6 Best Pond Fountains for Small & Large Ponds in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Homeowners usually have ponds for admiring koi fish, adding beauty to their yards, or for a nice combination of both. Finding a good pond fountain helps improve the health and overall appearance of your pond. These products also add a feeling of serenity. In order to find the best pond fountains on the market this year, we have gathered reviews for you to read and determine which one works best for you and your property.

The most important part of any fountain is the pump. The pump is the heart of every fountain is how you determine what size pond it’s suitable for. There are also features to consider like the material and size or extra characteristics like LED lighting and various spray patterns. You’ll find the reviews of our top 6 fountains as well as information on buying them.

A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Alpine Corporation FTC102 Spray Fountain	Sleek design Multi-colored LED lights Strong flow rate for small to medium ponds	Check Price
Best Value		Ocean Mist Floating Pond Fountain	Floats Adjustable spray size Pumps 600 gallons per hour	Check Price
Premium Choice for Koi Ponds		Sting Ray 1200 All-In-One Filter, Pump, Clarifier, and Fountain	Affordable Includes UV clarifier and zeolite crystals Different spray nozzles plus bonus waterfall	Check Price
Best Choice for Large Ponds		Fawn Lake SF100 Floating Fountain	Semi-floating Seven spray settings 10 000 gallon per hour flow rate	Check Price
		Eco-Worthy Solar Pond Fountain	Renewable energy Adjustable sprayer Doesn't raise electric bill	Check Price

The 6 Best Pond Fountains for Small & Large Ponds

1. Alpine Corporation FTC102 Spray Fountain – Best Overall

At the very top of our fountain list, the best overall pond fountain for small and large ponds is the Alpine Corporation FTC102 spray fountain. This small fountain is designed for ponds that are up to 500 gallons. It floats, so you don’t have to keep fishing it from the bottom of the pond to clean it or for maintenance, and it is incredibly compact and light.

This fountain is set apart by its high quality and sleek design. The spray isn’t too large and shoots about 3 feet off the surface of the water. That’s enough to add some flare to your pond without overdoing it. It also features LED lights at the base to change the color of the spraying water. The colors are gorgeous at night and give your backyard some ambiance. If you prefer to keep the lights off, you control them with a separate power cord.

Installation of this pond fountain is easy because it uses only a floating board and anchor kit. If your backyard pond has a lot of debris, the company recommends installing a pond filter on top of the pump so that it doesn’t clog.

2. Ocean Mist Floating Pond Fountain – Best Value

This is another small floating fountain that has a 3-foot spray. However, the Ocean Mist fountain is adjustable to make it smaller if you prefer. The flow rate is also higher than others of this size, with 600 gallons per hour.

The Ocean Mist brand has one of the best pound fountains for small and large ponds for the money. It is slightly cheaper than other similar fountains but with the same features. It is attractive and comes with multi-colored LED lights for nighttime. Since it’s also a floating fountain, you won’t have to worry about it sinking.

There are a couple of unfortunate downsides to this fountain that you’ll need to consider. First, this product does get clogged sometimes, and you’ll have to purchase a mesh filter separately. Second, it isn’t ideal for small ponds with a lot of fish in them. For unknown reasons, there are a couple of negative reports of fish being killed when in a small, confined area. However, fewer fish in one area, or larger ponds, have no negative reports.

3. Sting Ray 1200 All-In-One Filter, Pump, Clarifier, and Fountain – Premium Choice for Koi Ponds

Koi fish lovers are often looking for something a little more specific to their needs. The Sting Ray fountain is perfect for little ponds because it contains a UV clarifier inside the pump to kill algae and other harmful bacteria. It isn’t vital for the beauty of the pond as much as it is for keeping all your beautiful fish healthy. On top of that, the pump helps clean up your pond water with zeolite crystals that remove ammonia buildup from fish waste.

This fountain has three spray nozzles, with a fourth that creates a small waterfall. With all the good, there is still some bad. The biggest issues that people found were the difficult installation at the bottom of the pond and issues with the tubing that sometimes caused the water flow to stop.

4. Fawn Lake SF100 Floating Fountain – Best Choice for Large Ponds

We don’t all have small to medium ponds. Those with large ponds on their property are looking for something with a strong flow and tall spray. This is where the Fawn Lake fountain comes in. This fountain for large ponds filters 10,000 gallons per hour or for ponds that are an acre in size. The high-flow nozzle is also adjustable to spray the water from 10 feet high to 34 feet tall or 10 feet wide to 36 feet wide.

This is a semi-floating fountain and is able to either rest on the pond’s bottom or float on the surface. The company recommends installing them on the floor only if the water is at least 4 feet deep. Thankfully, they include a 100-foot underwater power cable.

This fountain is very expensive but a great value for the size. It is also only suitable for large ponds considering that the lowest spray setting is 10 feet high and wide.

5. Eco-Worthy Solar Pond Fountain

Modern technology has allowed us to easily clean up our ponds without adding to our electric bills. This solar-powered fountain from Eco-Worthy is an excellent choice for those who would prefer using sustainable energy. There is no power cord involved, and it relies on a 20-watt solar panel with a battery to store the energy.

Even though you aren’t paying to operate it, you depend entirely on the sunlight to keep the fountain running. If you reside in a place that is overcast most days, you might not have the best of luck getting it to work. This isn’t always a dealbreaker for people, though, because you have to have sunlight in order for algae to grow.

This fountain is good for small ponds with a flow rate of 360 gallons per hour, but you only have 16 feet of cord to connect the water pump to the panel.

6. Patriot Pond Color Changing Fountain

The lowest-ranking fountain on our list is the Patriot Pond color-changing fountain. This pond fountain is ideal if you’re looking for an affordable option with LED lights to light up the pond at night. Although it has a 600-gallon per hour water flower, it is known to get clogged. It also has two short power cords that won’t work well on larger ponds.

Because it is a floating fountain, installation is simple. If you don’t maintain it, the lights might become foggy, so you’ll have to clean it regularly.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting The Best Pond Fountain

Now that you’ve reviewed some of the best pond fountains on the market this year, you should take a moment to consider which one is right for the pond you have at home. Each one is designed to work in different spaces, and you might prefer some features over others.

How to Pick a Pond Fountain

There are several factors you need to think about before buying your new fountain. One of the most important aspects is the pump. The pump is the key to a high-quality fountain. Consider how the flow rate of each pump is going to work for the size of your pond. These vary from product to product and should be your top priority. It is safe to assume that all of the water in your pond should circulate through the pump at least one time every hour. This needs to increase depending on how many fish live in your pond as well.

The material of the fountain is another factor to consider. Most pond fountains today are made out of plastic, which is the best at keeping water out of electronic components. It is also safe for fish and holds up well against algae. If possible, find plastics that won’t leach chemicals into your water. This is usually standard, but it won’t hurt to double-check.

The size and weight of the fountain are other components that play a role in the health of your pond. Don’t buy one so big that it takes up half of your pond. Some people don’t want to lift something heavy, so they go for more compact ones.

Conclusion

You’ve finished considering your top options and are ready to buy. Before you purchase, remember that we’ve found that the best overall pond fountain is the Alpine Corporation spray fountain, and the best value is the Ocean Mist floating pond fountain. These reviews highlight the pros and cons of each one, and we hope that this article has made the path a little bit clearer.

Featured Image Credit: Gyuszko-Photo, Shutterstock