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question about bottom drain

 





 


tancho02
Koi Lover


Apr 16, 2007, 9:30 AM

Post #1 of 7 (2307 views)
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question about bottom drain Can't Post
Dear all,

My pond has skimmer in one side and waterfall in the other side. I put the pump in the skimmer, but it cannot remove debris at the bottom of the pond. The pond has liner and it's hard for me to install the bottom drain. Is there any way to get rid of waste material with the use of the same pump?

Thanks in advance,
Tancho


koiguyoz
Member


Apr 16, 2007, 3:28 PM

Post #2 of 7 (2295 views)
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Re: [tancho02] question about bottom drain [In reply to] Can't Post
It is possible. Look up the 'Tetra bottom drain'. This type of bottom drain works like a vacuum head. The suction head can be located above the liner very close to the bottom. Using the input of your pump, replumb the pipes so that it will be used to suck from the bottom drain.

It may also be possible to use the skimmer and above liner bottom drain if you split the suck through side of the plumbing with a Y piece of pipe and use a ball valve on each component to adjust flow through the bottom drain and skimmer to the pump which would go to your filter.


smithy
Koi Lover

Apr 16, 2007, 11:50 PM

Post #3 of 7 (2285 views)
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Re: [koiguyoz] question about bottom drain [In reply to] Can't Post
As koiguyoz has said you will need to split inlets of your pump. However this may not be effective depending on the size of pump. You could buy a tetra bottom drain and the pump would pull water from this into your filter system. Your pump would also be split with your skimmer so the pump would also pull water into your skimmer. As koiguy0z has sed look up the floating bottom drain and see if you are able to source a Y splitter to use for your pump.


tancho02
Koi Lover


Apr 19, 2007, 1:45 AM

Post #4 of 7 (2248 views)
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Re: [smithy] question about bottom drain [In reply to] Can't Post
Thanks for replying, guys. As you suggested, I found this one, http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod_Display.cfm?pcatid=5340&Ntt=tetra%20bottom%20drain&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&N=62728&Nty=1 I just don't know how to make it work with my current system, perhaps buy a flexible PVC pipe and have it go thru the skimmer? I don't want to drill a hole under the liner. I'm very low tech, so please bear with me!

Thanks,
Tancho


(This post was edited by tancho02 on Apr 19, 2007, 1:55 AM)


smithy
Koi Lover

Apr 19, 2007, 2:37 AM

Post #5 of 7 (2242 views)
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Re: [tancho02] question about bottom drain [In reply to] Can't Post
You dont need to attach it to the liner or cut the liner. You currently have a pump which is pulling water through your skimmer. What you need to do is split the pump. If you add a Y connection with variable valves you can attach the bottom drain and the skimmer. Basically u have your pump inlet wich needs to be split into 2 with a Y connection. One lot of pipe will bring water into the pump from the skimmer and the other pipe will bring the water from your bottom drain to the pump, they will both connect up before going into your pump hence the Y connector.
Hope you understand this
Andy


tancho02
Koi Lover


Apr 19, 2007, 4:41 AM

Post #6 of 7 (2241 views)
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Re: [smithy] question about bottom drain [In reply to] Can't Post
Andy,

Thanks for the quick reply (and in the other post too Smile). It makes more sense now. So, I'm going to use the Y connection to split 2 ways for bringing water into the pump. I will find a way to hide the PVC pipe (for the bottom drain) though Blush

Thanks again for your patient,
Luci


smithy
Koi Lover

Apr 19, 2007, 5:11 AM

Post #7 of 7 (2237 views)
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Re: [tancho02] question about bottom drain [In reply to] Can't Post
Yes exactly- it may be more advisable to try and find a Y splitter with seperate valves on it. Then you can experiement and change the flows of each inflow if u get me. E.g. u may find that u dont want to run your skimmer all the time- this can then be turned to off and full flow dedicated to the bottom drain. That would definitly be something i would consider as it would give you more flexibility.
Also the bottom drain will only work effectively if your pump is a solids handling pump, as the nature of dirt and debris which flows through the bottom drain is usually more solids.
Just something to think about
Hope this all helps

 
 
 



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