how to purge bottom drain from air

[queenpd]

we have just installed our 5000 gallon pond, with 2 bottom drains, and a 8000gph external pump with a priming pot
we are having trouble getting the air out of the 3" bottom drain lines since the pump/pot are above water level,
what is the best way to go about this? the priming pot runs about half full,
should we just let it run and see what happens?
thanks

 

[addy1]

I ended up putting my pump/priming pot about 1/2 below water level (with our slope easy to do) it never loses prime now. Dug down just a little, made the water line hit about 1/2 way up the priming pot. Before, with it above water level, it was a pita to prime and keep primed if the electricity went out. I did not have a check valve in the line. Maybe a check valve would help you.

 

[Waterbug]

I assume this isn't a self priming pump. Running the pump while dry can burn out the pump pretty fast.

Hamburger A: Placing a check valve between the priming pot and pond is how it should be installed when above the pond water level. That allows you to open the pot and pour in water until full. Without the check valve all the water you pour into the pot just goes down the pipe and into the pond so the pot can never be filled.

Hamburger B: A better choice imo is to lower the priming pot and pump to be below the pond's lowest water level. That requires a ball valve be placed between the pond and pot instead of a check valve. That allows you to turn off the pump, then close the valve, and then open the pot for cleaning. Then you can close the pot, open the valve which will fill the pot and then turn on the pump.

I like hamburger B because:

1. You never have to pour water into the pot to prime.

2. Air generally cannot ever collect in the pot, it collects past the pump and pushed out. With hamburger B air can collect in the pot over time and cause the pump to lose prime and burn out.