Single Barrel Ponics

[Mike C.]

This is a single barrel concept that I put together for students and local gardening club to be able to recreate. It works really well and is really easy to do. 

[Athey]

Nice work, looks cheap, compact and efficient...what is the purpose of the larger pipe with the screen coming out of the growing medium?

[AJ Grottke]

This is really neat, i like the small price tag, i might have to build one if ya dont mind :)

[Mike C.]

Hi, Thanks for the reply's. It is a single barrel cut at the top around the first band. Its easy to follow the pre-made line and its right above 12 inches. So the top part is a little above 12 inches. I cut 2, 12 inch square holes for access to the bottom while the top is in place. They make good windows and also great handles to move it! I used 1 inch pvc with a 4 point T to set the top on. It makes a good base since the top wants to slip inside of the bottom if you set it on top of the bottom while loaded with media. I have the bruises to prove it. I got the crap pinched out of my forearm  while trying to remove the top out of the bottom stuck sideways. Fully loaded with Media and water. Ouch!!!! The top is full of hydroton. I found gravel just to heavy for what I was trying to do. I think Lava rock would work well also. The one PVC is the return from the bottom. The other is a Bell siphon based on Affnan's version. It is 3 inch into a 2 inch Bell siphon with a 1 inch stand pipe inside. The top is shower stall cover, I found it fits right inside of a 3 inch PVC pipe without any modification. The bottom has a 180 gph pump I found at Pet super market on sale for $18.00. The head on it was 6 ft so I thought it was a good bargain. Total price on the project was.

55 gallon drum (free) water and wastewater Dept. (county, city) are great places to get these, they throw them away.

Pump- $18.00

1 inch (10 ft PVC) $2.48 used for bracket to hold top and stand pipe (bell siphon)

2 inch (2 ft section PVC) $2.89 ( precut at lowes) Bell Siphon

3 inch (2 ft section PVC) $ 2.90 (precut at lowes) Bell Siphon

Piece of 4 ft aquarium tubing (black) from fish store $2.00

A few PVC fittings maybe $3.00 

A little time about 1 Hour to assemble. (figuring this all out days and days)

Water and fish of choice 

Seedlings or plants of Choice.

A big smile and Hooray!!!!! Aquaponics in a single barrel, able to fit in the kitchen for herbs or the apartment (with appropriate lighting of course) or on the back deck....

Priceless : )

If you have any questions or suggestions please let me know..... I have all the measurement and full supply list and instructions if anyone wants them. I took pics of the entire process and reasons for doing everything. 

Later 

Mike

 

 

[Mike C.]

It is a Bel Siphon, (based of affnan's design) 3 into 2 into 1 the top is a shower intake that fit perfectly. I found the  Bell   Siphon on this self contained system was the best way to go after a few different versions i tried. If you need or want some plans let me know I can send them to you.

Athey said:

Nice work, looks cheap, compact and efficient...what is the purpose of the larger pipe with the screen coming out of the growing medium?

[Mike C.]

Sure go ahead. Thats why I put it out there. If you need plans let me know. You can put it together in under an hour.

AJ Grottke said:

This is really neat, i like the small price tag, i might have to build one if ya dont mind

[AJ Grottke]

what kind of fish you got in there Mike? and how many?  just curious

[Athey]

Thanks for the info. - I am new to this - what purpose does the Bell siphon serve?

[Mike C.]

Hi, i started it with some goldfish to cycle and now I have around 10 tilipia fingerling's. Of course some of the goldfish took one for the team until everthing leveled out. Now everything is very happy with the tilipia, lettuce and basil. It cycle's about every 15 min (flood and drain) with the way i have the bell siphon tuned to the pump.

AJ Grottke said:

what kind of fish you got in there Mike? and how many?  just curious

[Mike C.]

Hi, the bell siphon is used to auto drain the single barrel set up (flood and drain) it is a design of Affnan's that I used for this set up. It cycles about every 15 minutes. I tweaked mine to match what i was trying to do. This is his Blog

http://affnan-aquaponics.blogspot.com/2010/02/affnans-valve-detaile...

He explains alot. Much better than me trying to tell you.  

Athey said:

Thanks for the info. - I am new to this - what purpose does the Bell siphon serve?

[Harold Sukhbir]

Hi Athey,
You'll get more info here.
http://aquaponicscommunity.com/main/search/search?q=bell+siphons
Athey said:

Thanks for the info. - I am new to this - what purpose does the Bell siphon serve?

[Tony Pezzolo]

Hey folks - This is exactly the type of small system I would like to pursue to start learning! Does anybody have plans or more detailed instructions for a set up like this?

[Mike C.]

Hi Tony, I have all the specs and parts and prices to do this project. (cheap) Very simple and easy and works very very well. Iv'e done about 30 of these so far and have tweaked it as i found out things that work simpler and cheaper. If you want the specs let me know