Thanks for all the input. Can I put rocks with the strainer, or is it
better to leave rocks out of the pond.


"Grubber" wrote in message link.net...
"DAN" wrote in message
om...
Hello all,

I have a few questions and hope someone might be able to help.

I have a Beckett pump, forgot the rating, but its outlet is 1.5 inch.
I've read that you need to push the water through 3 inch pipes. So if
I use adapters I can go from 1.5 to 3 inch. Would this be ok for the
pump, would I gain anything from doing this or should I just leave it
at 1.5 inch.

Home Depot sells 20 mil PVC liner. Is this any good. 17x18 for $169
Can I get something better and cheaper.

A pond store guy told me that instead of a bottom drain, I should just
run a pipe to the deepest part of the pond. The end of it would just
be a strainer/grill that prevents fish from getting sucked in. This
way I don't have to put the drain through a liner and worry if it
leaks. Any opinions/advice about this.

Thanks in advance.

1 1/2" pipe has much less friction loss than 1" and may be adequate for your
size pond. There is probably little benefit above 2". The choice to go
above 1 1/2" depends on how long the pipe is. Unless you are piping 30' or
have several right angles, I'd stay with the 1 1/2".

As for strainer on the pipe vs bottom drain, that's just one less potential
headache to deal with. The chance of bottom drain failure may be small, but
that doesn't matter when it's your bottom drain that failed. I went with
the strainer.

Liner is cheap, and the savings on second rate liner is small. 20'x20' EPDM
for the same price as your 17x18 pvc he http://www.pondliner.com/EPDM.htm
although shipping will add a good bit. You may have a local pond store with
reasonable prices on this stuff.