Solar powered water features - any good?

[UnrequitedSkink]

That's it really, I'd love a small bubble fountain in the garden to attract wildlife and create some nice noise. I can't afford to run power out there though, so solar power is really the only option. Are solar water features any good? I know people who have had solar power garden lights and they aren't brilliant - they seem to deteriorate over time. Anyone got one and how much did you pay? Thanks.

We had a solar powered bubble fountain about 5 years ago, it was lovely for the first year, then the solar panel performance dropped right off. Not only that, but the second year no matter how many chemicals we added to the reservoir the water stank all the time and it was a total PITA to clean out and replace the water from the underwater trough. We got rid eventually as it was not only smelly but probably a health hazard (the DCs loved playing with it). A shame as it was a lovely feature at first.

My parents had one of those ones with 4 ceramic cups in a cascade to a big one at the bottom, again the solar panel only lasted a couple of years.

Yeah, that's what I thought...my experience of outdoor solar power is that it's good initially but doesn't last. :(

Oh well, back to the drawing board! Although I'm really not keen on the idea of standing water.