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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 29/09/2007 21:34:12
Posts: 2,
Visits: 2
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Hi guys,
kust want to share something with anyone who is pump fed.
I have had some problems with **** building up on the bottom of my pond and my pumps not creating enough suction to get it all up.
So i looked into Retro Bottom Drains last week, and bought myself this one: http://www.allaboutkoi.co.uk/aerated-portable-bottom-dome-p-30071.html
The company is amazing, and this is the cheapest price around (£79.99), and postage is free.
I have installed it today, and amazingly, it made the bottom of my pond (you wont believe this, i still dont) spotless in about 3 - 4 hours.
It did take a bit of modifying, as my pump was not intended to have an intake fitted to it, so was not the size of any piping, but you may be lucky enough to have a pump that will fit a pipe straight to its inlet.
The higher the capacity of both your pumps, the better it opporates. My Water pump is 12,000L/ph and my Air pump is 90L/pm, so both are very high capacity, so bear this in mind when you consider how long it took to clean the bottom of my pond.
Now, the title of this post is Two for One. The reason for this is that you get the Retro Drain, which has amazing suction and cleans the pond bottom amazingly well, and you also get an Air Diffuser.
The Air Diffuser uses the same Membrain as the Spindrifter (EPDM), the difference being that the Spindrifter cost £69.99 ex P&P (at Boddington Koi), and is 9inches in diameter, and the Retro Drain is a massive 15inches in diameter and costs £79.99 inc P&P.
So, when you add postage to the Spindrifter, you get a larger Diffuser and an amazing bottom drain for only a few quid more than you ca get a small diffuser.
This really is a no brainer if you need either of these items.
Hope this has helped someone.
Jay
Cheers Jay
www.active.me.uk
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Post #116
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Supreme Being
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 01/12/2007 22:03:12
Posts: 387,
Visits: 303
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| Hi jay the membrane on the top does block n when this happens it causes an air lock n this brings it to the top thats the only down side of it , but as you say its still a good idea i use the non airated one but have adapted it to gravity n fitted the new richdon air dome on the top n thats working a treat for me 
johnokois protein skimmer mk2 http://www.goodwinfamily.force9.co.uk/SKIMMER2.pdf]
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Post #132
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Forum Newbie
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 15/05/2008 19:23:11
Posts: 2,
Visits: 18
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| I too have a retro bottom drain but had that many problems with air blocks I now redirect the air to a large air disc that sits on top of the drain. It's amazing how well it works. I turned the air off for a week and the amount of muck on the bottom of the pond was huge and there was a lot of it just floating in the pond. The air is now back on and within a day the bottom cleared and the floaters have all but gone. Can't recommend them enough, great piece of kit for pump fed ponds wouldn't go for an aerated one again just place an air disc on the top and away you go.
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Post #474
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Junior Member
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 23/12/2007 14:23:43
Posts: 20,
Visits: 32
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| I fitted this piece of kit about April/May and it has run continuously without any problem of blocking. I only run 40l of air through it and believe that is the secret. It is an amazing piece of kit. I thought my pond was clean and clear until I fitted this along with a sieve. Stewart
Don't get angry, get even.
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Post #744
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