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That $140 solar fountain I bought in June is now a bird bath with extra steps
I figured a solar fountain would be a nice little touch for the backyard pond, no wiring, no hassle. Spent $140 on one with a decent pump and floating lily pad design. First two weeks it was great, water moving, looked fancy. Then the pump clogged with algae and the battery backup died completely after a month. Now the birds use the stagnant bowl to bathe and I'm pretty sure something is breeding in there. I cleaned it twice with vinegar and a toothbrush, still won't run. Anyone else waste money on one of these things or did I just get a lemon from a no name seller? Should I pay up for a proper pump with a filter or stick to a bird bath and call it a day? The mosquito situation is getting real, so I need to fix this soon.
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the_john29d ago
My neighbor had the exact same problem last summer and it turned out the issue was the solar panel angle, not the pump itself. These things need direct sun for like 6 hours a day to keep the battery topped off, and if the panel is flat on the water it barely gets any good light. Try propping the panel up at a 30 degree angle facing south before you give up on it. Also check the impeller inside the pump housing, algae gets wrapped around that little plastic fan and even a vinegar soak wont fix it if its physically stuck. I took his apart with a paperclip and it spun free after I cleared the gunk. If that doesnt work, get a cheap submersible pump with a filter bag for like $30 and just run a hose to the fountain, way more reliable than solar for moving water.
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