Blue Thumb | Fountains, Ponds, & Large Lake Supplies
Installation Guide for Blue Thumb models including: AB36AB AquaBox Basins, AB36AB, AquaBox Basins, Basins
Grate Preparation After determining fountain placement, you may remove the grate for drilling. If needed, use a 11/2” hole saw to drill holes in the grates for the fountain tubing
Installation Manuals
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DocumentDocumentAquaBox® Basins Installation Guide For use with 36" Round Achelous #AB36AB 48" Round Achelous #AB48AB 52" Square Altum #AB52AB ACHELOUS AQUABOX® (2) Basin Covers BASIN INSTALLATION INCLUDED: Basin with 4 molded supports, 2-piece Grates, Pump Access Cover, PVC Center Support Recommended Tools for Installation: Shovel, Marking Paint, Level, Rake and/or Tamp, 11/2" Hole Saw Be certain to avoid underground utilities. If uncertain call your utility company or Miss Dig. STEP 1 Choose Basin Location Consider your fountain location. Keep it near your preferred viewing area where both water and electricity services are accessible for the pump and fountain you 1 will be adding. If your basin comes with a cardboard cover, you may leave it in place to keep dirt from falling in during installation. Prepare to excavate by using marking paint to trace around your basin about 1"-2" wider than the top. Move basin aside. 1 STEP 2 Excavation of Basin Area Using a shovel, dig 17" straight down into the ground, slightly wider than the fountain basin making sure to 2 remove any sharp rocks or roots. The basin should sit solidly on the leveled ground below. Hanging the lip of the basin on the surface can cause the basin to buckle over time. Level the bottom of the hole with sand or small gravel and tamp to ensure no settling occurs after installation. 2 Set basin in the hole and verify that the box top is level and approximately 1" below grade. 2 NOTE: If installing a Splash Apron (Item# ABBSA36) make sure the basin is set down about 11/2" below grade, then slope the surrounding terrain toward the basin during ecavation. STEP 3 Position & Backfill Basin Position the basin within the hole. Make sure the pump opening in the grate is orientated near electrical service. Using a level ensure the fountain basin remains level side to side. 3 Once the fountain basin is level, carefully backfill using excavated soil. Tamping the soil tightly around the basin to prevent shifting. Leave a small trench to bury the pump cord 1-2 inches below grade. Before installing the fountain you should check that the inside of the basin is clean. Remove any dirt that has entered the basin using a wet/dry vacuum. 3 Consider adding water to the basin at this time to complete the stabilization of the basin and save time during the installation process. STEP 4 Grate Preparation After determining fountain placement, you may 4 remove the grate for drilling. If needed, use a 11/2" hole saw to drill holes in the grates for the fountain tubing to feed up from the basin and into your fountains. Note: If the basin has a sediment screen in place, use a knife to cut the screen before drilling. DO NOT drill in the marked areas in the image on the right. The molded support columns in the basin will be located under these points. The two halves of the installed grate should meet over the wider set of support columns for greatest grate 4 strength. The included PVC center support may be added for additional stability. 3 STEP 5 Place Pump and Plumbing Next, add your pump to the basin. Place pump and tubing in the basin. The fountain pump will be located beneath the pump access 5 panel and inside the fountain basin. You may also add an Auto Fill Kit at this time. Optional Auto Fill Kit Install If a Blue Thumb Elite Auto Fill Kit is being incorporated, you may bury your water supply line and make any Auto Fill connections at this time. Kit Item: #ABDAUTO STEP 6 Grate Placement Install the grate with the pump access at this time. Thread tubing through drilled hole in accordance to fountain placement plan. Place the grate so that the center line aligns with the sticker on basin edge. This alignment will stabilize the grates over the wider spaced molded supports. Install the PVC support under this grate in the center of the basin for additional strength, then place the 2nd half of the grate. STEP 7 Finishing Fill the basin with clean water. Plug the pump power cord into a nearby electrical GFCI outlet. Water will start flowing from the fountain. Depending on the style of your water feature, you may need to adjust the water flow. After the basin is properly filled and your water feature is running, cover the top of the basin using polished pebbles or other suitable stone work to finish the installation. 