Vortex fountain

A method of using a recirculating fountain comprising the steps of:

• supplying a liquid to an interior of a bowl that is removably mounted to a basin, wherein the bowl has a base surface with an opening formed therein, a sidewall extending downwardly from the base surface around the opening of the bowl, a shelf supported on the sidewall, and a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the base surface to define an interior;
• moving the liquid about the bowl and down into a drain opening formed in a drain bowl plug that is removably inserted in the opening in the bowl;
• inducing a swirl to the liquid during at least one of the supplying and moving steps;
• causing liquid to flow out of a bottom outlet of the drain opening, through a filter located beneath the bottom outlet of the drain opening and resting on the shelf,
• thence into a guide tube extending beneath the filter, and thence into the basin;
• and
• incorporating oxygen with the liquid while the liquid drops down the guide tube and into the basin, wherein
• the filter is held against the shelf by the drain hole plug.

A recirculating fountain comprising:

• a liquid-holding basin;
• a bowl removably mounted to the basin and having a base surface with an opening formed therein, a sidewall extending around the opening, a perimeter wall extending upwardly from the base surface to define an interior, and a shelf formed in the sidewall;
• a filter inserted into the opening in the base surface and resting upon the shelf;
• an upper bowl inner plug mounted within the opening, the upper bowl inner plug having a drain opening formed therein having a lower outlet located above the filter, an upper surface of the bowl inner plug forming at least a portion of the base surface;
• and
• a pump having an intake in fluid communication with the basin and a discharge outlet jet in fluid communication with the interior of the bowl, the discharge outlet jet extending non-radially and non-vertically;
• wherein the fountain is structurally and operationally configured such that oxygen is incorporated with a liquid as it moves from the bowl, through the drain opening and the filter, and into the basin;
• and
• wherein the upper bowl inner plug holds the filter against the shelf.