Installing A Retrofit Bottom Drain On A Koi Pond

Installing A Retrofit Bottom Drain On A Koi Pond.
With my Koi pond being pump fed, it was time i installed a retro bottom drain to help combat the waste that builds up on the pond floor.
Real koi ponds
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[@BKoiPond]

Hi, glad the fitting worked, thanks for the shout out for the shop...

[@Sharpeyskoi]

NP mate

[@DeanGoucher]

I’m on the fence. I’d like 1 but the videos I have seen on here people haven’t been all that happy with them. Nice little upgrade if it’s gone do a good job

[@Sharpeyskoi]

tbh it works really well, it defo gets more waste up than a pump would.

[@ItsWhatIDo]

I've got the retro bottom drain but mine is the one with the air line around the top. They work really well. The problem I had was they work too well and it was dragging all manner of crap through to the pump and blocking the pump intake. I did a few video's about it and one of my viewers recommended a pre-pump sieve unit and it's done the job for me. Only thing is no one in the UK makes them so they have to be imported from the US which bumps the price up to around the £100 mark. It takes a while to get them exactly right but you won't regret fitting the drain.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Thanks mate , I may have to look into that then

[@skeggy]

I think I can get them

[@adethekoikeeper6505]

Looking good and that 👍

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Cheers and that 👍

[@bbewekim88]

The T piece you didn’t use has a air vent on it to help get any air out of the drain. The drain looks like the one I bought. In the kit should have been a black Air hose reducer for exactly the issue your having. Takes it from 8mm to 4mm. They work really well compared to pump cages so if your having niggles with it give me a shout.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

thankyou. yes so the low profile kit also has the vent thing. it came with a little hose reducer but not for 8mm to 4mm. more 12mm to 8mm.

[@bbewekim88]

@@Sharpeyskoi that’s strange. Ask the supplier to check another box? Must be a mistake to not supply one that fits. I have just got an EA 70lpm air pump I am going to try airwise. I currently have a 30lpm splitting to a couple of air stones and the bottom drain but going to see what it’s like with a bigger air pump. Will feedback.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

@bbewekim88 yes mines a 30lpm too. I've just got the reducer today but now won't power both air stones and drain at same time lol. I've got headache 😫

[@skeggy]

Looking at the low profile kit you seem to have the bleeder on the side not the top 😫

[@bbewekim88]

@@Sharpeyskoi just to feedback. Got the EA70 air pump going today and it’s a lot better compared to my 30lpm. I know that sounds obvious but I would recommend upgrading. Sorry! Perhaps no urgent rush with the poor weather 😂

[@martynskoipondandgarden4581]

nice job dan buddy 👍👍

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Thanks matey. Hope you're well

[@martynskoipondandgarden4581]

thanks @@Sharpeyskoi

[@bluzze6575]

I have a retrofit bottom drain on my pond and do get frogs ect will get sucked in to the pump and can break it.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

I bet that can be a pain. Luckily I don't get any frogs in my pond

[@cescasreefandpond1137]

Nice update Sharpey hope it works well for you ⛩🐟⛩

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Thanks so much

[@jiffsterkoi]

Hi sharpy if it’s not sitting flush you may have a air lock one of the fittings that sits on top has a bleed valve once the air is out it should sit down They definitely work better than the standard pumps it may settle down in a few days All the best Jiffster 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Cheers mate, yeah I seen that valve. Its sitting a lot better now

[@scotthendersonKoiAndHawks]

Nice one mate i was looking at one of these for my next upgrade 👍

[@Sharpeyskoi]

I'll let you know how i get on with it

[@scotthendersonKoiAndHawks]

@@Sharpeyskoi cheers buddy's 👍

[@simonshears5182]

I would definitely say the distance from RBD then to filter isn’t helping you , I’ve got the other type RBD air rope and inch half pipe which from RBD to pump then to filter = 3 metres on 20.000 vari at 50% pulls nicely which goes through a 3 meter KK Manor 4 bay . Also I went with the other retro connector “Just Incase” but still managed to low profile it so koi couldn’t go through and get caught up.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

I've turned the pump slightly up so pulls a but better, but like lau said in her comment , as mine is L shaped its better not to pull from drain round the bend . I'll get my air on this week

[@westbromkoi]

Once it’s settled I’m sure it’ll be fine mate, a lot of people rave about them

[@Sharpeyskoi]

cheers Pete

[@Garykoi625]

Just watched you fit your retro bottom drain r u any happier with it now 6 months on?

