Comment

Comment by TCLynx on January 10, 2013 at 5:57pm

I pick and choose what I glue.  It depends on the pressure involved and how likely a pipe is to get knocked out or if it is below grade.  Underground pipes get glued since it would suck to have them leaking and not know it.  Pipes under pressure from the pump if it is strong enough to blow apart get glued.  Definitely have a union or something near the pump to make taking it off easy.  Other plumbing that is not likely to come apart accidentally or if it came apart it wouldn't pump the system dry, that I don't glue.

Comment by coty on January 10, 2013 at 1:17pm

Ooo and this is without any grow media.

Comment by coty on January 10, 2013 at 1:16pm

Ok so today i tested my syphon and wanted to get your guys imput. (Good or bad!) My drain pipe and fill pipe are the same size and i have a 620gph pump. My fill time was 5:20. Drain time was 6:20 and it took about 10sec for my syphon to engage. After 1:15 the bell part of my syphon was full (not sure if that matters. It appeared my drain rate didnt change after the bell was full). Im thinking ill have to make a t to slow down my fill time if this is going to work.

Comment by John Cubit on January 9, 2013 at 3:00pm

@ Tony Gilliam  I glued all of mine but I might recommend that Union's be added to help with cleaning.  I have gotten 3/4" ones for as low as $1.00 a piece buy getting a plumbers pack.  Similar to these:

They have been life savers near 90's.

Comment by Tony Gilliam on January 9, 2013 at 2:06pm

Thanks John, but i already glued them. I did put cleanouts so i can clean them with a brush attached to a drill.

Comment by John E Windsor on January 9, 2013 at 11:34am

Don't glue the pipes Tony. Seriously! The piping needs cleaning occasionally and you may want to change your configuration. What I have done is carefully put the pipes together using a couple of rounds of teflon tape. You'll get the hang of it and it really makes it easy to take them apart later.

Comment by Tony Gilliam on January 9, 2013 at 11:20am

Thanks for all the great comments. I find that keeping busy helps. My cousin and his family have moved in with me. This big ol house sure was lonely alone. Looks like the weather is coming into a warm spell. I think i will go glue some pipes together.

Comment by Rob Nash on January 9, 2013 at 5:51am

Coty,

here is a bell siphon how-to by Rob Nash, these cost about $10 to  build.

i have one that has worked without fail for 2 years now.

http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/how-to-build-a-bell-siphon

Comment by Matt Miskinnis on January 8, 2013 at 9:47pm

@Coty,  The best thing to do with creating bell siphons is just to experiment.  I found the best ratio for me was that I had a 12 inch grow bed make sure to keep 2 inches in the bottom to always have some water there and then leave 2 inches on top for planting and being able to keep you grow medium dry (if not it will grow moss and stuff).  for the length of the drain from the siphon I didn't see it really mattering as much.  Currently my siphon has probably 2 inches down then runs horizontal a little bit, I don't think it matters much on the draining but just make sure you have it at an angle when it does, I have found that just a straight pipe going down doesn't work as well - like I said experimenting helps.  A straight down pipe seems not to give the best results and a pipe that is has a slight bend/angle worked best.  below is a proof of concept I was playing with on the bell siphons and they worked great.

Comment by Phil Slaton on January 8, 2013 at 9:37pm

I lost my son at Christmas time 40-years ago.  It still affects me during the holidays.

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