Bottom Drain

High quality bottom drain with a removeable dome, allowing better return from the pond to the filter. Easily connects to liner. Simply install a bottom drain in the deepest part and plumb it to the skimmer before the filter media but below the water line as much as possible. Use a bulk head fitting at the skimmer for a leak proof seal. By convection waste will be drawn from the bottom through the skimmer and not allow sludge to build up.

Bottom Drain Installation

Properly installed bottom drains can reduce maintenance and help keep the bottom of the pond from building up sludge from plant decay and fish detritus. When designing a new pond the consideration of adding one or more bottom drains can make a big difference on pond maintenace. However ther is a lot of confusion on how they work and how to install them. Pond drains work best by gravity flow creating a slow current drawing oxygen depleted water and organics from the lowest points in the pond. The plumbing is run under the liner and can be directly plumbed to the skimmer in front of the mechaincal filter using a bulk head fitting. This is usually done either side of the skimmer and below the inlet door close to the bottom. Since the pump is pumping water from the skimmer, water is drawn in from both the surface through the inlet door and the bottom drain plumbed to the skimmer below the inlet door. The alternative method would be to plumb the bottom drain ta a prefilter or settlement tank that is at water level. Pumping water from the settlement tank causes the water to be drawn in from the bottom drain by gravity.