Welcome to Koi Forum. Is this your first visit? Register
Results 1 to 18 of 18
  1. #1
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709

    Which Air Line for bottom drain.

    Hi all. I've just acquired an air stone lid to fit onto my standard 4" bottom drain as pictured below, I should have bought a aerated bottom drain to start with, but as the standard bottom drain is now fitted I don't want to rip it all out again so decided to buy this air stone and lid to convert it, It's second hand and will need a good clean before it goes into the pond when the time comes, and for £35 posted I couldn't refuse.
    My question is, should I use Evolution aqua black weighted air line to go through the 4" from the drain or just use standard clear plastic air line. ATM I'm favouring the Evolution Aqua black weighted air line as it won't be able to raise in the pipe as the standard air line will. What's your thinking.

    Atb, Steve.

    DSC_0087.jpgDSC_0088.jpg



  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,196
    Thanks / Likes
    21091
    Quote Originally Posted by Steve's koi View Post
    Hi all. I've just acquired an air stone lid to fit onto my standard 4" bottom drain as pictured below, I should have bought a aerated bottom drain to start with, but as the standard bottom drain is now fitted I don't want to rip it all out again so decided to buy this air stone and lid to convert it, It's second hand and will need a good clean before it goes into the pond when the time comes, and for £35 posted I couldn't refuse.
    My question is, should I use Evolution aqua black weighted air line to go through the 4" from the drain or just use standard clear plastic air line. ATM I'm favouring the Evolution Aqua black weighted air line as it won't be able to raise in the pipe as the standard air line will. What's your thinking.

    Atb, Steve.

    DSC_0087.jpgDSC_0088.jpg
    Only problem with going thought the 4" pipe is that it's some thing for things to get stuck on and how are you going to shut the ball valve?

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  3. Thanks Steve's koi, Twhitenosugar Thanked / Liked this Post
  4. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,885
    Thanks / Likes
    3033
    I'd personally look for unbranded airline rather than EA, as I'm sure you can get the same stuff off eBay for much cheaper.

    I don't know how much the EA stuff is, but I got 5 meters of 8mm reinforced black pvc braided hose (off eBay) for £6.51. I use it for air stones in my bio filter and it does the job fine.

    Ajm makes a good point. If its in your bottom drain pipe, you'll need to have the airline exit your bottom drain pipework before any ball valves.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

  5. Thanks Ajm, Steve's koi Thanked / Liked this Post
  6. #4
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,196
    Thanks / Likes
    21091
    There was a thread a few months back looking at different types of tubing have a search

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  7. Thanks Steve's koi Thanked / Liked this Post
  8. #5
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    Only problem with going thought the 4" pipe is that it's some thing for things to get stuck on and how are you going to shut the ball valve?

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Yeah I realize that, that's why I was thinking off using the weighted air line, at least that should stay at the bottom. and I thought the standard air line will be floating all over the place and would catch more debris. I really don't want to dig out the bottom drain now everything is in, just thought this would be the best way out.

    I thought about that already, I'll tap into the 4" below the ball valve with a waterproof connector and pull the air line through there, similar sort of threaded fitting like they use coming out of a water proof electrical box. Or just drill a hole, pull the air line through and seal it with Gold label pond seal.

  9. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709
    Quote Originally Posted by Twhitenosugar View Post
    I'd personally look for unbranded airline rather than EA, as I'm sure you can get the same stuff off eBay for much cheaper.

    I don't know how much the EA stuff is, but I got 5 meters of 8mm reinforced black pvc braided hose (off eBay) for £6.51. I use it for air stones in my bio filter and it does the job fine.

    Ajm makes a good point. If its in your bottom drain pipe, you'll need to have the airline exit your bottom drain pipework before any ball valves.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    Just wondering if an unbranded air line would be toxic which could cause problems in the end, hence thought about going with the branded name for safety.
    EA about £50 for 10 metres,
    as said to Ajm, I'll tap into the 4" below ball valve.

