Otterbine Aerating Fountain
Ornamental lakes on acreage
Estate and resort entries
Water that needs oxygen as well as a display
Otterbine · Dam and Lake Fountains
The owner's insights on the Otterbine Aerating Fountain
A fountain on a dam is more than a view. Otterbine build the pattern around an aerating pump, so water drawn through the unit picks up oxygen while the display runs. On a dam that goes green each summer, that matters more than the shape of the spray.
Ten patterns run across four sizes from 1 to 5 HP. Sunburst is the classic wide fan. Gemini throws a taller plume. Saturn sits low and wide, which holds up in wind. The decorative patterns, Genesis, Tristar, Constellation, Phoenix, Equinox, Omega and Rocket, trade some aeration for a shape that reads as an ornamental fountain.
Otterbine recommend 2 HP for every surface acre, about 0.4 hectares, when water quality is the goal. Nozzles swap in under half an hour, so one unit can change pattern in later years.
Read the install note before you buy. Units sold here run at 50 Hz, so they arrive without the Power Control Center. A licensed electrician supplies the shore controls and the cable run. Tell us the dam size, the depth and the distance to power. We will size the unit and talk through the whole job.
Why you'll love the Otterbine Aerating Fountain
Aerates while it runs
Water drawn through the unit picks up oxygen, not only a display.
Ten patterns
From the wide Sunburst fan to the three-tier Tristar.
Sized 1 to 5 HP
Matched to the surface area of your dam or lake.
Change it later
Nozzles swap in under 30 minutes.
5-year warranty
With a pattern guarantee: they swap the pattern if it is wrong.
Why you should consider Otterbine
Otterbine builds floating aerators and fountains in the United States. In Australia they are supplied by Aquatec Equipment, the exclusive distributor for Australia and New Zealand. Order through My Acre and we will beat any genuine like-for-like price you find elsewhere. If a warranty question ever comes up, you are calling us directly, not an overseas call centre.
Work out what you need
Step one: size it by surface area
- 1. Measure the water at its widest: length times width, in metres. Pace it if you have to.
- 2. Divide that by 4,000 to get surface acres.
- 3. Multiply by 2. That is the horsepower Otterbine recommend for water quality.
- 4. Round up to the next size in the table, never down.
| Water surface | Otterbine recommend | Also check |
|---|---|---|
| Under 1,000 m² | All-in-One 1/2 HP | Needs 41 cm depth |
| 1,000 to 2,000 m² | 1 HP | 230 V single phase, 8.3 A |
| 2,000 to 4,000 m² (about an acre) | 2 HP | 230 V single phase, 12.6 A |
| 4,000 to 6,000 m² | 3 HP | Single or three phase |
| 6,000 m² to 1 hectare | 5 HP | Three phase only, 400 V |
| Over 1 hectare | Two units spread apart | Two power runs, or one central Giant |
Every unit here needs at least 75 cm of water under it.
Step two: check the power before you fall for a pattern
| Size | Supply | Current draw |
|---|---|---|
| 1 HP | 230 V single phase | 8.3 A |
| 2 HP | 230 V single phase | 12.6 A |
| 3 HP | 230 V single phase, or 400 V three phase | 13.5 A or 4 A |
| 5 HP | 400 V three phase only | 7 A |
If the site has no three phase, 3 HP is the largest single unit you can run.
Step three: choose the pattern by eye, not by name
| Pattern type | Water moved | What it is for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunburst, Gemini, Saturn | 86 to 243 m³ per hour | Aeration first. The most water moved per horsepower. |
| Genesis, Tristar, Constellation, Phoenix, Equinox, Omega, Rocket | 23 to 59 m³ per hour | Display first. Still aerates, moves less water. |
Each pattern is its own chamber, so the one you order is the one it wears. Chambers swap in under 30 minutes, which means you can change it in later years without a new unit.
What arrives and what does not
In the box
- ✓The aerating fountain unit, with the pattern chamber you chose
- ✓Power cable with a quick disconnect at the unit
- ✓The float and the pattern nozzle assembly
Not included
- ×The Power Control Center. Units supplied here run at 50 Hz, which Otterbine do not ship a PCC with.
- ×The onshore isolator, RCD protection, circuit breaker and any timer. Your electrician supplies these.
- ×Conduit, trenching and the cable run from the switchboard to the water.
- ×Mooring or anchor hardware beyond what the install needs, plus the boat to place it.
- ×Lighting, which is a separate Fountain Glo set.
This is the exclusion that catches people out on Otterbine in Australia. Budget for an electrician before you budget for the fountain.
What to measure before you decide
- Surface area of the water, length times width in metres.
- Depth at the shallowest point the unit might sit, which must be 75 cm or more.
- Distance from the water to the nearest power, in metres, for the cable run.
- Whether the supply is single phase or three phase. Your switchboard or your electrician will tell you.
- How close you stand to it. A tall plume reads well from a distance; a wide fan reads better up close.
That is everything you need to size this yourself. If you would rather have it checked, send us the surface area, the depth and the power at the site. We will confirm it before you order.
What the installation involves
- A licensed electrician supplies and installs the onshore isolator, RCD protection, circuit breaker and any timer in a weatherproof enclosure.
- Power is trenched to the water in conduit, then joined to the unit at the cable quick disconnect.
- The unit floats out and is anchored or moored. On a large dam a boat makes this easier.
