Pond Boss Forums POND CONSTRUCTION Building a dam siphon system question

i would like to use the siphon system on my pond when i build it--the system seems simple enough --but my question is other than managing the "full" water level how would you drain the whole pond if wanted to drain it and restock?? just tying to think ahead. if you have a link where this question has been answered before please provide it to me---appreciate any advice on this detail of siphon systems.

As long as the outboard side of the siphon(lowest point) is lower than the water level in the pond, it will keep siphoning, although at a slower pace as the pond lowers.

thanks--i understand that part but the drawings i have of siphon systems the pipe going down into the pond is nowhere near the bottom. the only way i can figure it is once the siphon system drains all it will to siphon the rest off using a 2 or 3 inch flexible pipe?

That's how I interpret it too, GAPR. Extend the siphon inlet downward and it should take the water level correspondingly lower (within the inlet-higher-than-outlet limit BM gave).

I believe the reason the permanent siphon systems are a couple feet off bottom is so it wont stir up too much sediment. Could be wrong, though. That's why I would, and may in up doing.

GPR,
Plug the vent and wait for overflow (rain) to prime the system for you.
Or plug both ends and fill pipe with water, then close vent and open up ends of pipe.
Or plug outlet end and vacuum all air out through the vent, close vent, open outlet.

I have the picture here and have read other posts. It seems to me that the only way to prevent freezing of the water in the vent is to have the drain pipe buried at or below the typical freeze line (which I am guessing to be a foot in Oklahoma) with the vent "teed" off at that level in the soil otherwise the water would freeze at that joint (just above the running water) and cause a continual flow. Someone correct me if I am thinking of this wrong.

Craig

Craig,
Your right about the drain pipe, however the vent pipe should be empty.
If the drain pipe is an 8" pipe, with the inlet going into the pond well below freeze line, and enough cover over the rest of it, it won't freeze.
If the vent tube came out of the top of the 8" pipe at the highest point it puts the vent pipe at least 8" above water level, the diameter of the drain pipe. If intake end of vent is sat at same height of 8" above water level, all of the vent pipe is at least 8" above normal water level, thus empty, except during rain events.