The pictures above depict my first attempt to create an automatic pond filler. The shutoff valve, copper tubing, hose connector and float were purchased at Home Depot. The long 1/8" diameter brass tube was purchased at Ground Control Hobbies in Yucca Valley, CA.

Though it worked okay, I knew right away it would be way too unreliable. It could easily break or bend, loosing its abilty to respond to changing water levels. The occasional gale-force winds could blow it out of alignment. It could hang up on twigs blowing by. Worst of all, it could easily get stuck open, emptying my water tank.

So a total rethink was required.

The images below depict my next idea which has worked out exceptionally well. I don't know how it came to me. I believe I was just wandering around Home Depot, asking questions, and looking at everything, when I saw something that began to spark an idea, and one thing led to another until I had all the parts assembled and I knew that I had struck gold. Months later I began to explore the idea of obtaining a patent when Googling around showed me that the basic idea had already been invented, but as an automatic pool filler.

As I write this, I have been away for four months, but watching it carefully through my Logitech Alert IP camera. Even after some rampaging squirrels knocked the ornamental spitting frog off of the pond filler pedestal, it continued to fill the pond as needed. The sinking frog apparently jerked the 1/4" tubing off of the toilet valve's nipple, so it just refilled from the inside out, rather than through the tube. Keep in mind that through all that, the bottom weighted pedestal did not tip over. Remaining verticle is critical. When I return in 2 months, I will attach the frog to the top with glue or velcro, after assuring myself that the additional top-weight could not tip it over.

The working mechanism is intentionally enclosed within a tight and filtered PVC chamber. It only receives clear fresh water from the water source. If it were exposed to the pond water, it could accumulate a sludge over time within the mechanism, and debris, that would eventually stop it from functioning. Likewise, the surrounding 6" PVC pipe and lid is opaque so that the sun cannot encourage algea to grow within the works. Though the loss of the frog has exposed the screened grating in the lid, hopefully the grates will not allow too much sunlight to pass through. We will see.

Here are the parts:

VPC 6" x 2' PVC DWV Riser Pipe, Model # 6006-2, HD SKU # 826829 - "Valencia Pipe Company PVC SDR35 ASTM D-3034"
NDS Spee-D Basin 6 in. Double-Outlet Catch Basin, Model # 201, HD SKU # 703338
NDS 6 in. Structural Foam Polyolefin Grate, Model # 50, HD SKU # 703370
NDS 4 in. Styrene Drain Grate, Model # 911, SKU # 704024 – this one broke
NDS 4 in. Satin Brass Grate, Model # 910B, SKU # 304638 - Bar Code: 052063491004
Watts 3/4 in. Brass Swivel Hose Adapter, Model # A-662, HD SKU # 549606
Watts 3/4 in. x 1/2 in. Brass Male Hose x Male Adapter, Model # A-663, HD SKU # 549683
BrassCraft 1/2 in. FIP Inlet x 7/8 in. Ballcock x 9 in. Polymer ... Toilet Connector, Model # B3-9DL F, HD SKU # 405671
Fluidmaster 400A Toilet Tank Fill Valve, Model # 400ARP25, HD SKU # 147966
Argee 80 oz. Bucket, Model # RG580, HD SKU # 494054 - 6.75" dia.
1' nylon screen, epoxy glue, contact cement, waterproof silicone sealant, 8 non-corrosive 1.25” screws, pea pebbles,
flexible non-crimping garden or washer hose.

Select, copy & paste the SKU into a Home Depot search box to find the item on their web site.