What Is A Bottom Drain In A Pond?
Bottom Drains
One of the first steps of building a koi pond or any pond and arguably the most important is fitting a bottom drain. At Cotswold Koi we would recommend and aerated drain and probably the Aquadrift 4″ Bottom Drain. Fitting a bottom drain in your koi pond gives you a whole range of filtration systems you can choose from which are a lot more more reliable than a pump fed system.
Aquadrift 4″ Bottom Drain
The Aquadrift 4″ Bottom Drain is perfect for all gravity fed installations. Precision machine cut to the highest standard, a bottom drain you can rely on. 1″ separate pressure pipe air connection allows air to enter the drain independently from the water pipe outlet.
The membrane and backing plate on the Aquadrift bottom drain fits into a recess in the specially manufactured rubber dome . The recess in the Aquadrift bottom drain prevents the membrane from becoming detached. The complete assembly is secured to the Aquadrift bottom drain by means of a threaded stem, which also provides the air inlet.
Suitable for 4″ or 110mm pipework. Can be used with standard waste pipe with suitable connectors.
Recommended maximum air pressure 120ltrs
Can be used with no air hose to the unit, simply use the appropriate connector after your air pump.
Bottom Drain Kits
At Cotswold koi We understand that sometimes it can be confusing as to knowing what equipment you require to install a bottom drain, So we have put together this kit which will make your life a 100% easier. We find most filter bays are within a 3,6 or 9 meter distance from the bottom drain location so we have grouped together all the products that you require to install a bottom drain effectively without the headache. There are a few different makes of these kits. Pro line 4″ aerated bottom drain kit being an example.
Installing The Bottom Drain
So the Bottom Drain gets installed in to the base of the pond. First step is to set the drain in to the required place in the pond normally centre. You will need to then glue all your pipework up using a solvent weld glue we recommend the Griffon solvent weld glue. When you are happy you have everything in place you would concrete the base of the pond with the drain flush to the top of the concrete level.
Liner Flange Kits
The Liner Flange Kit fits the bottom drain and allows you to use it with a liner. This Liner flange kit comes with stainless steel screws and its pre drilled with countersunk holes. If you are fibre glassing or painting you would not need these and just paint or fibreglass into the sump of the drain.
Installing The Bottom Drain Lid
One of the most commonly asked questions is how high to have the lid from the bottom of the pond. This can however vary for different situations we would normally have it 20mm. Have it to close and you can restrict the flow of the drain and on the other hand to open and your smaller koi could end up pulled through the drain.
Pro-Line 4″ Aerated Bottom Drain
The Pro-Line 4″ Bottom Drain is perfect for all gravity fed installations. Precision machine cut to the highest standard, a bottom drain you can rely on. 1″ separate pressure pipe air connection allows air to enter the drain independently from the water pipe outlet. Suitable for 4″ or 110mm pipework. Can be used with standard waste pipe with suitable connectors.
Economy Bottom Drains With Ring Aerator
All Koi ponds should be fitted with bottom drains, and we strongly recommend this. These Economy Bottom Drains With Ring Aerator are well made and are suited for use with 110mm or 50mm waste pipe. The dome is removable with a large integral surface mounted air ring diffuser around the outer edge. We cannot express the importance of installing a bottom drain when planning and building your pond and these drains provide a cost effective way of doing this.
Available in 50mm and 110mm .
The Bottom Drain comes complete with air tube
*NOTE: It can be used with pressure pipe with an adapter. 4 Inch Socket To 110mm Plain Male Converter
Economy Bottom Drains
All Koi ponds should be fitted with bottom drains, and we strongly recommend this. These economy bottom drains are well made and are suited for use with 110mm or 50mm waste pipe.
We cannot express the importance of installing a bottom drain when planning and building your pond and these drains provide a cost effective way of doing this.
*NOTE: It can be used with pressure pipe with an adapter. 4 Inch Socket To 110mm Plain Male Converter
Retro Fit Bottom Drain
The Retro Fit Bottom Drain, Portable Bottom Dome / Suction Drain Improves water circulation, helps remove suspended particles and debris from the bottom of your pond reducing maintenance. It is said that you can not beat a bottom drain system. If you have a pond that does not have a bottom drain but wish you had installed one, or do you have a bottom drain and want to install another here is the answer. A bottom dome that sits on the floor of your pond which requires no digging or intensive labour. Just simply place the self -weighted bottom dome in your pond and attach a pipe from either an internal pump such as an oase aquamax or promax (these pumps have two inlets) or an external pond pump and enjoy all the benefits of a bottom drain with minimal expense.
Tommy Bottom Drains
These Tommy Bottom Drains are perfect for those using mid water feeds to the filter systems and are worried about pulling fish in to the filter, pumps etc. The Tommy Drain has its outlet at the Bottom of the Drain instead of the side of the drain like typical bottom drains. The Tommy Drain has a removable lid with stainless Steel screws and a flange ring for fitting to liner or concrete ponds. The Tommy Drain can still be used mounted in the pond base if required, such as for a quarantine system or where the outlet is best suited at the bottom of the drain instead of the side. The Tommy Bottom Drains are suitable for outlets from the side or bottom of your pond or filter.
4 Inch Socket To 110mm Plain Male Converter
The 4 Inch Socket To 110mm Plain Male Converter is designed to fit inside a bottom drain to convert the standard 4″ opening to 110mm.