
If the fountain is installed where debris (leaves, etc.) fall into the water, the debris is likely to clog the pump. If the flow of water seems restricted this may be why. Simply unplug the pump, remove the cover and foam filter and rinse it out. Be sure to check the impeller and be sure there is no debris that keeps it from moving. Once the pump is clear, replace the impeller and filter and plug in the pump.

Every so often the pump should be unplugged and the impeller/rotor removed and checked for debris and lime scale. The pump can be cleaned in warm water.

Foam:
We suggest Jungle Products “No More Foam” liquid. A small amount in the fountain water will do the trick.

Algae:
Green or brown algae may gradually cover the wet surfaces of the fountain. Some people love the aged look it gives the fountain, others don’t care for it. If you are the latter, we recommend using Jungle Products “No More Algae” or another product called “Fountec”.
Do not use chlorine bleach. It is harmful to water plants and animals and will leave a blue/green chemical stain. It may also damage your pump.

String Algae:
String algae are the stringy, mossy, guck that drapes from the surface of the fountain. Jungle Products “No More Algae” or “Fountec” will also take care of this problem. If you like the green aged look but want to get rid of the string algae, we recommend “Barley Extract” (See sources below). If an excessive amount of this stringiness occurs, you will probably need to let the surfaces of the fountain dry out and brush off the dried algae, then refill and add the Barley Extract.
Barley Extract can be ordered at: www.aquaticeco.com
or by calling 877-347-4788

White Scale:
This residue is an accumulation of minerals from your water. If you live in areas where water mineral levels are high or you use well water, this can be a problem. It will get worse as evaporation of the water happens and the same minerals remain in the fountain. Occasional flushing of the water will help. Using distilled water for smaller fountains is great but a hassle and too costly for larger amounts of water. We recommend adding Jungle Products “No More White Scale” on a regular basis.

“No More Foam”, “No More Algae”, or “No More White Scale” from Jungle Labs can be ordered from Jungle Labs at 210-658-3503 or www.junglelabs.com or from your nearest garden center.

WINTER CARE

Because Stonesmith products are made from a cement based cast stone, freezing conditions can cause serious damage to your water feature. If you live in climates that freeze, you’ll need to fully drain, dry, and cover your fountain with some type of waterproof tarp or covering, or better yet, dismantle and store it in a garage or other storage area. When water is left in a fountain, container, or birdbath, and the water freezes it will expand, and cracking will most likely occur. Stonesmith does not warranty against this type of occurrence.

If you live in a climate where there are freeze-thaw cycles in winter, all pieces should never be installed directly on the ground. Pieces left directly on the ground over winter are not covered under the Stonesmith warranty.

Pumps should also be removed from the fountain and brought in to prevent any wintering damage.

 TROUBLESHOOTING / FAQ’S

Pump isn’t working

• There may be an “air lock” in the pump. Plug and unplug the pump several times to clear
• The propeller may not be turning. Is the electricity on? Did a circuit breaker go off?
• Is the plastic tubing kinked, blocking the flow of water?
• Is there enough water in the fountain? If the water level is not maintained, the pump can burn out.
• Is there any debris or mineral buildup blocking the intake?

Flow of water is too high, or there is too much “splash”

• Rotate or slide the flow control on the front or side of the pump until you achieve the desired flow of water
• Certain fountains have some amount of over splash. Placement location of any fountain is the sole responsibility and liability of the purchaser.