bell siphons not always working - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T00:16:15Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/bell-siphons-not-always?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A167910&feed=yes&xn_auth=noHave you thought about adding…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-23:4778851:Comment:1919312011-08-23T04:18:09.293ZTodd Sowellhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/ToddSowell
<p>Have you thought about adding a vent pipe to your siphon? I have mine vented and it has worked without a problem.</p>
<p>A basic plumbing practice is to always have air behind water. It works for sinks and siphons!</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Have you thought about adding a vent pipe to your siphon? I have mine vented and it has worked without a problem.</p>
<p>A basic plumbing practice is to always have air behind water. It works for sinks and siphons!</p>
<p>Good Luck</p>
<p> </p> (please note: I'm using * for…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-09:4778851:Comment:1756052011-08-09T19:58:51.432ZPiceshttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/WilliamBarker
<blockquote><p><br/>(please note: I'm using * for "degree" because I don't know where the degree symbol is on my keyboard)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The degree symbol (º) can be inserted by holding the Alt key and entering 0186 on the keypad.</p>
<blockquote><p><br/>(please note: I'm using * for "degree" because I don't know where the degree symbol is on my keyboard)</p>
</blockquote>
<p>The degree symbol (º) can be inserted by holding the Alt key and entering 0186 on the keypad.</p> Very good Rob, The use of the…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-04:4778851:Comment:1700532011-08-04T16:12:55.518ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
Very good Rob, The use of the vent (or burp pipe) is very key sometimes, air locks or the inability of air to get in can really mess with the functioning of siphons or any drains sometimes.
Very good Rob, The use of the vent (or burp pipe) is very key sometimes, air locks or the inability of air to get in can really mess with the functioning of siphons or any drains sometimes. Kou,
Because I'm not exactly…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-04:4778851:Comment:1703452011-08-04T15:39:01.276ZRob C.https://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobCooper
<p>Kou,</p>
<p>Because I'm not exactly sure how your system is set up, I'm just going to describe my growbed's siphon and drainage system.</p>
<p>In the growbed, the siphon has a Media Guard made of a 4" diameter PVC pipe with 1/2" holes at 1" intervals. The Media Guard is higher than the gravel level. This keeps the gravel from clogging the holes in the siphon's Bell.</p>
<p>Inside the Media Guard is the siphon's Bell, made of a 3" diameter PVC pipe with 1" holes at the very bottom and a…</p>
<p>Kou,</p>
<p>Because I'm not exactly sure how your system is set up, I'm just going to describe my growbed's siphon and drainage system.</p>
<p>In the growbed, the siphon has a Media Guard made of a 4" diameter PVC pipe with 1/2" holes at 1" intervals. The Media Guard is higher than the gravel level. This keeps the gravel from clogging the holes in the siphon's Bell.</p>
<p>Inside the Media Guard is the siphon's Bell, made of a 3" diameter PVC pipe with 1" holes at the very bottom and a "knock out" cap at the top. The reason for the knock out cap is because a regular cap was too big to fit inside the Media Guard. The fit between the pipe and cap that makes the Bell needs to be airtight, and I had to apply aquarium silicone to the top of the bell to achieve that. The top of the Bell is somewhere between 1" to 2" below the gravel level.</p>
<p>The Siphon Stand Drain consists of a 2" pipe going into a 2"-to-3/4" reducer fitting going into a 3/4" elbow that attaches to the bulkhead fitting on the growbed wall. The bulkhead is mounted about 1" from the bottom of the growbed. The top of the Siphon Stand Drain is about 1" below the Bell's cap. There is a small hole (3/32") drilled into the 3/4" elbow to allow for a constant trickle of water out of the growbed; if the pump fails, the growbed will slowly drain instead of having standing water that will drown the plants' roots.</p>
<p>On the outside of the growbed, the bulkhead goes to a 3/4", 45* elbow that points downward (please note: I'm using * for "degree" because I don't know where the degree symbol is on my keyboard). The 45* elbow connects to a 3/4" tee fitting. One side of the tee is the Return Pipe that goes back to my Sump Tank. The return is a 3/4" pipe connected to a 3/4" elbow (pointing down) connected to 3/4", 45* elbow that empties into the Sump Tank.</p>
<p>The other side of the tee is connected to a 3/4" elbow (pointing up) with a 3/4" pipe that rises above the growbed. I call this the Burp Pipe because it "burps" when the siphon breaks. When the siphon in the growbed pulls air into the Return Pipe, the Burp Pipe also pulls air into the Return Pipe helping to break the siphon effect. At least, that's my theory as to why it works.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Just for the sake of clarity, all elbow fittings that were not described as 45* are 90*.</p>
<p>Sorry I don't have pictures; I haven't taken any yet. And I would put up a Google Sketchup drawing, but I'm typing this in the few minutes I have before I have to go to work.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Hope this helps.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>PS. Forgot to mention that I'm using Red Lava landscape rocks as my gravel. It's my understanding that gravel that is too small will cause drainage problems.</p> Rob,
The siphon pump I'm us…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-03:4778851:Comment:1693212011-08-03T03:38:43.940ZKouhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Kou
<p>Rob,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The siphon pump I'm using right now is based on Affnan. However I dont know why it does work like it supposed to when the growbed is filled with mediums.</p>
<p>Rob,</p>
<p> </p>
<p>The siphon pump I'm using right now is based on Affnan. However I dont know why it does work like it supposed to when the growbed is filled with mediums.</p> Have you thought about using…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-02:4778851:Comment:1688192011-08-02T16:56:40.353ZRob C.https://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/RobCooper
