For pots, urns and vases. Fountain vessel not included. For a drilled boulder, basalt column or drilled stone, choose the 48-Inch Bubbling Boulder Conversion Kit.
48-inch Achelous AquaBox® system · SKU AB48KIT
Build a substantial recirculating water feature around your own compatible vessel-style fountain. This matched conversion kit supplies the hidden 48-inch basin, pump, support system and standpipe plumbing needed to move water through a pot, urn, vase or similar garden accent.
For vessel-style fountains; the visible pot, urn or vase is sold separatelyChoose the correct 48-inch conversion kit
Do not choose by basin diameter alone. First identify the feature that will sit above the reservoir, then select the plumbing package made for that feature.
Choose this kit for a compatible pot, urn, vase or similar vessel-style fountain.
Choose the boulder kit when water will travel through a drilled hole in a natural-stone piece.
Why choose this kit
The pump, kink-free tubing, quick disconnects, bulkhead fitting and internal standpipe arrive as a coordinated water-delivery package for a compatible pot, urn or vase.
The in-ground reservoir and two-piece grate hide the working parts below the finished surface while supporting a properly distributed static load up to 1,500 pounds.
Pump-access covers let you reach the submerged equipment without lifting the complete grate or dismantling the fountain, provided the access area remains clear.
Size and site planning
Blue Thumb classifies the 48-inch Achelous as a foundation for large fountains. Fit depends on the vessel’s base footprint, weight distribution, return-water pattern, splash reach, vertical lift and plumbing connection—not weight alone.
The “48-inch” name refers to the grate and inner basin seat. The complete basin is 51.5 inches in diameter. The installation guide calls for an excavation approximately 17 inches deep and 1–2 inches wider than the basin top, plus working room for leveling, backfilling, the power-cord route and surrounding finish.
| Model | Overall basin size | Capacity | Maximum static load | Included pump | Recommended scale |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36-inch fountain kit | 39.5 in. dia. × 16 in. H | 60 gal. | 1,000 lb. | 800 GPH PB2583 | Medium fountains |
| 48-inch fountain kit | 51.5 in. dia. × 16 in. H | 95 gal. | 1,500 lb. | 1,110 GPH listed · PB2590 | Large fountains |
Overall basin: 39.5 in. dia. × 16 in. H
Capacity: 60 gal.
Maximum static load: 1,000 lb.
Pump: 800 GPH PB2583
Recommended scale: Medium fountains
Overall basin: 51.5 in. dia. × 16 in. H
Capacity: 95 gal.
Maximum static load: 1,500 lb.
Pump: 1,110 GPH listed · PB2590
Recommended scale: Large fountains
What comes with the kit
The pot, urn or vase is the visible centerpiece you supply; the kit provides the recirculating system below it.
This is the key reason to choose AB48KIT for a pot, urn or vase. It is distinct from the O-ring tubing and drilled-stone connection package supplied with AB48BB.
Verified technical details
Installation at a glance
This is an in-ground water-feature project. Read the basin and pump manuals before excavation, grate drilling or electrical connection.
Allow for the 51.5-inch basin footprint, the vessel and the surrounding finish. Plan access to clean fill water and a nearby GFCI-protected outlet, and locate underground utilities before digging.
Trace approximately 1–2 inches beyond the basin top and excavate about 17 inches deep. Remove sharp rock and roots, then level and compact a sand or small-gravel base.
Place the basin so it is level and approximately 1 inch below grade. Orient pump access toward electrical service, then backfill and compact evenly to prevent movement.
Finalize vessel placement and the tubing path before drilling. Cut the sediment screen first and avoid the manual’s no-drill zones above the molded supports.
Place the pump below an access cover, route the kink-free tubing, install the bulkhead and standpipe assembly, align the grate halves and add the PVC center support.
Fill with clean water, start the pump from a GFCI-protected outlet and adjust the standpipe flow valve. Confirm water return and service access before adding decorative stone.
Ownership guidance
Optional finishing and water-management products
Planning and service documents
Use the official documents for final placement, grate drilling, assembly, pump operation, maintenance, winter care and warranty terms.
Optional accessory guidance
This official Blue Thumb video demonstrates installation of the separately sold ABDAUTO Fountain Basin Auto Fill Kit. The auto-fill kit, pressure regulator and water-supply connection are not included with AB48KIT.
Optional-accessory installation video courtesy of Blue Thumb.
Have the vessel’s dimensions, weight, base footprint, outlet size and your site measurements ready. Blue Thumb’s Sales and Technical Team can help confirm the basin footprint, plumbing connection, pump fit and optional accessories before installation.
Choose this AB48KIT Fountain Conversion Kit for a compatible pot, urn, vase or similar vessel that uses the included quick-disconnect tubing and internal standpipe. Choose the AB48BB Bubbling Boulder Conversion Kit when water will pass through a drilled boulder, basalt column or other drilled stone. The basin size and listed pump flow are the same, but the fountain-end plumbing is different.
No. This is the concealed reservoir, pump and vessel-style plumbing package. You supply the compatible decorative fountain piece, decorative pebbles and site-finishing materials.
No. Blue Thumb directs customers with drilled stone to the AB48BB Bubbling Boulder Conversion Kit, which uses a different tubing and fountain-end connection package.
The grate and inner basin seat are 48 inches in diameter. The outer lip brings the complete basin diameter to 51.5 inches. Use the larger measurement when planning excavation and site clearance.
Blue Thumb recommends the 48-inch basin for large fountains, but fit depends on the vessel’s base footprint, complete installed weight, load distribution, return-water pattern, splash reach, vertical lift and plumbing connection. The basin has a 1,500-pound maximum static-load rating when assembled and supported as directed. Ask Blue Thumb to review an uncertain application before ordering.
No pump delivers its rated open-flow output at every installation height. Flow decreases as vertical lift and plumbing resistance increase. The included PB2590 has a published maximum head of 12.2 feet, but maximum head is not the same as useful operating flow. Confirm tall or restrictive vessel designs with Blue Thumb.
No. The 95-gallon reservoir can be filled manually with clean water. The optional ABDAUTO kit can replace normal evaporation and splash loss automatically when connected to a suitable water supply; use the 30 PSI regulator when incoming pressure exceeds 30 PSI.
No. Decorative pebbles or other suitably sized grate-covering stone are sold separately. Coverage depends on the vessel footprint, material size and desired depth.
Blue Thumb’s published warranty provides lifetime coverage on branded engineered plastic components, including AquaBox® basin reservoirs, for the original purchaser subject to the written terms. The included Mag-Drive pump has a five-year limited warranty; the impeller is excluded. Proper installation and proof of purchase are required.