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Definitely mate. Although could do with another due my pond being L shaped lol

[@HumberKoi]

I have the one with the blue coil on it this looks a lot better

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Yeah I didn't like look of the coiled version

[@skeggy]

Those air pipes get covered on alge really quick it wont be noticable .. itlf your pond bottom isnt flat then it could benlofting on the low profile kit or it could be that you have a short pipe to the pump which isnt allowing it to sit flat or if the flexi pipe isnt so flexi .. ill speak to the manufacturer anout the air line connector

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Cheers Daz

[@LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection]

You won't regret it once it works properly. I don't understand why it doesn't sit properly on the floor. The two things I can see in your case is, first you need some air, as this will help with the suction. You can buy a reducer for the air pump. It's a little plastic tube that fits in the air pipe, then reduced on the other side, and you put a 4mm air pipe then in your pump. The second thing is, you have a lot of green fluff in the bottom floor. That (even with a normal bottom drain) will stop the waste to go to the bottom drain. Blanket weed treatment and that will go. But you won't regret it. I've had mine since I built the pond, and rarely have poo on the floor, only a tiny bit early in the morning

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Thanks lau. ive searched all my local koi dealers and even garden centres for the reducers and none have them so ill search online this week. then i can get the air on .

[@LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection]

Tomorrow I'll take a picture of mine and send it to you. I'll try to remember where I bought it from.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

just ordered some from amazon, so hopefully it will work i also think i need to turm nexus up a bit.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

@@LauMagroTheFrenchKOInection yes please

[@Sharpeyskoi]

would you say the position is ok?

[@Ryan-cy7ys]

Another really useful video, thanks. Just planning my pond extension from 1000 gallons to 3300 gallons which will have to be pump fed due to size and layout of the garden so I'll be having the RBD in from the off running to a 320. Couple of questions for you, any other RBD users or @skeggy: Could these be run with the pump out of the pond? Was thinking of using hard piping through the pond wall and of having less clutter on the pond floor, then from pump to nexus.

[@Sharpeyskoi]

I think it's better to do that tbf.

[@Ryan-cy7ys]

@@Sharpeyskoi Thanks mate, appreciate the reply.

[@skeggy]

Thanks for the shoutout mate ❤

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Anytime

[@stevenpayton989]

Is your drain working mine doesn't seem to do anything you can see poo near it but it doesn't suck anything up i was just wondering if you are having any look with yours

[@Sharpeyskoi]

It is but as you say poo sometimes just seems to sit there

[@Bite_Me]

Noce pond and you've some lovely fish. I'm looking at a reto bottom drain, but the 4" one, as im gravity feed. It will be approx 7' deep so im hoping there will be sufficient draw. Haven't found anyone with a 4" one i don't suppose you or anyone reading this knows any vids on the 4"?

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Get in touch with Daz at skeggy pond supplies and see if he can help

[@Bite_Me]

@@Sharpeyskoi thanks I will.

[@user-dy3xu5ui2r]

Pump needs to be closer to retro drain , no more than half a metre away I would say for full effect

[@Sharpeyskoi]

thankyou, ill try it

[@carollycett1329]

I Have the same one my pond is a lot cleaner but you will still find poop on floor I usually push it towards the drain I need assistance to remove it for cleaning every few mths

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Thanks Carol

[@jacamotos]

I think u need the air in bottom drain so it works properly mate, had mine for 2 year or so now an does the job..

[@Sharpeyskoi]

it will as soon as it get the reducer for my air pump to have the air on

[@skeggy]

@Sharpeyskoi mine are the same and I don't run the air on them they work fine .. but then again I have a much higher flow rate through mine . I'm checking also what flow rate they recommend

[@Sharpeyskoi]

@skeggy yeah because I can't have it high because of the nexus

[@skeggy]

@Sharpeyskoi which nexus is it and what flow rate ? Thought yours was a 320?

[@Sharpeyskoi]

@@skeggy 220, running a 11500 vari at 50%. Works great as hardly get fines

[@jpwatergardens2290]

1 pump pump to far away 2 pipe not big nuf on suckson side 3 pump not big nuf as try to suck lot moro water . 4 need 8 mm air hose and t piece and control valve to ajust your flow I would told u all that if I sold that item and all parts

[@Sharpeyskoi]

I'll be honest mate, it's doing OK. I just need a new air pump

[@jpwatergardens2290]

Or could just run it with out air for now as end of year got some gd deal come up if kown size air pump you won't I give you price with delivery

[@sroRAGE]

It won’t be sucked in cause your flow on your crappy nexus is too low even with a proper bottom drain you need suction so 10k plus pump unless you train your fish to sweep the flow towards the drain rofl

[@Sharpeyskoi]

Thanks for your input. Although nexus working great 👍