FD AI Knowledge Base (Internal)

Fountain Depot AI Support Knowledge Base. Internal reference for the customer-support AI agent. All prices in Canadian dollars and subject to change — always direct customers to the live product page for current pricing and stock. All Kasco specifications verified against official Kasco Marine cut sheets, August 2026.

1. Company, Contact & Policies

Fountain Depot (fountaindepot.com) is the e-commerce division of Fountain Place Company Limited, serving the Greater Toronto Area pond and water feature industry since 1967. We are a factory-authorized Kasco Marine dealer and authorized Kasco repair centre, with a service facility in the GTA. We also carry Aqua Control, AquaMaster, Aquascape, Danner/Pondmaster and Little Giant. Google rating 4.8 stars.

Why the repair centre matters

As an authorized Kasco repair centre we diagnose, source genuine parts for, and repair Kasco units in Canada rather than shipping them across the border. Most online competitors cannot. Warranty claims are handled here.

Seasonality — Ontario market

2. Escalation Rules for the AI Agent

Never guess a specification, part number or recommendation. Customers here buy equipment where a wrong answer costs a burnt-out motor, a dead fish stock or a damaged dock. When the answer is not in this document, capture the lead rather than apologising: state plainly what cannot be confirmed, say the team will answer, then ask for name, email, pond dimensions and available power.

Always escalate to a human: anything failed, broken, leaking or seized; any warranty claim; repair intake or service scheduling; an unverifiable part number; sizing where the customer cannot give dimensions or power; three-phase, 460V, commercial or municipal specification; order status, changes, refunds or shipping problems; anything involving safety; any discount, quote or account-pricing request.

Safety statements the agent must always make. De-icers: open water near a dock is a drowning hazard and de-iced areas must be marked and, where required, fenced. Electrical: all units require a properly grounded, GFCI-protected circuit; recommend a licensed electrician for permanent installs. Winter aeration: running a bottom diffuser at full depth in winter can destratify a pond and kill overwintering fish.

3. Kasco Model Number Decoder

4. Kasco J-Series Decorative Floating Fountains

Complete package: motor unit, control panel, float with screens, mooring lines, cable and interchangeable nozzles. Cable is UL, CSA and NEC rated for underwater use. Total package listed by ETL to UL/CSA standards. Intake near surface allows shallow operation. Saltwater compatible. Optional lighting available. Made in Prescott, Wisconsin.

J-Series spray pattern dimensions (height × width)

The J-Series has no single spray height — it depends entirely on which nozzle is fitted. The 3/4 HP and 1 HP models include four interchangeable nozzles; 2 HP and larger include five. Additional premium nozzles are available separately.

Patterns included by model. 3/4 HP and 1 HP (3400JF, 3400HJF, 4400JF, 4400HJF): Willow, Sequoia, Cypress, Birch, Linden. 2 HP and above (8400JF, 2.3JF, 3.1JF, 3.3JF, 5.1JF, 5.3JF, 7.3JF): Linden, Birch, Balsam, Spruce, Redwood.

How to advise a customer. Pond size constrains the width before the height. A Linden on a 1 HP unit spreads 31 ft — in a 25 ft pond that puts water on the lawn on a windy day. For height in a small pond, use Redwood (only 6 ft wide) or Spruce. For wide low coverage, use Willow, Linden or Balsam. Tallest on a 1 HP unit is Sequoia at 18 ft; tallest in the range is Redwood on 5 HP at 32 ft. Note the Balsam is 19 ft on 3 HP but 18 ft on 5 HP — this is correct, not an error.

5. Kasco VFX V-Pattern Aerating Floating Fountains

Aeration-first design with a single fixed V-pattern nozzle that moves more water per horsepower than decorative multi-pattern units. Oil-cooled continuous-duty motor, control panel included.

6. Kasco Surface Aerators (AF)

An optional 5-year warranty is available on the 2, 3 and 5 HP units at time of purchase — worth offering on every commercial quote.

Configuration options: cord length 50–500 ft; with or without bottom screen; with or without control panel. The 150 ft and 200 ft cords include a 3 ft quick-disconnect stub cord for easy seasonal removal. The bottom screen is recommended for shallow, weedy or debris-heavy water — effectively essential in a farm dugout.

Independent Auburn University testing measured Kasco aerators at up to 3.0 lbs of oxygen per horsepower per hour. The 2400AF includes a float and two 50 ft mooring lines, has thermal overload protection with automatic reset, and is rated for freshwater or saltwater.

