Bickal DIY Bubble Dome Bottom Drain (BDBDBD)
Design
This style bottom drain is meant to be installed as the pond is being built. Air-Dome drains are used as a design element to increase circulation within the pond and provide a sweeping action that helps move debris to the drain.
Materials (Around $50 total)
Assembly/Installation
Design
This style bottom drain is meant to be installed as the pond is being built. Air-Dome drains are used as a design element to increase circulation within the pond and provide a sweeping action that helps move debris to the drain.
Materials (Around $50 total)
| Item | Qty | Description | Picture | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | 1 | Disk Diffuser 9" Diameter, Standard Flow Purchase At: Diffuser Express |
$20 | |
| B | 1 | Hose Clamp 3-5" Marine Grade Stainless Steel |
 |
$1 |
| C | 1 | PVC TEE 4", Schedule 40 |
$5 | |
| D | 1 | PVC Female Adapter ¾", Schedule 40 One end is Female Inside Pipe Thread (FIPT), the other end is SLIP |
 |
$.25 |
| E | 1 | PVC Pipe ¾" by 10' long, Schedule 40 |
$2 | |
| F | 1 | PVC Male Adapter ¾", Schedule 40 One end is Male Outside Pipe Thread (MOPT), the other end is SLIP |
 |
$.25 |
| G | 1 | Threaded 90 degree Elbow ¾". One end is Female Inside Pipe Thread (FIPT), the other is SLIP. |
 |
$.25 |
| H | 1 | PVC Reducer Bushing 4" to 2", Schedule 40 |
$5 | |
| I | 1 | PVC Reducer Bushing 2" to 1½", Schedule 40 |
$.50 | |
| J | 1 | PVC Reducer Bushing 2" to 1½", Schedule 40 |
$.25 | |
| K | 3 | Cement 50pound bag. I used Fast Setting Quick-Crete |
$15 | |
| L | 2 | PVC Elbow 3/4" PVC, Schedule 40, 90 degree |
 |
$1 |
Assembly/Installation
- Attach pipe and 45 degree elbows as necessary to complete the bottom drain and air line plumbing to the settling chamber.
- Backfill around the drain and air piping. Leave about a 24" diameter circle open around the drain.
- Cement in around the drain. Use the diffuser disk as a guide to ensure you have uniform gap around the drain. If your drain is not completely level, make your cement to match. Its better to be square than level in this instance. Make sure you get cement below the drain, and make sure it gets around all piping.
- Install the Rubber, and Pipe Boot around the drain(s).
- Thread the stem extension on to the Diffuser Disk.
- Thread the Diffuser Disk on to the bottom drain.
- You should end up with a gap between the liner and the cover about the thickness of a finger.
This style of DIY drain replaces the old type that I installed on the Thompson Pond or the Shulista Pond.