Bell Syphon

[Tom Dumas]

I'm new to this site and I think the following attachment,  Bell%20Syphon.pdf , might be helpful to people just starting out.  It was just what I was looking for. 

[Bob Vento]

Tom,

Check this out ....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDzcKgWLRf0

I have been using this design, flawlessly in my system since I built it. 

Regards,
Bob

[Bob Vento]

I have included a few photos to show you the finished product. What I like about this design is that ALL of the parts are readily available, cleans up easily, and is above all it's FREE ! The water pitcher in the gravel cost a dollar at the dollar store. This holds the grow rocks in place and has holes punched in it for good water flow.

Regards,
Bob

[Tom Dumas]

I'm always amazed at what people can come up with that appears to be simple and easy to make.  Never would have thought of that.  Your plants look great. How long does it take for your IBC to empty and fill again?    Tom 

 

Bob Vento said:

I have included a few photos to show you the finished product. What I like about this design is that ALL of the parts are readily available, cleans up easily, and is above all it's FREE ! The water pitcher in the gravel cost a dollar at the dollar store. This holds the grow rocks in place and has holes punched in it for good water flow.

Regards,
Bob

[Bob Vento]

Tom,

I started out reading the same PDF that you posted before finding that brit's video. I found it to be very inventive so I had to try it. I use a V8 Fusion bottle for the outside and the top of one of my wife's empty Seltzer bottles on a 1" PVC stand for the inside. The trick is in HOW you cut the bottom out of the outside V8 Fusion bottle. Mine has evolved over time with better and better design cuts. I'll try and get a picture for you.

I had experimented with different plastic bottles before deciding on these and here is why.

Some plastic bottles are made with too thin a plastic and the vacuum created with the bell siphon tends to crush them (Pepsi 2 liter bottle). Some bottles are too brittle and spider cracks begin to appear near the neck and top of the bottle. (Generic 2 liter bottles). The V8 Fusion bottle is just right as "Little Red Riding Hood" would say. It holds its shape and does not buckle under the vacuum pressure.
Did I mention they are FREE? (after consuming the beverage of course) 

I was amazed at how well this works, and once every few of weeks, as needed, I use a toilet brush from the Dollar Tree Store to brush the algae that collects on outside and inside of the plastic then I also do the same thing with the seltzer funnel and pipe stem.  I wash these pieces in the fish tank cuz they love to eat the algae. The outside bottle, inside funnel and stem are now clean and ready for re-use.

My Fill & Drain cycle is approximately 2 1/2 minutes to fill, and 2 1/2 minutes drain. I know many folks like a longer fill & drain cycle but as you can see ... my plants are loving it.

Also, I have a valve I can close down if I wanted the fill process to take longer. I have found many ways to be frugal and achieve the same results. It's a lot of fun and educational, I am always discovering better ways of doing things.

Regards,
Bob

Bob Vento said:

I have included a few photos to show you the finished product. What I like about this design is that ALL of the parts are readily available, cleans up easily, and is above all it's FREE ! The water pitcher in the gravel cost a dollar at the dollar store. This holds the grow rocks in place and has holes punched in it for good water flow.

Regards,
Bob