7. Kasco De-Icers

Submersible de-icing units that prevent ice forming around docks, marinas, boat lifts and waterfront structures. Oil-cooled, continuous-duty motors. All de-icers carry a 3-year warranty — longer than the 2-year term on the 2400/3400/4400 fountains and aerators.

The De-icer to AquatiClear Conversion Kit converts compatible Kasco de-icer motors into AquatiClear circulators for summer shoreline cleaning — a natural second-season upsell to every de-icer buyer.

8. Kasco AquatiClear Circulators

Continuous water movement to clear debris, reduce stagnation and improve circulation at docks, shorelines, canals and marinas. Clean Current Technology, oil-cooled motors, 4 ft minimum operating depth. Available with no mount, universal dock mount (DM) or horizontal float mount (FM).

Pricing from (CAD): 2400C $1,641.52 · 2400CDM $2,301.82 · 2400CFM $2,401.22 · 3400C $1,810.50 · 3400HC $1,870.14 · 3400CDM $2,470.80 · 3400HCDM $2,530.44 · 3400CFM $2,631.26 · 3400HCFM $2,629.84 · 4400C $2,131.42 · 4400HC $2,199.58 · 4400CDM $2,791.72 · 4400HCDM $2,859.88 · 4400CFM $2,891.12 · 4400HCFM $2,959.28

Mount choice moves the price by $600–800, so always ask where the unit is going. No mount suits a customer with their own bracket or rope suspension; DM fixes to a dock or shoreline structure; FM floats in open water. The Kasco Industrial Dock Mount with Simple Swivel fits circulators and de-icers, gives directional adjustment, and takes 1.5 in (40 mm) pipe up to 10 ft (pipe not included).

9. Diffused Aeration

Home Series (DA / DAH)

RobustAire (RA) — larger ponds and lakes

Teich-Aire replacement compressors

Size on diffuser count, pond depth and required air volume. Rebuild kits are available for KM-60, KM-120 and KM-200.

10. Control Panels & Lighting

The control panel must match the unit’s voltage and phase. J-Series and VFX fountains include a panel; surface aerators list it as optional, but it should be quoted in on any permanent installation because it provides timer scheduling and human-rated GFCI protection.

WaterGlow LED lighting

Interchangeable colour lenses in red, green, blue and amber. Fits non-Kasco and compatible fountain systems. Other ranges include composite C11 kits (3, 4 and 6 light), RGB colour-changing kits, RGBW and W25. 3-light kits suit small to mid-size fountains; 6-light kits suit large decorative displays.

11. Cord Lengths & Freight

Kasco publishes cord options up to 500 ft on most models, with 500 ft and longer available by custom order. Cord gauge steps with length (14/3, then 12/3, then 10/3 depending on model and run), and each unit ships in a defined number of boxes. Some 400 ft and 500 ft configurations ship motor freight only — check before quoting delivery on a long-cord order. Higher voltage allows longer cable runs with less voltage drop, so a long run from the panel to the shoreline is a reason to specify a 240V model.

12. Pump Cross-Reference

Match a replacement on four things, in order of importance: maximum head (lift), then flow rate at the operating height, then outlet size and fitting type, then application. A slightly stronger pump with a flow-control valve is safer than a slightly weaker one — flow can be dialled down, head cannot be conjured.

Laguna PT8110 → Fountain Depot

The Laguna PT8110 is a statuary and fountain pump rated at 200 US GPH, 7.5 ft maximum head, 31 W, 1/2 in outlet, ponds up to 400 US gallons, 6 ft cord. Fountain Depot does not carry Laguna.

Other Laguna statuary pumps — identification aid only

Only the PT8110 pairing is verified end to end. Treat the rest as identification aids, not approved substitutions.

Fountain Depot pump range

Pondmaster Pond-Mag magnetic drive. Epoxy-encased rather than oil-filled, so it cannot leak oil into a pond. Ceramic shaft, rigid pre-filter, 18 ft grounded cord, operates submerged or inline, UL/CUL certified, 5-year limited warranty; PM 250 through 700 made in USA. PM 250 (250 GPH) $166.59 · PM 350 (350 GPH) $174.99 · PM 500 (500 GPH) $179.19 · PM 700 (700 GPH) $195.99 · PM 950 (950 GPH) $232.39. Pond-Mag 250–700 suit ponds of roughly 150–550 gallons; 950–1800 suit 850–1,100 gallons. Not a suction pump — if used inline it must sit below pond water level or it will not prime.

