How important is a bottom drain with a skimmer.

[Mickey]

This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing since it
is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer and
removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond will be
drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is used by
itself.

[RichToyBox]

The skimmer will collect most of the material before it has a chance to go
to the bottom, but some still settles and the bottom drain makes cleaning
the bottom of the pond much easier, since it is doing it all day and all
night.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing since
it
> is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer and
> removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond will
be
> drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is used by
> itself.
>
>

[RichToyBox]

The skimmer will collect most of the material before it has a chance to go
to the bottom, but some still settles and the bottom drain makes cleaning
the bottom of the pond much easier, since it is doing it all day and all
night.
--
RichToyBox
http://www.geocities.com/richtoybox/pondintro.html


"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing since
it
> is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer and
> removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond will
be
> drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is used by
> itself.
>
>

[Nedra]

Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing since
it
> is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer and
> removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond will
be
> drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is used by
> itself.
>
>
>

[Nedra]

Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing since
it
> is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer and
> removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond will
be
> drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is used by
> itself.
>
>
>

[Nedra]

Mickey,
Zone 6 cuts right across the state ... approximately. So, it depends on
where you lived in Missouri? ;-) My brother used to live in
northern Michigan ... they used to go ice fishing - I know what
your talking about. lol Too cold for me!

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> It might work I know airation is used on some lakes around here. I also
know
> the Ice gets 18" thick where I live. Zone 6 is that Missouri weather? I
grew
> up down there. If it is the ponds freezing there is nothing like it is
here
> we drive cars on the lakes here.
> "Nedra" > wrote in message
> rthlink.net...
> > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> >
> > Nedra
> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> >
> > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing
> since
> > it
> > > is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer and
> > > removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond
> will
> > be
> > > drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> > > Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is used
by
> > > itself.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Nedra]

Mickey,
Zone 6 cuts right across the state ... approximately. So, it depends on
where you lived in Missouri? ;-) My brother used to live in
northern Michigan ... they used to go ice fishing - I know what
your talking about. lol Too cold for me!

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> It might work I know airation is used on some lakes around here. I also
know
> the Ice gets 18" thick where I live. Zone 6 is that Missouri weather? I
grew
> up down there. If it is the ponds freezing there is nothing like it is
here
> we drive cars on the lakes here.
> "Nedra" > wrote in message
> rthlink.net...
> > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> >
> > Nedra
> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> >
> > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing
> since
> > it
> > > is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer and
> > > removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond
> will
> > be
> > > drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> > > Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is used
by
> > > itself.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Mickey]

Way south Theodosia it is on Bull Shoals Lake.
"Nedra" > wrote in message
rthlink.net...
> Mickey,
> Zone 6 cuts right across the state ... approximately. So, it depends on
> where you lived in Missouri? ;-) My brother used to live in
> northern Michigan ... they used to go ice fishing - I know what
> your talking about. lol Too cold for me!
>
> Nedra
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
>
> "Mickey" > wrote in message
> ...
> > It might work I know airation is used on some lakes around here. I also
> know
> > the Ice gets 18" thick where I live. Zone 6 is that Missouri weather? I
> grew
> > up down there. If it is the ponds freezing there is nothing like it is
> here
> > we drive cars on the lakes here.
> > "Nedra" > wrote in message
> > rthlink.net...
> > > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> > >
> > > Nedra
> > > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> > >
> > > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing
> > since
> > > it
> > > > is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer
and
> > > > removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond
> > will
> > > be
> > > > drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> > > > Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is
used
> by
> > > > itself.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Mickey]

Way south Theodosia it is on Bull Shoals Lake.
"Nedra" > wrote in message
rthlink.net...
> Mickey,
> Zone 6 cuts right across the state ... approximately. So, it depends on
> where you lived in Missouri? ;-) My brother used to live in
> northern Michigan ... they used to go ice fishing - I know what
> your talking about. lol Too cold for me!
>
> Nedra
> http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
>
> "Mickey" > wrote in message
> ...
> > It might work I know airation is used on some lakes around here. I also
> know
> > the Ice gets 18" thick where I live. Zone 6 is that Missouri weather? I
> grew
> > up down there. If it is the ponds freezing there is nothing like it is
> here
> > we drive cars on the lakes here.
> > "Nedra" > wrote in message
> > rthlink.net...
> > > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> > >
> > > Nedra
> > > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> > >
> > > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond plumbing
> > since
> > > it
> > > > is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer
and
> > > > removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the pond
> > will
> > > be
> > > > drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800 GPH
> > > > Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is
used
> by
> > > > itself.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

[Nedra]

Ohhh ... you were waay South. Lots of good fishin' around
there!

