Fish Pot

This page describes how I constructed a fish pot with working fountain.

Fountains and aquatic gardens can a bring a tranquil yet interesting touch to any outdoor setting. A fountain is easier to maintain and takes less area than a traditional outdoor pond. With $100 dollars in materials, minimal tools and a half a days work, you can build a fountain of your own.

What you will need

• A very large, glazed pot
• A small, terracotta pot
• Two small terracotta drip trays
• A Fountain Pump
• Tube of silicone sealant
• Several handfuls of river-worn rocks
• Rounded cabinet door handles

The smaller pot is used to raise the fountain nozzle above the water line and to raise the fountain pump above the soil that might clog the pump. One drip tray is used as a platform for the pump. The other is used as a decorative cover of the pump.

Pulverize the small pot

Next create several large holes in the smaller pot. This provides two purposes.

• The pot takes up a lot of space. Opening up the pot reclaims some of this lost space in which the fish can swim and an area they can hide.
• Since the small pot covers the hole that from which the fountain pump cord will eventually pass, the cord must go through the smaller pot.

Make sure that the holes are large enough. If they are not, the fish will not swim through them. Also sand down any rough edges to insure the fish do not scrape themselves.



You also will want to create a hole in one of the drip trays. The hole should be big enough such that the fountain tube may pass through it.

Dry run

Here is how all the pieces will be set. Shown before any water is poured.


   Step 1


   Step 2


   Step 3


   Step 4


   Step 5

Silicone Sealant

The silicone will be used in three different ways.

1. Plugs the hole that the fountain pump cord will pass through
2. Applies the legs to the bottom of the pot
3. Seals the inside of the pot

Plugging the cord hole

In this step, you want to plug the fountain pump cord hole with silicone. This step is both important and messy. If the the hole is not completely sealed then you will get a leak. You first must pass the cord through the hole. If the cord does not fit through the bottom hole, you will need to drill out enough material so that it can pass through. Once the cord is through, make sure you leave enough slack so that the pump can lay easily on its resting drip tray. I suggest a dry run to see how much slack you will need.




Your cord will probably have a much smaller diameter than the hole it is through. This will make plugging the hole with just pure silicone problematic. I placed several, funnel-shaped rocks in any areas between the cord and the outside or the hole. I looked for that particular shape so that when the water pressure presses down on the rocks, they, in turn press against the chord and against the pot.

Applying the legs

Use some of the remaining silicone to apply the knobs to the bottom of the pot.




Use tape to maintain pressure on the knobs.

Silicone coating

Use the rest of the silicone to coat the inside of the pot. These pots are typically terracotta with a glaze coating. The glaze, however, is only applied on the outside of the pot and the terracotta is porous. Therefore, coating the inside with silicone will help repel the water. Test your seal by filling it with a small amount of water.

Populating your fountain

Empty any water that remains in the pot. At this time, mount the small pot and fountain pump as you did in the dry run. Also take care to center the fountain head. You might need to place the small pot off center to insure that the fountain head is centered.




Now place your aquatic plants. Remember to make sure that the pot is dry, otherwise you will get very muddy and cloudy water that will take a while (days) to settle.




When you have finished laying down all your plants, fill in any uncovered area with the river-worn rocks. Finish assembling the terracotta pieces, then fill the drip-trays with rocks. You are now ready to fill the pot with water.

Slowly add the water to barely a trickle. This will the water prevent the water from getting cloudy.

Adding fish

If you are adding fish be sure that no clorine or cloramine remains in the pot. If you are new to keeping fish, be sure to read up on tank cycle / nitrogen cycle / ammonia poisoning before adding any fish.

If you are keeping your pot indoors, I have had good luck with Zebra Danio's and Guppies which can withstand room temperatures. If this pot is outside, you will need to find fish that can withstand the winter months. You might try goldfish but realize that gold fish can grow to a large size and the pot may actually be too small for them. You should also consider Mosquito fish.