  10. Thanks Twhitenosugar Thanked / Liked this Post
  11. #7
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    There was a thread a few months back looking at different types of tubing have a search

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Will do Ajm, thanks.

  12. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,885
    Thanks / Likes
    3033
    Fair enough. The description on eBay says pvc, and says for air, oil, food etc ... which I'm guessing is ok if pvc pipe is.

    Although eBay descriptions are not exactly reliable so understand why you want to read up on it.

    In terms of your bottom drain pipe, where it comes up vertically, and I'm guessing then bends 90 degrees (to horizontal) to your filters via a ball valve, I know others have replaced the elbow with a T and then run some 4"pipe from the T vertically until just above the water level.

    If you did this it would give you an access point for the airline to exit. Plus it means you can shove a brush/air stone/ hose down it to help clear any crud sat in the vertical section of the pipe. It would also make it much easier to remove the airline if you ever needed to in the future.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

  13. Thanks Ajm, Steve's koi, Djstiles999 Thanked / Liked this Post
  14. #9
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709
    Quote Originally Posted by Twhitenosugar View Post
    Fair enough. The description on eBay says pvc, and says for air, oil, food etc ... which I'm guessing is ok if pvc pipe is.

    Although eBay descriptions are not exactly reliable so understand why you want to read up on it.

    In terms of your bottom drain pipe, where it comes up vertically, and I'm guessing then bends 90 degrees (to horizontal) to your filters via a ball valve, I know others have replaced the elbow with a T and then run some 4"pipe from the T vertically until just above the water level.

    If you did this it would give you an access point for the airline to exit. Plus it means you can shove a brush/air stone/ hose down it to help clear any crud sat in the vertical section of the pipe. It would also make it much easier to remove the airline if you ever needed to in the future.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    Yeah, ebay are not the most reliable for telling the truth lol. But If it's safe for food it should be safe for the fish.

    The only thing is, my ball valve is on the vertical as there wasn't enough room to fit it horizontally in the filter bay due to the space between the vortex and the filter, otherwise I could change the elbow for a tee, hence the air pipe will need to come out below the ball valve on the vertical. But I might still change the elbow for a tee for cleaning as you say. Good food for thought there twns thanks mate.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  15. Thanks Twhitenosugar Thanked / Liked this Post
  16. #10
    Senior Member Rank = Adult Champion Twhitenosugar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Europe
    Posts
    1,885
    Thanks / Likes
    3033
    No problem, just sharing stuff that I've learnt from others on here.

    I had the same issue finding a suitable spot for the ball valve. They're so bloody big it is a nightmare trying to work out where they can fit in - where you can still access them - if you are tight for space - which I am on my set up.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    13,000L fibreglassed raised pond with window

  17. Thanks Steve's koi, Ajm Thanked / Liked this Post
  18. #11
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709
    Quote Originally Posted by Twhitenosugar View Post
    No problem, just sharing stuff that I've learnt from others on here.

    I had the same issue finding a suitable spot for the ball valve. They're so bloody big it is a nightmare trying to work out where they can fit in - where you can still access them - if you are tight for space - which I am on my set up.

    Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk
    I was just going to fit my votex and connect that to my 8 bay kockney koi filter and back to pond.
    But now thinking of converting the 8 bay into static and moving bed filter from the vortex.
    I've also fitted a skimmer which is now going to go to an eazy pod or something and then pumped to a shower.of some kind. Will it ever stop lol.

  19. Thanks Ajm Thanked / Liked this Post
  20. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Supreme Champion Ajm's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Durham
    Posts
    11,196
    Thanks / Likes
    21091
    Quote Originally Posted by Steve's koi View Post
    I was just going to fit my votex and connect that to my 8 bay kockney koi filter and back to pond.
    But now thinking of converting the 8 bay into static and moving bed filter from the vortex.
    I've also fitted a skimmer which is now going to go to an eazy pod or something and then pumped to a shower.of some kind. Will it ever stop lol.
    No. People who say get a pond it's relaxing are lieing buggers.. Nowt but money and stress lol.. But we love it

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Freddyboy the legend

    "we are water keepers first"

    Johnathan

  21. Thanks Steve's koi, Twhitenosugar Thanked / Liked this Post
  22. #13
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709
    Quote Originally Posted by Ajm View Post
    No. People who say get a pond it's relaxing are lieing buggers.. Nowt but money and stress lol.. But we love it

    Sent from my F5121 using Tapatalk
    Your not wrong Ajm, and yes mate we love it lol.

