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  1. #1
    Member Rank = Tosai styles66's Avatar
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    How to unblock a bottom drain ??

    Hi all, Does anyone have any bright ideas on how to unblock a bottom (gravity fed) 4" pipe. Over the last couple of months my Nexus filter is being pumped out quicker than gravity can refill it. I've tried filling the pond to the max and then purging the pipe and also using a Wickes drain unblocker ( with some success). Blanket weed is a real pain in the pond. I did treat it a year or so ago with the "pink granual " stuff which worked well but then the blanket weed was back after a month or so. I think all im left with is to half drain the pond, get the wet suit on, remove the sump cover at the bottom of the pond and try and rod it through, unless anyone can suggest a better way. Please help- I don't want to get wet !!!!!!!!



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  3. #2
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai RudeDogg1's Avatar
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    What about a decent pond vac?

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  5. #3
    Quote Originally Posted by styles66 View Post
    Hi all, Does anyone have any bright ideas on how to unblock a bottom (gravity fed) 4" pipe. Over the last couple of months my Nexus filter is being pumped out quicker than gravity can refill it. I've tried filling the pond to the max and then purging the pipe and also using a Wickes drain unblocker ( with some success). Blanket weed is a real pain in the pond. I did treat it a year or so ago with the "pink granual " stuff which worked well but then the blanket weed was back after a month or so. I think all im left with is to half drain the pond, get the wet suit on, remove the sump cover at the bottom of the pond and try and rod it through, unless anyone can suggest a better way. Please help- I don't want to get wet !!!!!!!!
    Lidl do one that fits on jet wash that's pretty good, think toolstation or screwfix does one too

    Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk

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  7. #4
    Quote Originally Posted by Stuffyrat View Post
    Lidl do one that fits on jet wash that's pretty good, think toolstation or screwfix does one too

    Sent from my HTC U11 using Tapatalk
    i had the same issue with my nexus, retreated with blanketweed remover.

    2nd treatment has cured the problem.

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  9. #5
    Karcher drain clean use it on mine every few months, send it down from the Nexus inlet, you can get them now in various lengths but the standard one was long enough for me.

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  11. #6
    I had this problem two months ago just as I was going on holiday in the early hours, Its not possible to rod mine as I have the Evolution Aqua two large stainless steel vat system in the way, I found the problem with my own bottom drain was some large clumps of moss had fallen of the roof of our house and straight into the pond, even though the pond is netted it had somehow accumulated around the bottom drain rim of the cover, and not wanting to get wet or attempt any other method, I decided to use my long aluminium handle of koi net and probe gentle around the rim of the bottom drain just under the lip, then drain some water away from the first stainless tank them open the bottom drain 4" slide valve, most of the moss came out into the tank, I repeated this once more and the problem was solved.

    About 14 years ago I had a similar problem but this time it was blanket weed causing the problem, I did the same thing probing around the rim of the bottom drain and opening the bottom drain slide valve once the tank was empty, whilst I had to flush more out this to get most of the blanket weed out, I also treated the blanket weed with Answer blanket weed treatment, which I highly recommend as a very effective at get rid of blanket weed the only downside the water stays milky white for a few days then clears.
    Last edited by Dave26; 29-09-2019 at 11:33 PM.

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  13. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Grand Champion andikoi's Avatar
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    im lucky that my pond only 4ft deep,i can reach bd with my extending brush i use to clean windows with,9ft handle only £8 from morrisons petrol station,you could try a better bw treatment,i highly recommend aqua source blanket weed resolve,great stuff,and also try purging bd a few times,sometimes after a few flushes whatever is stuck comes lose,,,,,,andi

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  15. #8
    Member Rank = Tosai styles66's Avatar
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    Many thanks for all the replies fellas-just been looking at the karcher washers with the flexi hose-could be my answer. My only problem is that ive got a 90 degree bend where the drain pipe comes out the ground-will probably need to "rearrange" this to make it more cleanable. Also i might try the blanket weed treatment again. At the moment i've coped by scraping around the sump rim as Dave26 suggest with a rake, but i think the crap in the drain is more stubborn. Also i've just googled "answer" blanket weed remover and it has pretty good reviews and seems very affordable. (need to unblock the 4" drain 1st tho).

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  17. #9
    I use a garden cain under the lip of the drain and twist! And sometimes i will feed a lenght of pipe at inch and quarter down the bottom drain line outlet into the filter inlet and blow really hard!

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  19. #10
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Gosai Andymadd's Avatar
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    Mine got blocked this summer, I tried everything finally out came the wetsuit and splash. To be honest 2 mins in the pond cover was off drain cleared then a second breath to refit the cover.

    I must have spent hours purging and messing about sometimes the simplest solution is the best.

    Wife was not impressed when I got naked in the garden though.

  20. #11
    Member Rank = Tosai styles66's Avatar
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    Thought I'd update everyone as i know you'd be on the edge of you seats re "Blocked bottom drain"...well not no more-Invested in a Karacher jet washer and the drain un-blocker pipe (not cheap £65 for the jet washer, £55 for the hose). Tried to put it down the nexus filter route but no joy, again tried purging the bottom drain etc. Finally cable tied the pipe onto a metal pole and managed to hook the pipe underneath the bottom drain cover.Moved it around,shoved it in and out etc and after about 20 mins a beast of a fat berg (weed berg) came sailing through the filter. Thought i'd share as i've told the wife numerous time and she couldn't give a toss.

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  22. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion freddyboy's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by styles66 View Post
    Thought I'd update everyone as i know you'd be on the edge of you seats re "Blocked bottom drain"...well not no more-Invested in a Karacher jet washer and the drain un-blocker pipe (not cheap £65 for the jet washer, £55 for the hose). Tried to put it down the nexus filter route but no joy, again tried purging the bottom drain etc. Finally cable tied the pipe onto a metal pole and managed to hook the pipe underneath the bottom drain cover.Moved it around,shoved it in and out etc and after about 20 mins a beast of a fat berg (weed berg) came sailing through the filter. Thought i'd share as i've told the wife numerous time and she couldn't give a toss.
    Haha Brill. About the wife. Glad you got it sorted.

    Sent from my SM-G960F using Tapatalk

  23. #13
    Styles66 - Glad you got it sorted out.

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