Bottom Drain or Not?

Doghouse Riley · 23-09-2011, 02:08 PM

This is not intended as a criticism of other people's systems which I'm sure work well, but as some advice for those cautious people who wisely just read this message board to pick up some advice before commencing their build.

Mine is an old fashioned system utilising a pump sump connected to a bottom drain. I say old-fashioned as it was considered "best practice" 25 years ago.
Such systems have subsequently been replaced by more modern technology.

I've posted these two videos before, but I thought I'd add a couple of photos.

The "science stuff" is in the notes on the two videos.

Filter Pump Sump - YouTube

Koi Pool Sump Purging - YouTube

My drain pump which pumps out most of the contents of the sump after the first standpipe draw, can't clear the last couple of inches in the sump where some of the heavy solids will still remain.

So this is much of was what was in the bottom drain and the connecting pipe. It needs two "goes" with my wet 'n' dry vac to clear it. This is just two days after the last purge.

"Those of a nervous disposition, look away now."

So if you're contemplating building a pool, I'd suggest whatever system you choose, a bottom drain is an essential part of it as this is the sort of stuff which will collect at the bottom, even though you might think you have "clear water."

muttley · 24-09-2011, 01:58 AM

Loving the 'happy' blackbird singing away in the video mate......

Doghouse Riley · 24-09-2011, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by muttley

Loving the 'happy' blackbird singing away in the video mate......

Thanks for that,

We are fortunate in that we live in a house with a 90' garden, as do the half a dozen neighbours either side. All the gaedens are well maintained.
These are mirrored by the same number of houses with similar length gardens behind us, so there's a big area for wildlife.
We've always got blackbirds nesting in the wisterias in the garden each year, plus there's regularly two dunnocks that live in the azaleas to the side of the main patio. Other birds that nest, are blue and great tits and we regularly see a robin and a little flock of sparrows. Plus the occasional jay and a fox.
Other sightings have been a sparrowhawk and a couple of times a year a heron, but that's more interested in the contents of our little "frog pond."
We're not that far from farmland.

My wife regularly feeds the birds and squirrels from feeders near the French windows. Despite what you may read the birds and squirrels are happy to feed from separate food trays within a foot of each other at the same time.The only blight are the several wood pigeons and the occasional cat.

I've got to say that I've always been impressed with my little Panasonic Lumix DMC digital camera which I've had for a few years and will also record ten minutes or so of video with excellent sound.