Pondmaster Eco Pump & Fountain Head Kit. 270 GPH $99.99, 400 GPH $129.99. “Kit” means the pump plus fountain display hardware — pump, interchangeable fountainheads, extension tubes, 1/2 in and 3/4 in barbed adaptors, intake pre-filter, variable flow control and a 15 ft grounded cord. It is NOT a complete pond kit — no liner, tubing or filtration is included. Customers ask this constantly.

Little Giant PES Series (statuary and tabletop). PES-40-PW: 47 GPH at 1 ft, 2 ft max head, $59.99. PES-80-PW: 77 GPH at 1 ft, 3.5 ft max head, $74.99. Mag drive, corrosion-resistant, built-in adjustable flow control, 6 ft cord, 3-year manufacturer warranty. Tabletop and small statuary only — not for pond circulation.

Little Giant oil-filled direct drive. 2E-N $289.99, 1-AA-18 $179.99 — long-service-life units for statuary fountains and continuous water transfer.

Larger pond and waterfall pumps. Pondmaster PROLINE High-Flow (Hy-Drive) 1/6 to 1/2 HP, $489.00–$1,044.00. PROLINE with protective cage, solids-handling, 1600–4800 Hy-Drive, $485.79–$673.39. Aquascape AquaSurge $439.99–$839.99, SLD / AquaForce / PL & PN solids-handling $303.99–$1,399.97, EcoWave external $279.99–$389.99. Several Aquascape lines currently show zero inventory — never promise availability without checking.

13. Sizing & Selection

Pond volume

Rectangular or square: length (ft) × width (ft) × average depth (ft) × 7.5 = US gallons. Circular: radius × radius × 3.14 × average depth × 7.5. Irregular: average length × average width × average depth × 7.5 × 0.85. Use average depth, not maximum — measuring the deep end is the most common sizing mistake. Surface acres = length (ft) × width (ft) ÷ 43,560.

Pump sizing

Turn the pond volume over at least once every two hours; once per hour for koi, heavy fish load or a filtered system.

Then correct for head loss — the GPH on the box is measured at zero lift. Add the vertical rise from pump to discharge; add roughly 1 ft of equivalent head per 10 ft of horizontal tubing; add head for every fitting, valve, UV and filter. Undersized tubing is the most common hidden loss — a 1/2 in line on a pump with a 3/4 in outlet throttles it badly. Choose a pump that delivers the required GPH at that total head. Waterfall rule of thumb: roughly 1,500 GPH per foot of spillway width for a full sheet, about 1,000 GPH for a lighter flow.

Aeration and fountain sizing

Use Kasco’s published surface acreage per model (tables above) as the primary rating. As a cross-check, budget 1 to 1.5 HP per surface acre, going to the top of that range for heavily stocked fish ponds, aquaculture or wastewater. Kasco footnotes its acreage figures: also consider pond shape, depth and oxygen demand.

Check minimum operating depth before anything else — it scales with horsepower and rules out models faster than pond size does. Then confirm the power available at the site: 120V household only limits the customer to 3400JF, 4400JF, 2400VFX, 3400VFX, 4400VFX and the 120V aerators. Three-phase (.3) models require three-phase service.

De-icer sizing

Choose 240V (HD) models for long cord runs from shore power. All require at least 4 ft of water.

Winter aeration for fish

A different job from de-icing. Overwintering fish need gas exchange — an opening for toxic gases to escape, not aggressive circulation. Do not run a bottom diffuser at full depth in winter. It destratifies the pond and drives warm water to the surface where it chills, which can kill the fish the customer is trying to protect. Set diffusers shallower and run at reduced output.

Questions to ask before recommending

For a pump: pond volume or dimensions; lift height; horizontal run; what it feeds (spray nozzle, waterfall, statuary spout, filter, skimmer); existing tubing size and fitting type. For an aerator or fountain: surface dimensions; average and maximum depth; power available (120V, 240V single-phase, three-phase); distance from panel to water’s edge; the goal (appearance, water quality, fish health, ice protection); and whether the water is shallow, weedy or debris-heavy. If the customer cannot answer the first two, that is a human conversation, not a sale.

14. Warranty Summary

Warranty is administered by the manufacturer with Fountain Depot as the authorized dealer processing the claim. The agent may state a published term but must never assess, approve or decline a claim, and must never tell a customer that a specific failure is or is not covered. Any failure is a repair conversation and escalates to a human.

15. Frequently Asked Questions