Please report failures / bottom drains

[MCA]

never had a BD leak. Ours are Spindrifters at 8'.

[mojo]

Quote: Originally Posted by gregbickal Letting it go, I'll just stick to the topic... Out of the 16 ponds that I have installed DIY bottom drains in over the last 8 years, none of them has had the bottom drain or pipe boot leak. That would be 30+ drains, and well over 100+ pipe boots. I even put drains in the bottom of the settling chambers, drain for a drain.

As far as your #9 list, here is the remark of another expert (ponddoc.com)
As i said, i like to have that system, but this scare me, could you please elaborate this and educate me? thanks. "Draining solids from the bottom is the magic to making this system perform. You can’t do this if the drain is underground. There are sophisticated ways around it but if something happened and one needed access to the drains it would present one huge problem."

[cppond]

Quote: Originally Posted by mojo As far as your #9 list, here is the remark of another expert (ponddoc.com) As i said, i like to have that system, but this scare me, could you please elaborate this and educate me? thanks. "Draining solids from the bottom is the magic to making this system perform. You can’t do this if the drain is underground. There are sophisticated ways around it but if something happened and one needed access to the drains it would present one huge problem."

Mojo

Can you direct us to the part of that site to which you are referring?

[mojo]

Quote: Originally Posted by cppond Mojo Can you direct us to the part of that site to which you are referring?

thank for asking, go to filter and filtration, click on filter report card. at vortex system. have fun

[gregbickal]

This is the current evolution of my DIY filter design. Inside the barrel you can use K1 or Bickal-bio rope or whatever you choose. Flush chamber once a week and thats it. During heavy leaf season, you plug the 4" drain line with a standpipe and you get 100% skimming action.

[mojo]

thanks for showing, mr greg, nice design, but seems like your bottom drain can only pick up light or diluted scum, heavy duty scum definitely requires a real powerfull pump in order to lift all up then go down in the cone. Even if it goes and you flush out on the deep ground, how do you discard it? keeping it pile up? how about when it rain? water will leak in your wood frame to the ground level, then how do you flush? don't you think a simple pond vaccum will solve all your problem with a fraction of your labor and material cost?

[KoiCop]

Quote: Originally Posted by mojo As far as your #9 list, here is the remark of another expert (ponddoc.com)

Dear Mojo . . .

When it comes to Doc Johnson, many things can be said -- but expert koi pond builder ain't one of them. Not even close.

Stick with his basic fish & pond health advice and you'll usually be OK but, please -- leave koi pond design to the real experts.

[gregbickal]

Quote: seems like your bottom drain can only pick up light or diluted scum

Oh my... Mr Mojo, you are seriously needing a hands on lesson in gravity fed filtration systems. Light or diluted scum.... Well, it wont pick up rocks, thats for sure. As for fish poop, decaying plant matter, scum, even kitty litter and sand, thats no problem.

Quote: Even if it goes and you flush out on the deep ground, how do you discard it? keeping it pile up?

It all drains out to lower ground. If lower ground is not available, there are various solutions available.

Quote: how about when it rain? water will leak in your wood frame to the ground level, then how do you flush?

No water enters my chambers when it rains.

Quote: don't you think a simple pond vaccum will solve all your problem with a fraction of your labor and material cost?

Well, I dont know... mabye you could give me a quote on what a vaccum type system costs, and then let me know how many hours of maintance there are with that system so I can compare it to mine....

Wait, lets see, A Vaccum type system needs...
A Pump
A Pipe to take the water to the filter box
A Filter Box
Some Filter Material

A Gravity Feed system needs...
A Pump
A Pipe to take the water to the filter box
A Filter Box
Some Filter Material

Hmmmm, seems about the same to me...

[Seefdro Tvneik]

Very creative Greg.......Cheap and effective for the poor koi keeper.

[mojo]

you are absolutely right, i need you to educated me, as you said, all your design are on the high ground, and i do not have that, there is anyway beside like ponddoc said go to the house drainage ?. since you are professional on this, you probably have a secret? please see this as a educationnal purpose not wicked arguement or anything. thanks, mr Greg