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> Way south Theodosia it is on Bull Shoals Lake.
> "Nedra" > wrote in message
> rthlink.net...
> > Mickey,
> > Zone 6 cuts right across the state ... approximately. So, it depends on
> > where you lived in Missouri? ;-) My brother used to live in
> > northern Michigan ... they used to go ice fishing - I know what
> > your talking about. lol Too cold for me!
> >
> > Nedra
> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> >
> > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > It might work I know airation is used on some lakes around here. I
also
> > know
> > > the Ice gets 18" thick where I live. Zone 6 is that Missouri weather?
I
> > grew
> > > up down there. If it is the ponds freezing there is nothing like it is
> > here
> > > we drive cars on the lakes here.
> > > "Nedra" > wrote in message
> > > rthlink.net...
> > > > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > > > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > > > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > > > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > > > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > > > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > > > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > > > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > > > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > > > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> > > >
> > > > Nedra
> > > > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > > > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> > > >
> > > > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond
plumbing
> > > since
> > > > it
> > > > > is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer
> and
> > > > > removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the
pond
> > > will
> > > > be
> > > > > drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800
GPH
> > > > > Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is
> used
> > by
> > > > > itself.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Nedra]

Ohhh ... you were waay South. Lots of good fishin' around
there!

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"Mickey" > wrote in message
...
> Way south Theodosia it is on Bull Shoals Lake.
> "Nedra" > wrote in message
> rthlink.net...
> > Mickey,
> > Zone 6 cuts right across the state ... approximately. So, it depends on
> > where you lived in Missouri? ;-) My brother used to live in
> > northern Michigan ... they used to go ice fishing - I know what
> > your talking about. lol Too cold for me!
> >
> > Nedra
> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> >
> > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > It might work I know airation is used on some lakes around here. I
also
> > know
> > > the Ice gets 18" thick where I live. Zone 6 is that Missouri weather?
I
> > grew
> > > up down there. If it is the ponds freezing there is nothing like it is
> > here
> > > we drive cars on the lakes here.
> > > "Nedra" > wrote in message
> > > rthlink.net...
> > > > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > > > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > > > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > > > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > > > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > > > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > > > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > > > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > > > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > > > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> > > >
> > > > Nedra
> > > > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > > > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> > > >
> > > > "Mickey" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > This year is the experimental year for the 3000gallon pond
plumbing
> > > since
> > > > it
> > > > > is the first year. I am thinking of just running the OASE skimmer
> and
> > > > > removing the aftermarket bottom drain. I live in Zone 4 and the
pond
> > > will
> > > > be
> > > > > drained yearly do to freezing. Is this a bad idea? I have a 3800
GPH
> > > > > Sequence pump and it sucks aloot of stuff off the top when it is
> used
> > by
> > > > > itself.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Nedra]

Ahhh .. the sun saves your pond from icing over then.
Glad you don't have to deal with that.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"johnrutz" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Nedra wrote:
> > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> >
> > Nedra
> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> >
> >
> and I just shut down pumps when ice starts forming on the pond
> ( 8000)galons )
> i dont use an air stone as the N side of the pond is next to a concrete
> patio and there is a 2'x25' area of liner facing the sun which heats up
> enough to keep a hole open along that side
>
> John Rutz
> Z5 New Mexico
>
> never miss a good oportunity to shut up
>
> see my pond at:
>
> http://www.fuerjefe.com
>
>

[Nedra]

Ahhh .. the sun saves your pond from icing over then.
Glad you don't have to deal with that.

Nedra
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118

"johnrutz" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> Nedra wrote:
> > Mickey, I have an approx. 3,000 gallon pond (zone 6) ...
> > alot of our northern ponders just use a couple of airstones
> > placed about 6 inches below the surface of the water to
> > keep a hole open in the ice. The airstones provide aeration
> > and degate the use of pumps - just thru the winter of course.
> > I also have a De-Icer that I use when the horrid
> > winter winds kick in. Pond is on the north side of the house
> > and gets no sun at all in the wintertime.
> > You may want to think about just shutting down the filtration
> > and pumps and go to airpump/airstone for the winter.
> >
> > Nedra
> > http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Pines/4836
> > http://community.webshots.com/user/nedra118
> >
> >
> and I just shut down pumps when ice starts forming on the pond
> ( 8000)galons )
> i dont use an air stone as the N side of the pond is next to a concrete
> patio and there is a 2'x25' area of liner facing the sun which heats up
> enough to keep a hole open along that side
>
> John Rutz
> Z5 New Mexico
>
> never miss a good oportunity to shut up
>
> see my pond at:
>
> http://www.fuerjefe.com
>
>