I had heard somewhere that there was a system that takes the water from the bottom of the pond, but is a movable hose or something that does not require you to cut your liner for a bottom drain...I want to research this idea, but I am not sure of what it is called...can anyone help me with this so I can google it for additional information and to see what it looks like?
If you know what it is, if you can also let me know if you have used such a system and what you think about it and any sources where to get them. I hear such good things about bottom drains, but I am holding up the pond with deciding how to run my plumbing, etc. I want to finish off the large hole in the yard, finally, but will make sure I have a good plan before ordering things and cutting liner...I would like to avoid such a cut and a potential future leak source...
Many thanks...
RatherB
LuAnne
Bottom drain that does not require cutting the liner?
LuAnne, Tetra has a type of bottom drain which rests on the pond bottom.
http://www.pondpetsusa.com/skimmers/tetra_bottom_drains.html
Truthfully this is very easy to DIY.
Good luck!
Thank you so much, Bonnie. I found this very helpful. I want to look at this more in depth now. Looks like something that could work in my pond. Thank you.
LuAnne
Aquaart.com also has a retro bottom drain, kinda looks like a turtle. I have heard good things about it and you can cut it to fit many sizes of PVC.
All of them are basically the same thing but some do have the option of different size pvc.
Good luck!
Thank you so much...at least know I also have the proper term of retrofit...that helps me in a google search, too. Thank you, Evesta and Bonnie!
I put a 4500 gph pump in the bottom of my pond and discharged it to a bog 12 feet above the pond. The water is crystal clear, I'd drink it but I haven't acquired a taste for fish.
That is a great idea, burghblooms...a vegetative filter. Do you have a separate pump for a water fall, too?
I have two 4500 gph pumps, one acts like a bottom drain. It is in a sump box and has a capped, 4", plastic french drain line attached to it + the top of the sump box is a grate. The bog leads to one waterfall. The other pump is in a skimmer box and feeds the other waterfall through a small bog. The water is so clean that the filter in the skimmer box seldom needs cleaning.
My first pond had a skimmer with a bottom drain like you are asking about hard-piped over the liner. The suction side of the bottom drain was in the skimmer so the pump drew on it. It worked good but the filter needed twice a week cleaning. Other than leaves and sticks, I could go all season without having to clean my skimmer filter.
RatherB, are you just trying to avoid cutting the liner or are you looking for retrofit because the pond is already built? If the former, I'd like to suggest you reconsider a true bottom drain while you can. The retrofits are better than nothing, but everyone I've talked to who has one has indicated they don't work nearly as well. But again, if your pond is already built, then by all means it will help!
Actually, due to health issues, the large hole in the ground never got its liner last year. So, I don't have it in yet. I am so uncomfortable with having to cut the liner and am afraid of chasing leaks. (not from experience...just buying such a large liner and afraid of ruining my investment..)
The other reason is, I cannot figure out how I would put in the supportive plumbing layout. I have no spot to put in the filters for the bottom drain. As many times as I look things over, can I come up with a good solution. I do like the idea of the vegetative bog filter, as it would look natural and I would not have to ponder this delema (sounds like a pun...huh?).
If possible, Burghblooms, may I ask if you could post a photo of what the sump box with the grate and capped French drain looks like? If I do not go with a bottom drain, I think your option would work here.
What is the size of your pond, and how big is the bog that feeds into the pond to give you your results? I would love to see a photo of your pond with the bog!
I guess before I procede (this summer I MUST finish this, ugh...my poor neighbors!) I could start a thread with a photo and see if you, Songs or others have a workable solution. But the pumps I have so far are submergable ones.