I tried an A/B comparison of the black plastic hardware cloth vs the metal hardware cloth this morning (just using scraps and a hose - haven't actually constructed both systems). Metal definitely held the "filled cell" look better. I suspect replacing that will be sufficient to 'fix' our system.

http://www.fileden.com/files/2006/8/11/163707/Splash%203.JPG This photo shows our attempt to replicate the Original Recipe. I'm concerned that the water isn't filling the 'cells' of the hardware cloth, but is instead dribbling out in droplets (and causing a modestly wider radius of splashing than we...