A babbling brook in the garden is not only a decorative element, but also serves as a bathing and water source for songbirds, provides moisture for small aquatic animals and also keeps the temperatures lower. Such an artificial stream can be created quickly with a special stream shell. In this guide you will find out which products are recommended and what you should pay attention to when buying them.

Stream shells are made of plastic and stone

Our recommendations

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
color beige / light stone color
Dimensions 88 x 65 x 18 centimeters
Weight approx. 7 kilograms
equipment extensive accessories available
special feature natural stone decoration

This product is an additional bowl that, together with other stream bowls from the same manufacturer, can be connected to form an attractive little garden stream. An individual design is possible within a certain framework, for example by mounting the stream shells either to the left or to the right. The Amur stream bowls are made of polyresin. This is a robust synthetic resin, which is also known as "marmorite", "cast marble" or "artificial stone". The material is frost-resistant, so you don't need to expand the artificial stream even in the cold season - only the water should be drained. Polyresin is also quite resistant to UV radiation.

our recommendation
Water cascades waterfall Eder stream 3-part, beige/brown, a` 53 x 40 x 8 cm/ 3-part
EUR 86.90 To the product
material Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP)
color beige-brown
Dimensions 53 x 40 x 8 centimeters
Weight approx. 6 kilograms
equipment other accessories such as spring bowl and extension available
special feature 3 piece set

These three stream bowls, like the other accessories from the same manufacturer, are designed in a Mediterranean style. Together with the separately available spring bowl and another extension, you can build a stream that is approx. 133 centimeters long and can also compensate for a height difference of up to 30 centimetres. The product consists of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GfK), which is insensitive to both UV radiation and frost. In order to be able to install the stream bowls, you should have a water reservoir - such as a small pond or a round basin - with a volume of at least 60 liters and a pump with an output of around 1000 liters per hour.

our recommendation
Water cascade source bowl Eder source, beige/brown, 53 x 40 x 8 cm
EUR 41.90 To the product
material Glass fiber reinforced plastic (GRP)
color beige-brown
Dimensions 53 x 40 x 8 centimeters
Weight approx. 2 kilograms
equipment other accessories such as watercourse and extension available
special feature surface close to natural stone

This spring bowl is made of the same material and has the same look as the Eder stream set already presented. This appearance, reminiscent of natural stone, is achieved through a special manufacturing process, which also has an impact on the quality of the product: the Eder stream shells are both abrasion and wash-resistant. The material used - glass fiber reinforced plastic - is resistant to frost, heat and UV radiation, which is why the stream can remain outside in winter and also lasts a long time.

Purchase Criteria

material

plastic: Stream shells made of plastic have the advantage that they are light in weight and therefore easier to obstruct. Choose models that are made of UV and weather-resistant material. Polyresin, a frost-resistant synthetic resin, is particularly suitable for this purpose. Watercourse shells should be frost-proof so that you don't have to expand your watercourse every winter.

stone: Stream shells made of natural stone are particularly high-quality and durable, but also very heavy. Due to their high weight, a good substructure is always necessary, for which you may also need larger construction machines (e.g. if the stream is to be very long). On the other hand, streams made of natural stones such as granite appear more natural than models made of plastic.

size and shape

Stream bowls are available in different sizes and shapes. In addition, many manufacturers allow you to connect different bowls with each other as you wish and thus design your own personal watercourse. The length of the artificial stream is entirely up to you and the available space. However, the design options are limited because the shells are preformed. For example, you can only decide whether the stream turns left or right.

color and design

Streams can look very different, which of course is also noticeable in the design of the stream. Here you have the choice between stream bowls, which are based on a wild mountain stream, a slowly flowing meadow stream or a romantically babbling brook. You can also integrate a waterfall with some models. You should also pay attention to the color of the stream bowls: If the stream should look as natural as possible, brownish-green shades are preferable. With regard to the further design - for example the planting along the stream - you are completely free and can thus create individual accents.

equipment

You can buy stream bowls either as a complete set - which includes different bowls, a spring and sometimes also a pump and a hose - or individually. With a complete set, you can start building a stream right away, but the shape, size and other parameters are given here. With a single purchase, on the other hand, you have more influence on a more individual design, since you can buy the individual components together as required. However, other important accessories are components such as a spring or a source stone, if necessary a waterfall as well as a water pump and a hose.

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frequently asked Questions

What are the advantages of stream shells?

With the help of stream shells, a small stream can be created in the garden without much effort or extensive construction work. You don't have to (unless you want to lay heavy stone bowls) dig a stream bed or create a substructure, you don't have to lay out pond liner or fleece and you can quickly remove the bowls if necessary or if you don't like them.

Do stream shells also have disadvantages?

Of course, using stream shells to build an artificial stream also has disadvantages. The optics of the brook are already given by the design and appearance of the bowls and can only be adapted to personal taste and the local conditions to a limited extent. In addition, streams composed of stream shells rarely appear natural, but always retain a more or less artificial appearance.

How do you build a stream with stream shells?

To create the course of the stream, you first have to create the bed of the stream, whereby the trench required for this is dug a little deeper than the bowls are deep. Now fill the trench with some sand so that the bowls lie better later. When choosing the location, make sure that the terrain has a slight gradient of at least three percent, otherwise the water cannot flow. The water hose is laid in an additional ditch in the ground and can be protected with a pipe.

Can I also create a stream in my small garden?

Of course, you can also create a stream in a small garden, because it doesn't have to be particularly long or wide. With an integrated waterfall, you also have another exciting design option that can be easily implemented in a small space. In addition, you can integrate a stream made of shells into an existing planting or redesign it.

Why do I have to drain the stream in winter?

Even if the material of the watercourse shells is frost-proof, it can still be destroyed by water that freezes in frost. When water freezes, it expands - and can cause cracks and fissures in the shells. You must also protect the water hose and the pump from frost, as both can be damaged by frost and ice.

How much do stream bowls cost?

How much watercourse shells cost varies greatly. The price depends on the manufacturer as well as the material and the quality: High-quality stream bowls made of natural stone or polyresin cost between around 50 and over 100 euros, depending on the size. At first glance, complete sets are very expensive, but you often save here compared to buying all the components individually.

equipment

Stream pump and pond hose

our recommendation
Pontec 50851 filter and watercourse pump PondoMax Eco 1500 | filter pump | pump | pond pump
44.94 EUR To the product

You need a special pump to ensure that the artificially created brook splashes along merrily. This is offered as a pond or stream pump and ensures that the water is pumped back from the end of the stream to the source. A pond hose that is laid in the ground next to the stream is also indispensable.

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