  23. Thanks Ajm Thanked / Liked this Post
  24. #14
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai JimJones's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    493
    Thanks / Likes
    492
    I had a cowboy builder build my second pond and put the airline in the 4 inch pipe when I asked for an aerated drain do not not do that!
    The airline traps so much crap its a joke.

    In the end before my rebuild I got in my scuba gear and put in a 6mm airline using pond tape down the side and then along the bottom. Drilled two small holes in the bottom drain lid then cable tied on the airstone.

    Was great for a few years until i rebuilt.

    hope that helps

    jim

  25. Thanks Ajm, Steve's koi Thanked / Liked this Post
  26. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai Steve's koi's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Essex
    Posts
    461
    Thanks / Likes
    709
    Quote Originally Posted by JimJones View Post
    I had a cowboy builder build my second pond and put the airline in the 4 inch pipe when I asked for an aerated drain do not not do that!
    The airline traps so much crap its a joke.

    In the end before my rebuild I got in my scuba gear and put in a 6mm airline using pond tape down the side and then along the bottom. Drilled two small holes in the bottom drain lid then cable tied on the airstone.

    Was great for a few years until i rebuilt.

    hope that helps

    jim
    Thanks for that Jim, I'm thinking of ripping out the bottom drain and starting again as the pond isn't built yet. Might just break away the concrete one side of the BD and fit an overflow connector into the BD and some overflow pipe and run it next to the 4" and run some 8mm airline through that back to the filter house. Last thing I need is the 4" collecting crap.

  27. #16
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai JimJones's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    493
    Thanks / Likes
    492
    No worries happy to help.

    If your pond is not yet filled etc. All I can say with hindsight experience is do everything right and get it spot on. There is nothing worse than everyday for several years looking at something that you don't like that could of easily been fixed having it been done correctly.

    Might be all ball ache now but your long term wellbeing and mental health wont suffer !

    all the best mate and good luck.

  28. Thanks Ajm, Steve's koi Thanked / Liked this Post
  29. #17
    Quote Originally Posted by JimJones View Post
    I had a cowboy builder build my second pond and put the airline in the 4 inch pipe when I asked for an aerated drain do not not do that!
    The airline traps so much crap its a joke.

    In the end before my rebuild I got in my scuba gear and put in a 6mm airline using pond tape down the side and then along the bottom. Drilled two small holes in the bottom drain lid then cable tied on the airstone.

    Was great for a few years until i rebuilt.

    hope that helps

    jim
    Hi Jim,
    Having the same dilemma, what pond tape did you use? Everything seems to be sticky on both sides. There's no way I'm ripping out my bottom drain!
    Cheers,
    Tim

    Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

  30. Thanks Steve's koi Thanked / Liked this Post
  31. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Rokusai JimJones's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Manchester
    Posts
    493
    Thanks / Likes
    492
    Quote Originally Posted by Letimgo View Post
    Hi Jim,
    Having the same dilemma, what pond tape did you use? Everything seems to be sticky on both sides. There's no way I'm ripping out my bottom drain!
    Cheers,
    Tim

    Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk
    got the tape off fleabay mine was just one sided

    Failing that you could use CT-1 and strip of liner?

  32. Thanks Steve's koi Thanked / Liked this Post
 

 

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 03:44 AM. Online Koi Mag Forum
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.3
Copyright © 2024 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved.

vBulletin Improved By vBFoster® (Lite Version), © UltimateScheme, Ltd.