How to Install a Drain
- Dig a hole to hold the drain at the lowest part of the hole for the pond. ...
- Install the drain and plumbing.
- Place the liner in the pond. ...
- Put some glue on the top of the drain, then press the liner down.
- Install the flange that came with the drain over the liner material, and screw it to the drain lip.
How to install a bottom drain in a pond?
A bottom drain is very useful for both cleaning the debris in your pond and draining it when necessary. You should install it during the construction of your pond. Follow these steps to install it in your pond – Placing the bottom drain in a pond. Image by: Clarkekoi The first thing you have to do is to dig a hole in the deepest part of your pond.
How do I install the liner on my pond?
The liner is installed as normal-but cut out a hole of the geosynthetic around the drain. It is very important to make sure you have enough liner around all the sides of your pond before you cut the drain in. An "X" cut is made over the sump of the drain. Reach in to make sure both the liner and sump are both clean and dry with a rag.
Can you cut a hole in a Pond drain?
Even a professional cutting a new hole for a drain is very likely to cause leaks, which could lead to issues with the ground around the pond in the future. It’s also a waste of water if you constantly have to refill your pond due to a leak at the bottom.
Why is the bottom of my pond not draining?
When you fill up your pond for the first time, it is possible that the bottom drain line will be "air locked". As a result of this, very little water will enter the vortex. To rectify this problem, close your gate valve to isolate the vortex.
Should a pond have a bottom drain?
Bottom drains are a must for a successful koi pond. To maintain proper water quality you need to get the fish waste into the filter so it can be removed from the system. Without a bottom drain, the best filter in the world cannot do it's job properly. Some ponds may require several bottom drains.
How big should a drain pipe be for a pond?
Size of the drainpipe depends on the size of the pond and amount of water running into the pond. A 4 to 6 inch drain will normally be satisfactory for ponds up to 3 acres, while 6 and 12 inch drains will be necessary for larger ponds up to 15 to 20 acres.
How do I build a bottom drain pond?
0:375:22How to build a Koi Pond with bottom drains - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe basically took an existing pond we excavated it deeper we made it wider. The drains the RhinoMoreWe basically took an existing pond we excavated it deeper we made it wider. The drains the Rhino drains three in Toronto drains are all hooked to a liner.
How does a bottom drain work in a pond?
A bottom drain is a drain connected to pond filter. The dirt sediment on the bottom is consequently removed and transported directly through the drain. When installing a pond the drain should be placed on the deepest point of the pond.
How do I stop my pond from flooding?
Cover Pond Consider as well placing sandbags around your pond for extra protection. This will help confine your fish within the pond should flooding occur. To accommodate stormwater and prevent overflowing, make sure to reduce water in your pond down to few inches.
Does a pond need a spillway?
Large ponds will need a spillway soon after the overflow pipe system is shut off. Building a natural spillway is like creating a stream. You want to dig a shallow channel with an inlet level at the desired pond water level.
How can I drain my pond without a pump?
Take your garden hose and connect it to a spigot. Ensure this is a lengthy garden hose that can extend between the pond and the place where the water will be released. If your hose is not long enough, then use a hose extension or an additional hose. Next, take the hose's free end and connect a nozzle to it.
What do you put on the bottom of a pond?
Options for Pond SubstrateGravel/Small Rocks. Pros: This pond substrate is the most eye appealing of them all. ... Large Rocks. Pros: Another aesthetically appealing bottom pond substrate. ... Plastic Liner. ... Concrete/Spray Liner. ... Plants/Mud/Bog/”All Natural” Pond Substrate.
How many bottom drains do I need?
So to calculate how many bottom drains you need, simply take your longest dimension, divide it by fourteen, then round up. In addition, raise the floor of the pond in between each drain.
How do you drain a small pond?
Probably the easiest way to drain a pond is to use your pond pump, with submersible models being the preferred choice due to easier drainage. To start emptying a pond using a submersible pump you just need to position the out-take hose into your garden or the area you want water drained.
How does a retro bottom drain work?
0:051:24Retro Fit Bottom Drain - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo the idea is is that you have the pump located in the pond. And it can suck from this uh retrofitMoreSo the idea is is that you have the pump located in the pond. And it can suck from this uh retrofit bottom drain and then draw the water to the pump and then up and out and into your filtration.
How does a bottom drain in koi pond work?
Bottom drains in a pond usually work along with the filtration system to eliminate sediment and keep the water clean for the koi. Sediment settles at the bottom, and the force of the water pushes it into the drain. From there, you'll need to decide how you want to rid the sediment from the pond.
How do you size a drain line?
Four Steps to Sizing Sanitary Sewers & VentsAdd up the total number of drainage fixture units (dfu) for each sanitary branch.Determine the sanitary branch sizes using the dfu values.Calculate the size of the main building drain using the total of all dfu values.Size the vents using an IPC table and the dfu values.
How deep should a drain pipe be buried?
Maintaining a depth of 12 to 18 inches is best for drain pipes, but the depth of the pipe may vary in order to maintain a downward slope, which is critical for proper drain functioning.
How do I calculate the size of my drain pipe?