Units supplied at 50 Hz do not include the Otterbine Power Control Center, so the shore controls are the electrician's work. Install cost depends on the site. We will talk it through before you order.
Talk it through before you order
Tell us the dam size, the depth, the power at the site and what you want it to look like. We will size the unit and quote delivery with it.
Call todaySee it in action
- Filmed by Otterbine
- Nothing loads until you press play
The Sunburst pattern in motion
A low, wide pattern that aerates the water as it displays. Filmed by Otterbine.
The Gemini pattern in motion
A taller, fuller plume for larger dams and lakes. Watch it before you pick a pattern.
Otterbine aerating fountain specifications
| Pattern | 1 HP height × spread (m) | 2 HP | 3 HP | 5 HP | Pumping rate (m³/hr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunburst | 1.2 × 5 | 2 × 7.3 | 2.9 × 8.6 | 3.2 × 11.6 | 114.4 to 237.3 |
| Gemini | 2 × 4 | 2.6 × 4.7 | 3.5 × 6.9 | 4.4 × 9.5 | 119.7 to 242.7 |
| Saturn | .5 × 2.1 | .9 × 3.3 | 1.4 × 6.1 | 1.5 × 7 | 86.3 to 178 |
| Constellation | Upper: 1.2 Lower: 0.6 × Upper: 2.7 Lower: 5.4 | Upper: 1.8 Lower: 0.6 × Upper: 3.7 Lower: 7.6 | Upper: 2.4 Lower: 0.9 × Upper: 4.6 Lower: 9.6 | Upper: 2.4 Lower: 0.9 × Upper: 4.6 Lower: 9.6 | 32.4 to 59.3 |
| Equinox | 3 × 10.5 | 4 × 12 | 4.5 × 17 | 4.5 × 17 | 32.4 to 59.3 |
| Genesis | Upper: 2.1 Lower: 1.2 × Upper: 3 Lower: 7.6 | Upper: 3.4 Lower: 1.5 × Upper: 4 Lower: 10.7 | Upper: 4.2 Lower: 1.7 × Upper: 5 Lower: 13.7 | Upper: 4.2 Lower: 1.7 × Upper: 5 Lower: 13.7 | 32.4 to 59.3 |
| Omega | 2.7 × 3 | 3.1 × 4.1 | 3.5 × 5 | 3.5 × 5 | 32.4 to 59.3 |
| Phoenix | Upper: 3 Lower: 1.2 × Upper: 0.6 Lower: 5.5 | Upper: 4 Lower: 1.8 × Upper: 0.6 Lower: 6.4 | Upper: 4.2 Lower: 2 × Upper: 0.9 Lower: 7.2 | Upper: 4.2 Lower: 2 × Upper: 0.9 Lower: 7.2 | 32.4 to 59.3 |
| Rocket | 3.8-4.4 × 1.5 | 4.9-5.5 × 1.5 | 5.6-6.2 × 2.4 | 5.6-6.2 × 2.4 | 23.7 to 43.2 |
| Tristar | Upper: 3 Middle: 1.8 Lower: 0.9 × Upper: 0.6 Middle: 2.7 Lower: 4 | Upper: 4 Middle: 2.4 Lower: 1.2 × Upper: 0.6 Middle: 3 Lower: 5.2 | Upper: 4.6 Middle: 3.2 Lower: 2 × Upper: 0.9 Middle: 3.8 Lower: 6.1 | Upper: 4.6 Middle: 3.2 Lower: 2 × Upper: 0.9 Middle: 3.8 Lower: 6.1 | 32.4 to 59.3 |
Frequently asked questions
How big a dam does it suit?
Otterbine recommend 2 HP for every surface acre, about 0.4 hectares, when the aim is water quality. A 1 acre dam suits a 2 HP unit. Larger water often takes two units or a Giant Fountain. Minimum depth is 75 cm.
What power does it need?
1 and 2 HP units run on 230 V single phase. 3 HP runs on single or three phase. 5 HP is three phase only, at 400 V. Tell us what power is at the site before you order.
What is included?
The unit and its cable with a quick disconnect. Units supplied here run at 50 Hz, which do not receive the Otterbine Power Control Center. Your electrician supplies the onshore isolator, RCD protection, circuit breaker and any timer in a weatherproof enclosure.
Can I change the pattern later?
Yes. Staged pumping chambers let you swap nozzles in under 30 minutes, so one unit can wear several patterns over its life.
Which pattern aerates the most?
The open patterns move the most water. Sunburst, Gemini and Saturn pump 86 to 243 cubic metres an hour depending on size. Decorative patterns pump 23 to 59, so they read as ornamental fountains first.
Can it be lit at night?
Yes. Fountain Glo LED sets in white or RGBW suit 1 to 5 HP units. Order lighting at the same time so the cable run is sized once.
What about the Comet pattern?
Comet is available on request. Otterbine publish no photograph of it, so we have left it off this listing rather than show you the wrong pattern.
What maintenance does it need?
Disconnect and inspect the unit, float and cable once a year. Otterbine suggest an oil change every three years.
What does the warranty cover?
Five years, with Otterbine’s pattern guarantee: if the pattern is not what you wanted, they swap it. You call My Acre and we handle the claim with Aquatec.
Clear water and a display on one unit
Your price is beaten against any genuine like-for-like offer. We confirm delivery with you when you order. If anything goes wrong, we handle the warranty claim for you.
Speak to the team