Q's about bottom drains?

[bwgan]

Hi guys,

As instructed I'm going to leave the filter for a while, as the pond is still quite a way from being built. Dave said that he has a bottom drain, but you can get aerated drains. On Richdon the are very expensive - £130! How much would it be to put standard 4" drain in and put a separate air line in?

There are cheaper aerated drains on ebay;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/4-QUALITY-AERATED ... dZViewItem
Any good?

I assume the difference between solvent weld and pressure is solvent weld is glued and pressure is just a push fitting?
Solvent would be the best bet?

At the moment thats all the questions, but there will be more!

Many thanks
Paul

[Martin R]

Hi Paul,
First things first.
Pressure pipe is Solvent welded. You can also get sovent welded waste pipe (Like that used by plumbers to do sink and shower wastes etc), but this is thinner walled pipe (hence cheaper) and not able to cope with the pressures encountered in the depths of a Koi pond and from the pump. Push fit comes in various sizes, and basically is no good for Koi ponds.
Pressure pipe comes in sizes from less than 1" (good for air pipe) up to 6". Typically in a Koi pond we use 4" from the Bottom Drain (BD)and 1.5" or 2" from the filter and pump back to the pond.
Solvent welding Pressure pipe is quite straight forward, but needs time to makes sure surfaces are clean and tidy. One of us can help nearer the time.
The 'Pond Supplies UK" BD is OK, and there's nothing wrong with having an airline running along the pond bottom to the BD. This is what I do .

I would say though that the Pond Supplies UK Aerated BD is 'OK', but not brillaint. The reason I say that is that it uses a ring or air permeable tubing clipped around the outer part of ther BD Dome. This may cause back pressure on your airpump (wears out the pump and wastes energy), it will eventually need replacing (not easy when pond is full) and also presents sharper egdes that Koi can rub on compared to the Diffuser type aerated BD. These Diffusers are a large rubber disc with thousands of micro airholes.
http://www.richdon-koi.com/shop/?prodid=159
http://www.richdon-koi.com/shop/?prodid=158
I use this type. Really good Loads of air, and the koi love it
Martin

[Martin R]

Have a look at this one on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 2759.l1259

This one has the airline out of the way under the pond, along side the 4" pressure pipe.
I've e mailed the seller to make sure that it can be used with a liner. There is a slight difference between BD's for liners v's BD's for Fibre glassed ponds.

Martin

[bwgan]

Hi Martin,

Thanks for looking out for that, the one you saw has gone, but there is an identical one, so will keep my eye on it.

Cheers
Paul

[bwgan]

Hey there,

Well I'm now the proud owner of a 4" aerated bottom drain. I've got my liner so now need to wait to pay day and start cracking the whip while Dave digs my pond!

[site admin]

Paul,
Good news, the build starts here. Get it all down on paper and lets get it right, first time.
By the way we have a Club outing next Sunday to the Wirrel Koi Club,
should be an interesting day, to see how different ponds are constructed.
If you are interested in going give me a call, £10 a head for the bus.

Dave.

[bwgan]

Hi Dave,

Things are up in the air at the moment. My wife has been taken into hospital with pre-eclampsia (excuse the spelling) so I'm to and fro from the hospital at the moment. I'd love to go, but can't commit to anything. Could potentailly be changing nappies!!!!

Will let you know the outcome.

Cheers
Paul

[site admin]

Hi Paul,
Hope everything goes OK with the new arrival, we could have two new members then
Let us know of any news.

Dave.

[bwgan]

Wow, I'm a dad!
We had a baby girl on Tuesday night, 6 weeks early so only 4lbs, some of you guys have probably got heavier fish!

[site admin]

Paul.
Congratulations to you and your Wife,
I suppose whilst your up in the night you could pop out and have dig, soon get it done that way.

Dave.