Divide the pipe's internal diameter by 2. For example, if the pipe has an internal diameter of 0.1 meters: 0.1 ÷ 2 = 0.05 m This is the pipe's radius. Square this radius: 0.05² = 0.0025 m². Multiply the result by pi, which is approximately 3.142: 0.0025 × 3.142 = 0.007855 m².
How deep do you dig for drainage pipe?
A drainage trench should be at least 18 inches deep. This allows you to install a gravel bed, as well as an adequately-sized pipe to carry away water. It also allows you to cover the pipe to protect it and make your drainage trench an attractive lawn feature.
How do I add a gravity drain to an above ground pond?
To add a gravity drain to your above ground pond or in-ground garden pond requires just one small modification: cutting, inserting, and waterproofing a drain on your pond liner. I’ll admit that it’s intimidating to cut a hole in an expensive pond liner, but I promise if you use the right supplies and cut conservatively, you’ll have a leak-free pond that’s so much easier to keep clean.
How to direct pond water?
By attaching a hose to your pond drain you can direct the old pond water anywhere you want – as long as it’s downhill. My vegetable garden absolutely loves being watered with pond water overflow. If you don’t want the water in your yard, just connect enough hoses to reach the closest gutter or storm drain.
How often should I clean my garden pond?
This depends on lots of factors. When I – briefly– kept ducks in mine, I needed to flush my 10′ x 10′ pond at least weekly. Later in the life of the same pond, when I had a UV-light filter installed, healthy aquatic plants growing, lots of moving water, and a few happy little goldfish, I had a near-stable little ecosystem that could last the better part of a year without major cleaning. All it needed was a bit of skimming here and there to remove leaves or debris that had fallen in the pond.
How to tell what the lowest part of a pond is?
Unless your yard has been commercially graded to be totally level, your above-ground pond will probably have high and low areas. If you wait until a test fill to place a drain, the water will tell you what the lowest part of the pond is. Pick a corner or edge near the lowest spot, dig a very small hole so you can access the underside (you shouldn’t need to dig a hole any larger than 6x6x6), poke a hole in the liner to drain that lingering water out, and enlarge that hole to install your drain.
What to do if you can't move a pond?
If you can’t move your pond- consider the addition of plants, an awning, or a rock ledge overhang that could shade a portion of the pond) As you can tell from these tips, there are lots of ways to keep your pond clean, and to effectively clean both aboveground and inground garden ponds.
How to cut a soft rubber pond liner?
SOFT LINER INSTRUCTIONS: If you’re cutting a soft rubber pond liner, use a small X-Acto knife or a tiny pair of scissors. Don’t get carried away with box cutters or full size scissors or you may get caught with a problem you can’t fix.
What are some ways to keep a garden pond balanced?
Plants block sunlight and help filter water , keeping a garden pond balanced and fresh.
How many components are needed for a pond drain?
A pond drain is relatively simple to install, and only requires three basic components; the drain itself, a 3-4” PVC pipe to drain to the outlet, and some sort of outlet component, like a filter. Once your drain is installed, the only piece you should ever have to deal with is the drain’s outlet filter, to clean out on a semi-regular basis.
What is a pond in a pool?
Swimming ponds, also called natural swimming pools, are an alternative to a traditional in-ground pool that uses natural plant life, instead of chemicals, to keep the water clean and clear for swimming. They’re aren’t very popular in the United States but some people have seen the benefits and tried to install their own.
Why do you need a drain in a pool?
When you think about a pool drain, you think about the need to keep floating debris controlled and out of the pool, as well as a way to keep the water circulating. This is really the essence of a drain’s purpose. Standing water can become a breeding ground for insects, pests, bacteria, and vermin, and can lead to health concerns.
Do you need a drain for a farm pond?
Finally, a farm pond is a very large pond that’s stocked with game fish for fishing purposes, and a drain is not necessary. These ponds can take up several acres, and any drain would have to be an industrial sized drain that would be very costly to install. Larger bodies of water don’t have the same issues with circulation that smaller ponds have either.
Do ponds have fish?
Decorative garden ponds are small ponds that are placed in a landscape, and they may not have fish in them. For the purposes of this discussion, a garden pond doesn’t have fish in it. You’ll find that again, a drain may help with keeping your pond clean but it isn’t necessary.
Does Your Pond Need a Drain?
There are a surprisingly wide variety of ponds out there, each intended for a different use. Here are just some of the wide variety of ponds that people get installed in their yard:
Where is the drain hole in a pond?
A hole to house the drain is dug in the deepest section of the pond. The ponds bottom should be bowled to this location with a decent slope - this causes debris to move towards the drain via gravity. A trench is also dug which leads to the settlement tank - this houses the flex hose or pipe which leads to your vortex
What is a bottom drain?
The term "bottom drain" is really a misnomer. They should be more aptly referred to as a "bottom filter feed or supply.". While a pump in the pond is aesthetically unattractive and can't remove large debris, a 4 inch bottom drain can take large leaves, as it continually vacuums your pond.
Is it hard to install a bottom drain?