<p>Have you thought about using an Affnan siphon? I had major problems with two other siphon types (loop and straight bell) and could never get to flood and drain to work properly or without constant supervision. Once I put in the Affnan, it worked great!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://affnan-aquaponics.blogspot.com/2010/02/affnans-valve-detailed-explanations-of_9459.html">http://affnan-aquaponics.blogspot.com/2010/02/affnans-valve-detailed-explanations-of_9459.html</a></p>
<p>Have you thought about using an Affnan siphon? I had major problems with two other siphon types (loop and straight bell) and could never get to flood and drain to work properly or without constant supervision. Once I put in the Affnan, it worked great!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://affnan-aquaponics.blogspot.com/2010/02/affnans-valve-detailed-explanations-of_9459.html">http://affnan-aquaponics.blogspot.com/2010/02/affnans-valve-detailed-explanations-of_9459.html</a></p> Keep in mind a pump labeled a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-02:4778851:Comment:1688072011-08-02T13:22:12.645ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>Keep in mind a pump labeled as a 264 gph pump will not provide that much flow at any height above the water line. So if your grow bed is above the fish tank, your pump is likely not giving you anywhere near that much flow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You want to make sure you are pumping at least the volume of your fish tank each hour as a minimum. I pump sometimes as much as 4 times the volume of my fish tank each hour to get good filtering and aeration. As noted if you have a pump that is too…</p>
<p>Keep in mind a pump labeled as a 264 gph pump will not provide that much flow at any height above the water line. So if your grow bed is above the fish tank, your pump is likely not giving you anywhere near that much flow.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>You want to make sure you are pumping at least the volume of your fish tank each hour as a minimum. I pump sometimes as much as 4 times the volume of my fish tank each hour to get good filtering and aeration. As noted if you have a pump that is too strong, you can always use the bypass for more aeration in the fish tank.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now something to be noted about a grow bed with a siphon, once filled with gravel the water flow through the gravel and the gravel guard can effect the functioning of a siphon.</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> Hi Kou,
If you are new to AP…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-02:4778851:Comment:1684472011-08-02T04:21:19.223ZHarold Sukhbirhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/HaroldSukhbir
<p>Hi Kou,</p>
<p>If you are new to AP please give this a read if you haven't already <a href="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/page/aquaponic-gardening-rules-of">http://aquaponicscommunity.com/page/aquaponic-gardening-rules-of</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your FT(fish tank) looks to be around 180 gal water so you want to pump at least this amount every hour and you do have a 264 gph pump so you're OK. If the flow rate is too much and you want to reduce the cycles per hour you can put a tee fitting with…</p>
<p>Hi Kou,</p>
<p>If you are new to AP please give this a read if you haven't already <a href="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/page/aquaponic-gardening-rules-of">http://aquaponicscommunity.com/page/aquaponic-gardening-rules-of</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Your FT(fish tank) looks to be around 180 gal water so you want to pump at least this amount every hour and you do have a 264 gph pump so you're OK. If the flow rate is too much and you want to reduce the cycles per hour you can put a tee fitting with a valve an bypass water to the FT, this will reduce the pressure going to the GB(grow bed) and produce slower fills and less cycles. You can place this bypass line at a 45 degree angle as it enters the FT. The water entering the FT will increase your DO(dissolved oxygen) levels and send the fish waste to the center of the FT and into the pump. Cleaning and aerating at the same time.</p> Very good post. As a newbie,…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-02:4778851:Comment:1682512011-08-02T03:27:28.065ZKouhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Kou
<p>Very good post. As a newbie, I'm in the cycling stage right now and realized my bell siphon does not perform the way it is, when there's no medium.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I not so familiar with plumber terms, but my top pipe is 2 inches and my bottom is 1. It works well before, but now it hestitate for a couple time before it finish it's cycling. Also, I have a 275 gallon IBC tote cut 3/4 and using 1/4 as the grow bed. My pump is a 264 GPH pump. Is it too much? I really want to achieve 4…</p>
<p>Very good post. As a newbie, I'm in the cycling stage right now and realized my bell siphon does not perform the way it is, when there's no medium.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>I not so familiar with plumber terms, but my top pipe is 2 inches and my bottom is 1. It works well before, but now it hestitate for a couple time before it finish it's cycling. Also, I have a 275 gallon IBC tote cut 3/4 and using 1/4 as the grow bed. My pump is a 264 GPH pump. Is it too much? I really want to achieve 4 cycling in an hour.</p> I had the same problem and ha…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-08-02:4778851:Comment:1683732011-08-02T01:51:22.533ZPaul Westberghttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/PaulWestberg
I had the same problem and had a tight area to work in. We resolved the issue by cutting the pipe on the bell fairly close to the bottom of the GB and then putting on 2 ninety degree elbows and a bit of pipe to connect them. Of course we had one short piece draining straight down. Solved the issue immediately.
I had the same problem and had a tight area to work in. We resolved the issue by cutting the pipe on the bell fairly close to the bottom of the GB and then putting on 2 ninety degree elbows and a bit of pipe to connect them. Of course we had one short piece draining straight down. Solved the issue immediately.