7a 4 ALTUM AQUABOX® (2) Basin Covers BASIN INSTALLATION INCLUDED: Basin with 4 molded supports, 2-piece Grates, Pump Access Cover, PVC Center Support Recommended Tools for Installation: Shovel, Marking Paint, Level, Rake and/or Tamp Be certain to avoid underground utilities. If uncertain call your utility company or Miss Dig. STEP 1 Choose Basin Location Consider your fountain location. Keep it near your preferred viewing area where both water and electricity services are accessible for the pump and fountain you will be adding. If your basin comes with a cardboard cover, you may leave it in place to keep dirt from falling in during installation. Prepare to excavate by using marking paint to trace around your basin about 1"-2" wider than the top. Move basin aside. STEP 2 Excavation of Basin Area Using a shovel, dig 21" straight down into the ground, slightly wider than the fountain basin making sure to remove any sharp rocks or roots. The basin should sit solidly on the leveled ground below. Hanging the lip of the basin on the surface can cause the basin to buckle over time. NOTE: If installing a Splash Apron (Item# ABBSA36) make sure the basin is set down about 11/2" below grade, then slope the surrounding terrain toward the basin during excavation. 5 STEP 3 Excavation of Basin Area Level the bottom of the hole with sand or small gravel and tamp to ensure no settling occurs after installation. STEP 4 Set Basin in Place Set basin in the hole and verify that the box top is level and approximately 1" below grade. Position the basin within the hole. Make sure the pump opening in the grate is orientated near electrical service. Using a level, ensure the fountain basin remains level side to side. STEP 5 Backfill Backfill around the box and soil using excavated soil or self-compacting material such as sand or pea gravel. When using excavated soil be sure to regularly compact with a tamper. If your basin included a cardboard cover leave it in place while you backfill to prevent soil from falling into the basin. 6 NOTE: Normal evaporation is about 1-2" weekly, however, that is dependent on your region. Many factors including humidity, rainfall, wind, and splash will determine exactly how frequently you need to refill. Optional Auto Fill Kit Install If a Blue Thumb Elite Auto Fill Kit is being incorporated, you may bury your water supply line and make any Auto Fill connections at this time. Kit Item: #ABDAUTO STEP 6 Place Pump in Basin Fill the basin with clean water. Place your pump in the basin according to the instructions included with it, and install your auto-fill kit, if purchased. Plug into a nearby electrical GFCI outlet. Water will start flowing from the fountain. Depending on the style of your water feature, you may need to adjust the water flow. STEP 7 Finishing After the basin is properly filled and your water feature is running, select decorative gravel that compliments your fountain, adjacent landscape and is sized appropriately to not fall through the cracks of the grates into the fountain basin. Also, consider adding a sediment screen Item# ABSCREEN to help keep basin water clear of debris. For the best look, consider adding plants and moisture loving ground covers around the footprint of the fountain basin, or adding a fountain up-lighting kit such as Item# PB2910. Installed Altum Basin BEFORE & AFTER fountain placement 7 WE HAVE THE PERFECT FOUNTAIN FOR YOUR BASIN! Visit ShopBlueThumb.com to view our huge selection. Vase Fountains Placed singly or in a popular, our crafted ceramic vases serve your senses with the sights and sounds of bubbling water in several worldly styles. Real Stone Fountains Polished or natural, these fountains are expertly chiseled from real stone from a variety of rock types: Onyx, Marble, Sandstone, Granite, Limestone and the ever popular Basalt. With so many stones, shapes and sizes, you can't miss! Copper/Metal Fountains Create your outdoor gallery with unique water features from our stunning hand etched Copper Trees and Glass Flowers to Sugar Kettles to Spouted Brass Bowls and Urns. Bubbling Boulders Our Handcrafted GFRC Fountains are as sturdy as real rock with a fraction of the weight. Molded and prepared by Blue Thumb's expert rock makers, each rock fountain is carefully designed to ensure it fools mother nature. AND MUCH MORE! ShopBlueThumb.com 062023