Bottom drains are not difficult to install, and because of the design, a fear of leaking is unwarranted. A flange clamps the liner down to the drain, the liner acting as a gasket. One of our clients didn't use any glue [not recommended] and the drain still did not leak!
Can rabbit feces break down in a pond?
You wouldn't let feces break down naturally in a rabbi t or budgie cage so why is it any different in a fish pond? It isn't, you need to keep your pond's bottom clean of both excrement and other organic buildup to keep water clear and fish healthy in the long run.
Can you put a dome on a pond before filling?
If you install it before filling, air will be trapped under the dome. With some water in the pond, the dome can be turned upside down under water to remove the air before being installed. Alternatively, you can drill a tiny hole at the top of the dome so air can escape. Never glue the dome on the stem.
Step 1
At the lowest point of the pond, stub up a 3 inch bottom drain and cap it off. If you are using the Advantage Bottom Drain Cover with built in Air Diffuser, you will need to install an air line. To do this, place a 3/4 inch PVC pipe for air exactly 12 inches away from the edge of the bottom drain pipe. Clean out dirt from around pipes for cement.
Step 2
Pre assemble both the 3 inch bulkhead flange, as well as the 1 1/2 flange by screwing the top flanges onto their bases. Do not tighten with a drill gun. Always only hand tighten all plastic bulkheads to prevent stripping the plastic threads. After pipes have been pressure tested, cut both pipes and cement on both bulkhead flanges.
Step 3
When cementing both bulkheads on to the pipes, align screw in a straight line. This will make locating the screw holes easier to find later when screwing the top plate down through the liner.
Step 4
Add cement to hole around drain. Carefully float cement up to top of bulkhead flanges. Be careful not to get cement into screw slots. The final contour of the cement should be even with the top of the bulkheads and flat across the whole cemented area.
Step 5
After the cement dries, use a screw driver to remove the cement right up against both of the bulkheads. This should allow a smooth transition of the rubber liner from the cement surface to under the flange covers on the bulkheads.
Step 7
Place liner in pond. Make sure liner is properly aligned so that the liner extends over all the outer edges of the pond.Then cut a 2 inch hole in the liner over the bottom drain opening only. Use a small paint brush to reach through thehole in the liner and brush away any debris that might have collected on top of the bulkhead flange.
Step 8
Place a bead of 100% silicone caulk on the face of the flange under the liner and then gently press the liner down against the flange.
Why do you need a bottom drain for a pond?
Why would you want a bottom drain for your pond? The simple reason is to REDUCE MAINTENANCE. Pond drains done right, remove organics from the pond and create a unique dynamic in the pond’s circulation system. Water Gardens/Eco-System ponds rely on beneficial bacteria colonies to breakdown fish waste, and other organics such as leaves, pine needles, pollens, dust and all other forms of water logged debris that typically settles to the bottom of a pond.
What is gravity flow in pond?
Gravity flow means we are plumbing the bottom drain to a pre-filtration unit and from the pre-filtration unit we are draining water with a pond pump and sending the water to filtration. For example, the drain can be plumbed to a settling chamber, a sett lement tank, a skimmer, or sieve filter. Where ever you are draining your pond bottom drain to will be at the same water level as your pond and by removing water from this pre-filter, the law of gravity is pulling water from the pond through the bottom drain line to fill the pre-filter back up.
What does a jet do in a pond?
Current jets can be designed in the pond to create a slow vortex, spinning solids to the bottom and heavy aeration from the top of the b ottom drain actually pulls neutrally buoyant solids ( like fish poop) directly into the suction of the Gravity Flow Bottom Drain.
Why do ponds need gravel?
Water Gardens/Eco-System ponds usually rely on a shallow bed of gravel on the bottom of the pond to help manage organics because it serves as a place for beneficial bacteria to colonize. (See Fig. 1) The gravel needs to be managed regularly to avoid undesirable conditions for beneficial bacteria colonies. As a rule, this requires draining the pond each spring in order to wash and clean the gravel bed. A dedicated Koi pond is completely opposite and traditionally will not have gravel in the pond. (See Fig. 2) Dedicated Koi ponds rely on a bottom drain (or drains), circulation jets, aeration and pond vacuums to keep the pond free of debris.
What is the law of gravity for a pond?
Where ever you are draining your pond bottom drain to will be at the same water level as your pond and by removing water from this pre-filter, the law of gravity is pulling water from the pond through the bottom drain line to fill ...
Where is fish poop sent to?
Fish poop, among other things, makes its way to the direct suction drain (typically 2″ or 2 1/2″ PVC line) and is rapidly sent to a strainer basket in front of a pond pump. Fish poop is blended up “Margarita style”, without the ice, yummy flavor or intoxicating effect, and is sent to a pond filter in a very messy way.
Do koi ponds need to be drained?
As a rule, this requires draining the pond each spring in order to wash and clean the gravel bed. A dedicated Koi pond is completely opposite and traditionally will not have gravel in the pond. (See Fig. 2) Dedicated Koi ponds rely on a bottom drain (or drains), circulation jets, aeration and pond vacuums to keep the pond free of debris.
