The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Our recommendations

This gargoyle figure from the well-known fairy tale "Frog King" is particularly popular and well rated by Amazon customers. The 22 centimeter high figure shows a frog sitting on a ball with a golden crown on its head. The entire figure is made of cast iron and comes with a pump and matching hose. Of the Gargoyles can be used both indoors and outdoors, but due to its weight it needs approx. 1.4 kilograms a stable surface. A power connection is required for operation, but you can also connect the water feature to a suitable solar pump. According to various customer reports, this is possible without any problems, but such a pump must be purchased separately.

This cute gargoyle in the shape of a fish is also popular with Amazon customers Popularity, however, unlike our predecessor model, it does not have a suitable pump or hose delivered. You have to purchase both separately, since such a pond game will not work without a pump. You have the choice between electricity and solar-powered pumps, for which a standard pond pump is completely sufficient. The fish consists of the plastic polyresin, which is described as weatherproof and is considerably lighter than cast iron. The hose should have an inner diameter of 13 millimeters so that it fits onto the brass hose connection. This is roughly half an inch.

Also one of the customer favorites among the gargoyles at Amazon is this turtle figure, which is offered by the same manufacturer as the previously presented fish. The turtle is also made of weatherproof polyresin and has a 13-millimeter hose connection made of high-quality brass. A suitable hose and the pump are also not included in the scope of delivery and must be purchased separately. However, since these are standard dimensions, this should not be a problem - especially since you can choose the pump you want and do not have to rely on the manufacturer's specifications. The turtle also works with an electricity or solar-powered pond pump.

Purchase criteria

material

Since gargoyles are of course constantly under the influence of moisture, the material must be correspondingly resistant to moisture and very robust. Wood, for example, is less suitable in this context.

metal: Metal, for example stainless steel, cast iron, brass or copper, of course look very nice - but change optically over time. For example, copper turns green, cast iron has a reddish-brown patina, etc. That is completely normal - after all, the material reacts to the effects of water and sun - and not a defect.

Concrete / stone: Gargoyles made of concrete or stone are visually much more stable, especially since these materials are much more robust against moisture and do not corrode. However, concrete in particular is quite sensitive to frost, which is why water features must always be deactivated and emptied in the cold season.

plastic: Gargoyles made of plastic, for example made of weatherproof polyresin, look very similar to figures made of metal or stone, but are much lighter. On the other hand, they do not have the positive properties of these materials and are more susceptible to weather influences such as sun, frost and heat.

height and weight

How big and heavy the gargoyle can be depends primarily on the intended location. Should the figure be placed by the garden pond or on the edge of a small fountain? How robust and load-bearing is the subsurface? Is it likely to tip over easily? All of these questions must be clarified before the selection in order to make a suitable decision - the difficult one After all, gargoyles made of cast iron or concrete do not necessarily fit on the small indoor fountain in the Winter garden. A smaller and lighter model made of polyresin, on the other hand, does.

pump

Like all water features, a gargoyle does not work without a pump that circulates the water and ensures that the water can bubble. In most cases, a standard pond pump with around 240 volts, which is either electricity or solar powered, is sufficient. For a powered pump you need a cable and a power connection, the solar powered one however, it only works with solar energy - but only if the sun is long enough appears. If you choose a pump with several connections, you can connect additional water features if necessary.

hose

A hose is also indispensable because the water has to flow through it. When buying the gargoyle, pay close attention to the dimensions of the water connection on the figure. These give you information about the inside diameter of a suitable hose. Sometimes the gargoyle figure is already sold with a suitable hose and pump, then you just have to connect the set. In most cases, however, you will have to take care of the necessary accessories yourself.

optics

Centuries-old gargoyles can be admired on churches, which were carved from stone and have lost none of their fascination to this day. Whether dragons or other mythical creatures, fairy tale or animal figures: Today there is a large variety of different motifs, as well as colors and materials. In this case, whatever you like is allowed. Make sure, however, that the material used is weatherproof so that you can enjoy your water feature for a long time.

frequently asked Questions

What are gargoyles?

In the original sense, gargoyles are figures that are attached to gutters and pipes and are supposed to guide escaping rainwater away from the house wall - ergo "spit" (d. H. "spit"). These figures still exist today, but modern gargoyles are usually called Decorative element at (or in) the garden pond or used on a well.

Where can you use gargoyles?

As described, gargoyles have not only an optical, but in many cases also a very practical use. Attached to rain gutters and water pipes, they divert water away from house walls and thus prevent them from becoming damp. in the garden pond the figures support the oxygen supply, from which the fish and plants living in them benefit.

Do you really need a pump for operation?

The classic gargoyle, which acts as a cover and extension of the rain pipe, of course does not have a pump. Here the rainwater flows out of the figure all by itself. For water features that are used for garden ponds or fountains and are supposed to "spit" water permanently, a pump is absolutely necessary. Without it, the water will not move after all.

Where can you buy beautiful gargoyles?

You can buy beautiful gargoyles in many places, for example in brick-and-mortar stores. In gardening and hardware stores there is usually a small selection of popular figures, also in the aquarium trade. you can sometimes find what you are looking for in the pet shop. The largest range of not only popular, but also more unusual models can be found online.

What do gargoyles cost?

How much money you spend on a gargoyle depends on a number of factors. Here play u. a. the size of the figure, the material, the workmanship and the quality play a major role. You can get pretty water features from approx. 20 to 25 EUR, but larger and higher quality models (e.g. made of natural stone) can be significantly more expensive at 50 to 80 EUR. Quite a few rare resp. high-quality pieces are sold for more than 100 EUR over the (virtual) shop counter. In short: there is something for every budget.

equipment

Pond pump

If the gargoyle is to beautify the garden pond or a fountain, a suitable pump is indispensable. For this you need a power connection or, which is the more elegant solution, you simply choose a solar pump. This works entirely without a power connection, and you don't have to lay the necessary connections first.