Botom drain in winter?

How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
of valve?

Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel) will
the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?

On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 20:25:10 CST, "Bill Stock" <> wrote:

>How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
>of valve?
>
>Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel) will
>the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?

My bottom drain will have a ball valve about 2 feet under ground as the
shut off before it enters the filter, so that's what I'll shut. This is how
the D.pond was done. I empty 2 of my barrels and all barrels of the D.pond
in winter, and never had a problem with crushing. The barrels used are
commercial grade juice barrels in Zone 6-7. ~ jan
------------
Zone 7a, SE Washington State
Ponds: www.jjspond.us

On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 20:25:10 CST, "Bill Stock" <>
wrote:

>How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
>of valve?
>
>Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel) will
>the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?

Aren't you in Texas Bill? I'm thinking Austin. Sorry for rambling.

I installed a knife valve between the pond drain and filter barrels,
but I just use it for flushing the drain pipe, never for shutting off
over winter. In fact I would think most of us would want to leave
it filled over winter. I'm in Zone 8 and seldom get 1/2" of ice in a
pond, but never had a lotus pot, or maypop container (1/2 barrels,
soap barrels from a car wash supplier.) to split from freezing
either. They are annoying as half barrels in that they don't hold a
round shape when split and used above ground as pots, but other than
that, no real barrel casualties.

Regards,

Hal

"Hal" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Sat, 9 Jun 2007 20:25:10 CST, "Bill Stock" <>
> wrote:
>
>>How do I close off the bottom drain in winter? Do they come with some kind
>>of valve?
>>
>>Also, if I remove the water from my buried filter (blue plastic barrel)
>>will
>>the frost crush it? Should I put it in a large plywood box to be safe?
>
> Aren't you in Texas Bill? I'm thinking Austin. Sorry for rambling.
>
> I installed a knife valve between the pond drain and filter barrels,
> but I just use it for flushing the drain pipe, never for shutting off
> over winter. In fact I would think most of us would want to leave
> it filled over winter. I'm in Zone 8 and seldom get 1/2" of ice in a
> pond, but never had a lotus pot, or maypop container (1/2 barrels,
> soap barrels from a car wash supplier.) to split from freezing
> either. They are annoying as half barrels in that they don't hold a
> round shape when split and used above ground as pots, but other than
> that, no real barrel casualties.
>
> Regards,
>
> Hal


No, Zone 5A here.

I'll probably build a box for them, just because the thought of digging them
up for maintenace is scary.

On Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:22:05 CST, "Bill Stock" <>
wrote:

>No, Zone 5A here.
>
>I'll probably build a box for them, just because the thought of digging them
>up for maintenace is scary.

Easier to deal with. I will never dig mine up, but cleaning filter
barrels is done with a Shop Vac. Maintenance would be easier if I
could simply flush and drain allowing the water to run downhill, but
my space is limited and burying them seemed the best option for me at
the time.

I wish you the best of luck whatever you decide. Moving South would
be good too.

Regards,

Hal