Water fountains — setup & care
Which model suits your pet, how to get the app connected, when to change filters, and what to do when the pump goes quiet.
Which fountain fits your home?
All three give your pet moving, filtered water. The real difference is the power and whether you want an app.
| FlowMate Pro | HydroBuddy | AquaPaw | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 4 L | 4 L | 2,5 L |
| Power | Mains, USB adapter | Mains, USB adapter | Wireless, up to 90 days per charge |
| App | None — plug in and forget | Tuya Smart | Tuya Smart |
| Material | Stainless steel drinking plate, BPA-free body | Fully stainless steel | Split design, removable tank |
| Extra | — | Water level and filter alerts | Motion sensor, UV cleaning cycle, drinking habits in the app |
| Filter | Every 2-3 weeks · 12-pack | Every 2-3 weeks · 12-pack | Every 2-3 weeks · 8-pack |
| Price | €44,99 | €63,75 | €84,99 |
| View → | View → | View → |
Pick the FlowMate Pro if
You want the simplest thing that works. No app, no pairing, no notifications. Plug it in and refill it.
Pick the HydroBuddy if
You want to be told when the water is low or the filter is due, and you want an all-steel bowl that is easy to keep hygienic.
Pick the AquaPaw if
There is no socket where your pet drinks, or you want to see how much they actually drink. The UV cycle and motion sensor are here too.
Setting it up
Rinse everything and fit the filter
Wash the tank and the plate before first use. Soak the new filter in water for a few minutes so it sinks properly, then click it into place.
Fill to the line, then power up
Never run the pump dry, not even briefly. Fill first, plug in second.
Connect it in Tuya Smart
HydroBuddy and AquaPaw only. Install Tuya Smart, keep your phone next to the fountain, turn on Bluetooth as well as Wi-Fi, and have your Wi-Fi password ready.
Put it somewhere your pet will actually use it
Away from the food bowl and well away from the litter tray. Cats in particular refuse to drink next to either.
Give a new fountain a week
Most cats need a few days to accept moving water. Leave the old bowl beside it at first and remove it once you see them drinking from the fountain. Do not take the choice away on day one.
Every two to three weeks, whichever model you have
Each filter is two layers: foam that catches hair, dust and bits of kibble, and activated carbon that takes out odours, chlorine and fine impurities.
| Your fountain | Filter pack | Sets in the pack | Lasts about |
|---|---|---|---|
| AquaPaw | 8-pack — €15,00 | 4 sets | 2-3 months |
| HydroBuddy | 12-pack — €12,99 | 6 sets | 3-4 months |
| FlowMate & FlowMate Pro | 12-pack — €11,99 | 6 sets | 3-4 months |
Filters are model-specific — a HydroBuddy filter will not seat properly in an AquaPaw. Order the pack that matches your fountain, and order more than one to avoid paying shipping every couple of months.
A full clean every two to three weeks
Unplug and take it apart
Lift out the pump motor, and on the AquaPaw the battery unit too. Those two never go near the dishwasher.
Everything else in the dishwasher
Tank, plate, lid, top rack. Or wash by hand if you prefer.
Clean the pump with the brush
Hair and slime build up around the impeller. This is what causes a fountain to start humming. Two minutes with the little brush fixes it.
Fresh filter, refill, done
A noisy fountain is a dirty or dry fountain
These pumps are silent when they are clean and covered with water. If yours starts humming, check the water level first and clean the impeller second. It is almost never a broken pump.
If it really has worn out, a replacement pump is a cheap five-minute swap.
When something is off
It stopped running
The pump shuts itself off when the water gets low, so it cannot run dry. Refill it. The AquaPaw and HydroBuddy also send an app notification; the FlowMate Pro shows a red window.
It is humming or rattling
Low water, or a dirty impeller. Refill, then clean the pump with the supplied brush.
The AquaPaw will not pair
Phone within a metre, Bluetooth on, Wi-Fi password to hand. If a pairing attempt fails, reset the fountain and start over rather than retrying halfway.
The water tastes or smells off
You are past due on the filter. Change it, and give the tank a proper wash — biofilm builds up on surfaces the filter cannot reach.
Things worth knowing
Filters are a running cost
A new filter every two to three weeks — sooner if you have several pets, or a dog that comes in from the garden. One pack costs €11,99 for the FlowMate and lasts about three to four months, so it is small but it never stops. Skipping it is why water starts to smell.
Two of the three need a socket
Only the AquaPaw is wireless. Check where your pet actually drinks before choosing.
Cats need a few days
Moving water is new. Keep the old bowl out until you have seen them drink from the fountain.
Questions we get about fountains
How loud is it? Can I keep it in the bedroom?
You genuinely will not hear it. All three run on a quiet pump and customers keep them in bedrooms and home offices without noticing. If yours suddenly starts humming or rattling, the water is low or the pump needs a clean.
Which app do I need, and does it work on my Wi-Fi?
Tuya Smart, free on iOS and Android. It works on both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks, so you do not need to split your Wi-Fi like you do with many smart devices.
The AquaPaw and the HydroBuddy use it. The FlowMate Pro has no app at all.
My AquaPaw will not connect. What now?
This is the one that trips people up most. Keep your phone within a metre of the fountain during pairing, make sure Bluetooth is on as well as Wi-Fi, and have your Wi-Fi password ready — Tuya asks for it even though your phone is already connected.
If it still fails, reset the fountain and start pairing again from scratch rather than retrying a half-finished attempt. Message us and we will walk you through it live.
How long does the AquaPaw battery last?
Up to 90 days on a single charge. It charges over USB-C and the app warns you well before it runs low.
Do the other two fountains need to be plugged in?
Yes. The HydroBuddy and the FlowMate Pro run on mains power through a USB adapter, so they need a socket nearby. Only the AquaPaw is fully wireless.
What happens when the water runs out?
The pump switches itself off, so it never runs dry. The AquaPaw and the HydroBuddy send you an app notification. On the FlowMate Pro the water window turns red.
Can it go in the dishwasher?
Everything can, except the pump motor and the AquaPaw battery unit. Take those two out first, then the rest goes on the top rack.
How often do I change the filter?
Every two to three weeks. How quickly depends on how much your pet drinks and whether they come in from outside — a muddy dog gets through filters faster than an indoor cat. Each pack is sized to match your model: the AquaPaw 8-pack lasts about two to three months, the HydroBuddy and FlowMate 12-packs three to four.
My cat still will not drink from it
Give it a week. Leave the old bowl next to it at first, and put the fountain somewhere away from the food and the litter tray — most cats refuse to drink right next to either. Running it on the quietest setting near a wall helps nervous cats too.
How long is the warranty?
Two years on every fountain, in line with Belgian and EU consumer law. The pump is the only part that ever really wears out, and replacements are cheap and easy to swap.
Video walkthroughs
We are filming short step-by-step videos. Until they are live, every step below is written out in full.
Fountain setup and cleaning
On the way: first setup and filter fitting, connecting the AquaPaw in Tuya Smart, the two-week clean, swapping the pump.
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