A babbling brook creates an oasis of calm in the garden. Here you can unwind, watch birds splashing around, buzzing insects and maybe even a frog or two. The quickest way to install such an artificial stream is with prefabricated shells. To help you find the most suitable model for you, we have created this guide. Here you will find important tips for buying a watercourse. We also have product recommendations for you.
With the right stream shells, plants and cladding, the stream looks completely natural
Our recommendations
our recommendation
Dehner stream bowl, conical, approx. 50 x 36 x 9 cm, granite, grey
To the product| material | granite |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 50 x 36 x 9 centimeters |
| Weight | 21 kilograms |
| color | Gray |
| optics | cascade |
| particularities | conical shape, expandable |
This watercourse shell is a single module that can be expanded at will. In this way, your stream follows your own ideas and can be adapted to the local conditions in your garden. The Dehner stream is made of durable and weather-resistant granite, a natural stone, and is therefore both more robust and more beautiful to look at than the usual plastic models. However, this is also noticeable in terms of weight: this module alone weighs around 21 kilograms. If more are added, a stable substructure is indispensable. On the other hand, granite does not wear out or become porous over time through exposure to sunlight.
our recommendation
Water cascade complete system Eder complete system, beige/brown, a` 53 x 40 x 8 cm/ 50l/7 parts
184.90 EUR To the product| material | Polyethylene (PE), glass fiber reinforced plastic |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 53 x 40 x 8 centimeters |
| Weight | approx. 12 kilograms |
| color | beige / brown |
| optics | rocky cascade |
| particularities | Complete set including pump |
On the other hand, if you don't want to find all the parts and other accessories you need for your watercourse yourself, this complete set is the right choice. Here you will not only receive the spring and basin with the delivery, but also a pump and a hose (20 millimeters). The construction is very easy according to the Amazon customer reviews, so you can get started right away and install the stream. This model is made of high quality, glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP), which is very robust and durable. Sunlight and frost in winter do not affect the material. In addition, the set can be expanded with further, separately available parts as desired. our recommendation
AMUR GARDEN FOUNTAIN STREAM Waterfall Cascade WATER FEATURE STREAM SHELL SPRING FOUNTAIN STREAM ELEMENT (STREAM QUELLBACH II supplementary shell)
EUR 79.95 To the product| material | polyresin |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 104 x 54 x 10 centimeters |
| Weight | 9 kilograms |
| color | beige |
| optics | rocky cascade |
| particularities | expandable |
This stream is an additional shell that fits perfectly with the complete set Quellbach I from the same manufacturer, but you can also use it individually to design your own water landscapes and small garden ponds. The stream bowl is made of polyresin, which is a sturdy plastic. The design is visually reminiscent of a stony river bed, such as that found in the mountains. The material is colored by hand by the manufacturer, which is why no two streams are alike. However, as some Amazon reviews have criticized, this color can occasionally peel off.
Purchase Criteria
material
natural stone: An artificial stream made of natural stone, for which granite is often used, is particularly attractive and lifelike. Granite is weather-resistant and very durable, but also very heavy. For this reason, a stable substructure must always be placed under such a stream to prevent sagging.
plastic / artificial stone: Commercial streams are made of different plastics. They are much lighter than natural stone and often have a stone or rock look. However, many plastics become porous over time due to weather influences such as solar radiation and frost and break down. To avoid this, you should use high-quality materials such as GRP (a glass-fibre reinforced plastic) or polyresin, an artificial stone that looks deceptively real.
stainless steel: A stream made of stainless steel is of course not based on a natural flowing water, but instead looks modern. Such a brook fits well in a neat garden with ornamental grasses and stones. Shells made of corten steel with a rusty effect are particularly attractive.
Dimensions and other dimensions
Before deciding on a particular stream, you should take a closer look at its dimensions. This is especially true if the shell is to be inserted into an existing water or pond landscape or has to match a specific prefabricated pond. That is why dimensions such as the length, width and height of the parts are just as relevant as the height difference that has to be overcome in your garden. This decides about the required width of the shells and the pump performance.
Module or complete system?
individual modules: Some watercourses can be assembled from individually purchased modules and expanded as desired. This not only has the advantage that you can let your imagination run wild. Such a modular system can also be better fitted into certain garden landscapes or combined with other elements such as a waterfall or a pond.
complete system: If, on the other hand, you don't want to do more work than is absolutely necessary, but want to have a babbling brook in your garden as quickly and easily as possible, then a complete set is the right choice. In most cases, you will not only receive a complete watercourse, but also a pump and hoses. When buying, make sure that the system can be expanded if necessary.
optics
This point concerns your own personal taste, because streams look very different. Some are reminiscent of natural spring streams as they occur in the mountains. Others are based on Mediterranean or Asian landscapes, some are romantic and playful and others appear very modern and unfussy. Which one you choose is up to you - and your garden style. After all, a modern stainless steel stream will look rather out of place in an eco garden, as will an alpine spring in a bamboo forest. You should therefore also include the area around the stream in the design planning.
installation
Last but not least, the necessary installation should also be included in the purchase considerations. Many streams cannot simply be laid in the garden, but require a complex substructure. For others, trenches have to be dug and other earthworks done. Consider whether you are willing and able to do this - if you have a bit of money to spare, you can have this work done by a professional.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
Do you really need a pump for a watercourse?
Yes, otherwise the water will not return to the source. Usually, the water in a stream flows from the source into a basin and from there it is transported back to the source. It is therefore a cycle that cannot be maintained without a pump. You need a special stream pump that is particularly powerful.
What types of stream pumps are there?
There are different types of watercourse pumps that are either dry or have to be in a water basin. All pumps require electricity to function, so a nearby outlet is essential. However, if one is not available, you can also use solar-powered models. However, it is essential to pay attention to the pump output, which has to move the water volumes circulating in the stream.
Can I let the stream run in winter?
We advise you against this, even if the material of the stream bowls is advertised as frost-proof. The problem is not with the stream, but with the hoses and the pump. These parts will definitely break in frost and then have to be replaced in the spring - a single frosty night is enough, even if the winter is otherwise mild. Therefore, one of the necessary works in the fall is to drain and turn off the water.
How can stream bowls be used?
Stream shells can be used for many purposes. They are not only used as part of an independent water landscape in the garden, but also as a decorative element for fountains or waterfalls and as a connecting piece between two garden ponds. In addition, I am happy to see turtles and other animals in their free-roaming enclosures that have a small stream where they can swim.
Which spot in the garden is best for a stream?
Ideally, you should install the new stream in a slightly sloping spot in your garden, which should be as natural as possible. Water begins to flow from an incline of around three percent, which is why a slight incline is an advantage. A natural hill, in contrast to an artificial one, is also more stable and does not slide as quickly.
equipment
stream pump
our recommendation
Pontec PondoMax Eco 5000 stream pump
74.94 EUR To the productWithout a powerful watercourse pump there is no babbling brook in the garden. This model has a capacity of 5000 liters per hour and transports the water to a head of 2.6 metres. It consumes only 60 watts and is therefore quite economical. If you don't want to lay a power cable, you can also use a solar-powered pump.