Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

When pouring concrete, does anyone know of issues with the seal around PVC running throughout it. I'm about to do a pour and have reservations about putting a drain in the bottom of the FT and Sump. C1 - I would really like you to chime in...

Thanks!

maybe you could look into swimming pool construction. its common practice to have a drain at the bottom, usually pvc i suppose, and they usually hold back thousands and thousands of gallons.

no issue, just put it in.

Years ago I saw these flat disks that slip on the pipe. I think they were for terminate prevention but maybe there is something similar for water.

I think that smooth PVC will not bond all that well with rough concrete and small cracks or gaps will occur over time, but having seen many old concrete tanks with small cracks that no longer leak I think that the bioslime and small bits floating in the water will plug the gaps and stop the leak given time.

This is just my personal opinion not a fact.

I have a pvc drain in the bottom center of my concrete pond..that doesn't seem to leak (as far as I can tell although it is buried)...however.. my concrete was heavily reinforced with galvanised steel mesh, I added a waterproofing additive to the concrete when I did the pour and I coated my pond with multiple coats of paint on pond liner that I ran down into the pvc drain using an embeded cloth mesh to reinforce around the lip of the pipe. I also later tiled the pond using super strong tile cement for swimming pools.

The plus is that it is very easy to drain from fish tank and I intend to use this in the future for when I add grow beds and a sump at a lower level in my grden..

Ohhh I just remembered my folks in the country have a massive concrete water tank that has a big outlet at the bottom...(it is mandatory here for fire fighting purposes)...and their tank is unlined so it must be achievable.

Thanks everyone. I asked at a pool place and they said just put it in.