bottom drain

[JaxsBr]

anyone ever do a bottom drain.

im looking for a way of doing one that wil be safe.no possibility of flooding everything say the power goes out.

here is an idea i have.sorry bad sketch.
View attachment 395269

 

[cypher1024]

Cool idea!

I haven't done it, but there's no reason why it shouldn't work. The only possible alteration I'd make would be to swap the T junction and the 90 degree elbow. I had my overflow set up in your configuration and I had problems with the T junction being swamped by water. Once I swapped the two around, the problem went away.

Here's what I mean:

The really cool part of your design is that it doesn't need priming.

 

[JaxsBr]

Cool idea!

I haven't done it, but there's no reason why it shouldn't work. The only possible alteration I'd make would be to swap the T junction and the 90 degree elbow. I had my overflow set up in your configuration and I had problems with the T junction being swamped by water. Once I swapped the two around, the problem went away.

Here's what I mean:


The really cool part of your design is that it doesn't need priming.

thanx for the idea on the t.
il try it first,and do it right 1st time.

 

[cypher1024]

Sweet! Keep us updated

 

[Rivermud]

Your idea will work well. A few people have done something similar including myself. My "test" tank has a system like this, however I chose to have the drain out of the back so that I would not have issues with moving the tank and setting it on a stand. I wanted to be able to access all of my plumbing easily.

I have a few ideas for you though. You can have the plumbing save a lot of work you you. With is set up in the fashion you are planning, you can set t's to different water levels thus allowing you to set it up for say 30% water changes and full drains quite easily.

Here are some pics to help illustrate what I am talking about.


In this picture the tank is laying on it's front so you are looking at the back of the tank. The water flows through the intakes at the bottom then up the first pipe to the top where the water level is determined. There are two "t's" on one side that are closed off with ball valves. You can open either one of these to drain the tank to that level. Thus, I can drain it 30% or completely simply by turning a valve. The drain line has another valve on it to regulate wheterh or not the water goes to the sump or to the hose running out to the garden.



Upright pic taken on first fill day



Pic from the front looking in to the drains in the bottom corners.