Caring for Your LiquidArt Rocks—Tips to Keep Your Bubblers Looking Great!
LiquidArt’s Glass-Fiber-Reinforced-Concrete (GFRC) bubblers are designed to provide
years of enjoyment, with minimal care or maintenance required. Because they are made
of concrete, they are very rugged and will withstand the elements without the color fade
or discoloration common in inferior faux stones.
Cleaning—Dirt Spots
LiquidArt’s GFRC rocks will age in a very similar manner as natural stones. If you need to
clean the rocks, a good blast from a garden hose will usually work, although a mild soap
and soft-bristle brush can be used as well, if needed.
Cleaning—Algae and Moss
Over time, moss and algae may develop on your LiquidArt rock, just as it would on
natural stone. The time it takes will depend on how often you have your fountain
turned on, how much shade or sunlight it gets, and how often fresh water is added to
the fountain base. If your rock is accumulating more moss or algae than you desire,
LiquidArt recommends using an algaecide designed to reduce moss/algae growth.
These additives are available at most pond shops. Just remember to make sure they are
deemed safe for colored concrete!
Efflorescence—Causes and Cleaning/Removal
Any material containing Portland cement (precast stone, GFRC products, etc.) has the
potential to effloresce. Efflorescence is caused when soluble salts and other water
materials come to the surface of concrete and mortar. Most often, efflorescence will be
minor, and can manifest in a couple of ways—either as a powdery, fluffy, substance,
which is easily brushed off with a nylon-bristle scrub brush, or as a crystallized deposit on
the rock.
To keep efflorescence to a minimum, run your bubblers non-stop for three to four weeks
after first installing your fountain. If efflorescence appears, do not let it dry! While it is
wet, scrub the area with the nylon-bristle brush, until the efflorescence is gone. This
may need to be repeated until all the salt has been worked out of the rock. The key is to
not let any efflorescence dry! If efflorescence has been allowed to dry, and has attached
itself to the rock, then an efflorescence remover, (such as Techni-Seal, available through
LiquidArt) is recommended. Even with that, some staining or efflorescence may remain,
which is why rocks should not be allowed to dry until any efflorescence has been worked
out of the rocks.
Reservoir Maintenance
LiquidArt’s fountain kits are designed to require very little maintenance. Because of the
“pondless” design, there are no filters to change, and very little, if any, debris should
get into your water reservoir. However, periodic attention is suggested, to identify any
potential issues before they start.
Check and adjust water level periodically, keeping the water level at or near the
bottom of grating and no lower than the water pump inlet.
Also, remove any dirt, rock
or debris from inside the fountain base that may cause damage to the water pump or
flexible hose.
FOUNTAIN CARE
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