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Thread: Please help!

  1. #1

    Please help!

    I am parting with money today but doing my own head in trying to decide on which bottom drain to buy.
    Obviously the very best option is the spindrifter aerated bottom drain but they are so expensive. Is it really money Well spent if I have a relatively small 10k litre lightly stocked pond. I will have a waterfall at one end.
    If the advice is to definitely buy one then I will but keen to hear what the experts think.
    This pond is already over budget and I haven't even got the liner in yet.
    Thanks
    Tim

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  2. #2
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Rapleyr's Avatar
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    I have a ‘normal’ bottom drain and I dropped a ceramic disk on top with an air line and works perfectly.

    Koi have knocked it off once in 4 weeks but if you are installing from new just put a dab of silicone to keep it in place


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  4. #3
    Senior Member Rank = Jussai Spongebob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Letimgo View Post
    I am parting with money today but doing my own head in trying to decide on which bottom drain to buy.
    Obviously the very best option is the spindrifter aerated bottom drain but they are so expensive. Is it really money Well spent if I have a relatively small 10k litre lightly stocked pond. I will have a waterfall at one end.
    If the advice is to definitely buy one then I will but keen to hear what the experts think.
    This pond is already over budget and I haven't even got the liner in yet.
    Thanks
    Tim

    Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
    Im in the same boat and cant decide, and when I do its hard to get anything other than a normal 110 mm fit in stock anywhere. Out of interest are you using 110 mm soil or 4"pressure pipe?

  5. #4
    I've been pursuaded to use pressure pipe under the pond but will then switch to normal 110mm soil pipe. My gut feeling is that soil pipe would be fine but just not worth the risk.

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  6. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by Spongebob View Post
    Im in the same boat and cant decide, and when I do its hard to get anything other than a normal 110 mm fit in stock anywhere. Out of interest are you using 110 mm soil or 4"pressure pipe?
    This is the cheapest pressure pipe I could find
    https://www.plasticpipeshop.co.uk/11...pe_p_1143.html

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  8. #6
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai Scorchio's Avatar
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    I recommend you get your fittings and pipe from the same place.
    It was hard enough to get the bottom drain on to the pipe when they were from the same supplier.
    If they had been a fraction different I'm not sure they would fit.

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  10. #7
    Jus theard that there is a 4 week wait for the spindrifter bottom drain! I guess I wont be installing one of thse then - on the bright side it has saved me £130

  11. #8
    Senior Member Rank = Kyusai Sim's Avatar
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    Years ago this were not around most ponds used cockney koi bottom drains with 110 soil pipe never really having any problems.
    my pond is build like this with two bottom drains I did have air rated Dom’s on but have since taken them off.
    I had spindrifter tops with air line passed down the drain pipe, things have moved on and if I was building today would probably put an air rated bottom drain in.
    there are other manufacturers out the Gatwick koi had some on the shelves when I went there a week ago.

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  13. #9
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Kyusai Pomster's Avatar
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    Talking from experience here

    If your using a liner a £20 cheapo plastic bottom drain will surfice as will an olympic skimmer
    Brown underground plastic pipe is ok too, I've used it many times on onds 4ft deep
    Pressure is a luxury but will always use on ponds 4ft and deeper
    Is it absolutely for a airated drain .. No! But better to have it, and they look nice
    Not to read a newspaper makes you uninformed. But to read a newspaper makes you misinformed

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  15. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Pomster View Post
    Talking from experience here

    If your using a liner a £20 cheapo plastic bottom drain will surfice as will an olympic skimmer
    Brown underground plastic pipe is ok too, I've used it many times on onds 4ft deep
    Pressure is a luxury but will always use on ponds 4ft and deeper
    Is it absolutely for a airated drain .. No! But better to have it, and they look nice
    Thanks Pomster,
    My pond is definitely cheapo compared to most that I have seen on here. Doesn't feel very cheap though. Already spent over £1000 and not even got water in yet. I think the liner will be over £500. Managed to get carpet underlay for free from local carpet shop.
    Thanks as always.
    Tim

    Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

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  17. #11
    Quote Originally Posted by Sim View Post
    Years ago this were not around most ponds used cockney koi bottom drains with 110 soil pipe never really having any problems.
    my pond is build like this with two bottom drains I did have air rated Dom’s on but have since taken them off.
    I had spindrifter tops with air line passed down the drain pipe, things have moved on and if I was building today would probably put an air rated bottom drain in.
    there are other manufacturers out the Gatwick koi had some on the shelves when I went there a week ago.
    Hi Sim,
    It's a brilliant idea to put the airline down the 110mm pipe to the bottom drain. I will definitely do that and install an air ring on top of the dome.
    Perfect compromise.
    Tim

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  18. #12
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai big h's Avatar
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    I wouldnt recommend putting air line down the bottom drain pipe.I did this years ago.When the air line goes round a bend you will be suprised how much room it takes.Its a potential blockage and bacterial bomb waiting to happen.Just my opinion but i regretted it.Blanketweed will accumulate followed by crud.

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  20. #13
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Sansai m00ny's Avatar
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    I have a standard KK bottom drain and 110mm pipe, I don't doubt the benefits of an aerated drain but, my personal opinion I don't really like the look of a tower of bubbles in the middle of the pond, I guess it depends what you want to achieve.

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  22. #14
    Extreme Koi Member Rank = Supreme Champion john1's Avatar
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    Same as Moony, standard bottom drain and skimmer and no pressure pipe anywhere.
    I did encase the pipe in concrete to protect it a bit and stop it moving when doing the base.
    Toolstation is good for all fittings,bends cheap on ebay and rubber boots if needed.
    Carpet is fine under a liner,had one for 12 yrs and when removed it still looked good.
    John

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  24. #15
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai algarth's Avatar
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    I agree Its not a good idea to run an airline through the bottom drain...&nbsp; &nbsp; How are you going to close your Slide or ball valve?&nbsp; You definately need to isolate your pond from the bottom drain in case you have filter issues and need to remove it..<br><br>QUOTE=Letimgo;334831]Hi Sm,<br>
    It's a brilliant idea to put the airline down the 110mm pipe to the bottom drain. I will definitely do that and install an air ring on top of the dome.<br>
    Perfect compromise.<br>
    Tim<br>
    <br>
    Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]
    Last edited by algarth; 04-06-2020 at 10:34 PM.

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  26. #16
    Quote Originally Posted by algarth View Post
    I agree Its not a good idea to run an airline through the bottom drain How are you going to close your Slide or ball valve?QUOTE=Letimgo;334831]Hi Sm,
    It's a brilliant idea to put the airline down the 110mm pipe to the bottom drain. I will definitely do that and install an air ring on top of the dome.
    Perfect compromise.
    Tim

    Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk
    [/QUOTE]That is a very good point. Perhaps I won't do that then Please help!Please help!

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  28. #17
    Senior Member Rank = Nanasai algarth's Avatar
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    PM me if you need any advice

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  30. #18
    Senior Member Rank = Hassai big h's Avatar
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    You can do it(although as said previously i wouldnt recommend it).On the pond side of your slide valve T off.Put a stalk in the air higher than your water level and thread the air line down it..The water will stagnate in thie upright stalk .Talking from experience,not a good idea .Much easier to buy black air line and a diffuser you can pull up and clean periodically.

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  32. #19
    Senior Member Rank = Gosai KevT's Avatar
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    I have an air stone on my bottom drain with a pipe running along the bottom of the pond, looks a mess until it's covered in algae and then it's just blended in. I just use the pole off my net to position it back on the bottom drain. I have to clean it often as the algae grows quickly on top of the air stone, and you can see the size and bubble pattern change . Would be a real pain to get in the pond if it was attached to the bottom drain or indeed threaded through my pipe work. I put some tungsten putty used by anglers to weigh the line down and it's in camo green so helped to keep the pipe on the bottom. I steamed the pipe over a kettle with a piece of wire inside it to get it as straight as possible (be careful and wear gloves)

    KevT

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