Grahams DIY Bottom Drains

Over the last few days I installed 2-4'' bottom drains in my pond and didn't spend a lot of $$ doing it. As much as this hobby isn't cheap, I hate wasting money on things ''made for a koi pond ''.

One of the most expensive things is the bottom drain itself, so being an avid DIY'er I came up with the idea to use household sewer drains. The same kind, as what would be on a toilet. If we can use it then I don't see why a koi can't. I asked a few people what they thought of the idea and all agreed that it should work.

It consists of a rounded 90* pipe, a toilet floor flange, 2-rubber gaskets, and a floor flange extension plate. Once the piping and 90*/floor flange were set, mortar was poured around them so they won't move. Then the liner was sandwiched and siliconed between the floor flange, gaskets and the extension plate, then the whole issue is screwed together using stainless steel screws. A 14'' rubber coated cement plate will be set about 1 1/2'' above the drain to prevent a vortex action. There will also be a fitting for an air stone in the plate.

So for about $80(Canada,) I got 2 bottom drains. So at this point I've only spent about $500(Canada) can on all the pipe, valves, etc., which is less than what 2 ''koi pond drains'' would have cost by themselves.

I've put some pictures up of this unit and the installation.

Regards Graham

http://www.geocities.com/ghawkins_ca/bottomdrains.html

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Graham has other DIY projects on his web site.  Good pictures and some drawings, as well. Go to my Links Page to visit Graham's web site.

Mike S.

Bottom Drain Pictures

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