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  • Results 1 to 18 of 18

    Thread: Bottom Drain: With or Without Air Diffuser?

    1. #1
      57vert is offline Member
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      Bottom Drain: With or Without Air Diffuser?

      I am replacing the current 3" bottom drain and drain pipe with a 4" drain and pipe on my rubber lined pond. This is a preexisting pond 3500 gallons, 15 years old. I am struggling with whether to get a built in diffuser. I like to keep things simple and afraid if something goes wrong with the built in diffuse it will be a pain to get to it and the air line. I currently have an external diffuser, but having the line drape over the edge of the pond isn't the prettiest looking, but I've dealt with it for 15 years now. Am I being overly cautious and worrisome?

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    2. #2
      OCkoiFan's Avatar
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      I love my aerate koi toilet and definitely will need at least 1
      The Rhino is rated higher and cost more but I think it is worthy it
      Just a simple 1” pvc pipe if you can get to the bottom
      This is your time
      Note
      I alway place my air pump higher than water level and keep problems off
      Last edited by OCkoiFan; 05-08-2018 at 10:07 AM.
      M.Nguyen


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      tbullard is offline Senior Member
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      I have the koi toilet and have had no problems with it. Does a great job of keeping the bottom of the pond swept clear of debris.

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      ricshaw is offline Senior Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by 57vert View Post
      I am replacing the current 3" bottom drain and drain pipe with a 4" drain and pipe on my rubber lined pond. This is a preexisting pond 3500 gallons, 15 years old. I am struggling with whether to get a built in diffuser. I like to keep things simple and afraid if something goes wrong with the built in diffuse it will be a pain to get to it and the air line. I currently have an external diffuser, but having the line drape over the edge of the pond isn't the prettiest looking, but I've dealt with it for 15 years now. Am I being overly cautious and worrisome?
      IMO having an air diffuser spewing bubbles in the middle of the pond is distracting and not pretty looking. Diffusers can also interfere with a pond skimmer's efficiency. I like to keep things simple and have air diffusers along the edge or in the corners of a pond.


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    5. #5
      Pond James_Pond's Avatar
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      Quote Originally Posted by 57vert View Post
      I am replacing the current 3" bottom drain and drain pipe with a 4" drain and pipe on my rubber lined pond. This is a preexisting pond 3500 gallons, 15 years old. I am struggling with whether to get a built in diffuser. I like to keep things simple and afraid if something goes wrong with the built in diffuse it will be a pain to get to it and the air line. I currently have an external diffuser, but having the line drape over the edge of the pond isn't the prettiest looking, but I've dealt with it for 15 years now. Am I being overly cautious and worrisome?
      Do a risk assessment and identify the potential problems and their probability. If "something goes wrong with the diffuser" simply remove and and fix it or replace it. I can think of no problems that could effect the airline.

      steve

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      Quote Originally Posted by Pond,James_Pond View Post
      Do a risk assessment and identify the potential problems and their probability. If "something goes wrong with the diffuser" simply remove and and fix it or replace it. I can think of no problems that could effect the airline.

      steve
      The diffuser specifically isn't what I'm thinking about, it's on top and probably easy to remove and replace. I'm thinking more of the air line going from the diffuser under the liner. If it leaks, or whatever, getting under the liner to get to it is a pain.

    7. #7
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      When you do it right then there is no problem
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    8. #8
      Pond James_Pond's Avatar
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      Quote Originally Posted by 57vert View Post
      The diffuser specifically isn't what I'm thinking about, it's on top and probably easy to remove and replace. I'm thinking more of the air line going from the diffuser under the liner. If it leaks, or whatever, getting under the liner to get to it is a pain.
      you could be hit by lightning also.

      steve

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      malatu is offline Senior Member
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      I have two 4in bottom drains with air diffusers in a 7000 gallon pond. I don't have any fish yet so all I am doing is getting to know my system. One thing I have discovered while playing with the system, the air diffusers not only keep the Bottom clean but they direct floating debris to my two skimmers. Just the other day I was saying to myself, boy am I so glad I have bottom drains with air diffusers !
      Quote Originally Posted by 57vert View Post
      I am replacing the current 3" bottom drain and drain pipe with a 4" drain and pipe on my rubber lined pond. This is a preexisting pond 3500 gallons, 15 years old. I am struggling with whether to get a built in diffuser. I like to keep things simple and afraid if something goes wrong with the built in diffuse it will be a pain to get to it and the air line. I currently have an external diffuser, but having the line drape over the edge of the pond isn't the prettiest looking, but I've dealt with it for 15 years now. Am I being overly cautious and worrisome?
      Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

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      delbert is offline Supporting Member
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      I wish both my bottom drains were aerated . one is

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      57vert is offline Member
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      Hey everyone, thank you so much for your replies, you guys/gals are the best. Went with the Rhino with diffuser.

    12. #12
      two_wheeled is offline Senior Member
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      Very timely subject for me. I'm doing the same.
      What size PVC pipe should I run to my bottom drain? 1/2"? 3/4"? 1"?
      Will a larger size air line develop more head pressure for the pump?

    13. #13
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      I use 1” pvc that’s should be plenty and fit per bd spec
      Reduce at your own risk
      M.Nguyen


    14. #14
      two_wheeled is offline Senior Member
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      Quote Originally Posted by OCkoiFan View Post
      I use 1” pvc that’s should be plenty and fit per bd spec
      Reduce at your own risk
      Thanks, but I don't understand. I'm new a this.
      Is there a spec for BD airline supply lines? I can't find it.
      Also please help me understand what happens to the air supply if the airline is too large or too small. Since air compresses, does it follow the same dynamics of water flow? Does it have to fight gravity from the water pushing down against the BD? With that in mind, I'm wondering how much resistance the pump would have if it had to push the air under several feet of water through pipes of different sizes.
      Just curious.

    15. #15
      OCkoiFan's Avatar
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      Hehehe
      I drop out halfway before getting my engineer degree
      So I just think bigger is better
      Because
      1-it’s still depend on the size of pump you want to use
      My koitoilet work great with a 27lpm with a one in pipe and my brother use a 45lpm pump and still feed to one 1” inlet then tee off to 2-BD
      2-I see master pond builder Russell Peters use 1” pipe all the way for each BD drains
      2.5-i never see anyone reduce smaller than the fitting or size that would already perfect from the BD connection
      Raise your hand if there anyone out there please KPner
      M.Nguyen


    16. #16
      audioenvy is offline Supporting Member
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      Yeah I just used the fitting size that was coming from the BD and ran it all the way to my filtration area without going bigger or smaller. I'm pretty sure it was 1" but I'm going from memory on that.

      BTW, I have diffusers on my BDs but I have a remote control I can use to turn off the air when I want to view the fish and then back on again later.

    17. #17
      guardianx9 is offline Member
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      u can make ur own bottom drain out of pvc pipe and attach a difusser as a cover on the pvc pipe.. that is what i did and total cost come out to be about 60 ish buck from home deport pvc part

    18. #18
      OCkoiFan's Avatar
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      Koitoilet air pipe 3”BD

      My memory is so bad sorry
      here is the pipe one size all the way
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      M.Nguyen


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