Aquaponic Gardening

A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

I am having a problem with the bell siphons. I have a 2" pvs return line that is gravity feeding back to the fish tank. Some of the bells are working fine, but some are breaking to soon and only drain about halfway down.

I am thinking the back pressure created from the 2" line filling with water is causing them to break to soon.I will have about 10 half barrels draining into this line when all is done.

Also there is only about 2-3" drop on the line.

Should this be a 3" line?

Or I can also add a sump next to the pool and U siphon which will add some drop to the return.

Views: 456

Replies to This Discussion

Using food can bring cats and chickens, however trying to herd them into a container is often not possible even with food.  Ducks are far easier to herd.

TCLynx, I'll give you that, It is hard to herd cats.

You wouldn't happen to know the max flow rates for pvc pipe?

My kat herds the hoomans. Any sudden moves are met with flawless fatalities.

I found this, hope it helps. Based on the below numbers in green, a 2" pipe should be more then enough.

I added a 2" vend pipe, found some of my bell caps were leaking air and I think that fixed the problem.

Assume Gravity to Low Pressure. About 6f/s flow velocity, also suction side of pump Assume Average Pressure. (20-100PSI) About 12f/s flow velocity Assume "High Pressure" PEAK flow. About 18f/s flow velocity*
Sch 40 Pipe Size ID
(range)
OD GPM
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)
GPH
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)
GPM
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)
GPH
(with minimal pressure loss & noise)
GPM
(with significant pressure loss & noise)
GPH
(with significant pressure loss & noise)
1/2" .50-.60" .85" 7 gpm 420 gph 14 gpm 840 gph 21 gpm 1,260 gph
3/4" .75-.85" 1.06" 11 gpm 660 gph 23 gpm 1,410 gph 36 gpm 2,160 gph
1" 1.00-1.03" 1.33" 16 gpm 960 gph 37 gpm 2,220 gph 58 gpm 3,510 gph
1.25" 1.25-1.36" 1.67" 25 gpm 1,500 gph 62 gpm 3,750 gph 100 gpm 5,940 gph
1.5" 1.50-1.60" 1.90" 35 gpm 2100 gph 81 gpm 4,830 gph 126 gpm 7,560 gph
2" 1.95-2.05" 2.38" 55 gpm 3300 gph 127 gpm 7,650 gph 200 gpm 12,000 gph
2.5" 2.35-2.45" 2.89" 80 gpm 4800 gph 190 gpm 11,400 gph 300 gpm 17,550 gph
3" 2.90-3.05" 3.50" 140 gpm 8400 gph 273 gpm 16,350 gph 425 gpm 25,650 gph
4" 3.85-3.95" 4.50" 240 gpm 14,400 gph 480 gpm 28,800 gph 700 gpm 42,000 gph
5" 4.95-5.05" 5.563" 380 gpm 22,800 gph 750 gpm 45,000 gph 1100 gpm 66,000 gph
6" 5.85-5.95" 6.61" 550 gpm 33,000 gph 1100 gpm 66,000 gph 1700 gpm 102,000 gph
8" 7.96" 8.625" 950 gpm 57,000 gph 1900 gpm 114,000 gph 2800 gpm 168,000 gph

Good deal Don,

Did you glue them or use sealant?  I use plumbers tape on most fittings now but Im glad you got it resolved. 

-David

I just build a grow bed 3'x 8' 12" deep with a 1" fill and a 2" drain bell siphon. The bed never drains more than 1/2 way down (gravel screen is an 8" pvc pipe with slits cut in on an angle by a 1/8 skil saw blade all about 3/16 apart, abundant flow) (I plan to downgrade the drain stand-pipe to 1 1/4" from the current 2" to slow flow rate thus allow more drainage before siphon break) which leads me to my question.... How can I determine if I have an anaerobic zone in a grow bed due to improper drainage?

You will smell it.

Calvin Wyatt Rodriguez said:

I just build a grow bed 3'x 8' 12" deep with a 1" fill and a 2" drain bell siphon. The bed never drains more than 1/2 way down (gravel screen is an 8" pvc pipe with slits cut in on an angle by a 1/8 skil saw blade all about 3/16 apart, abundant flow) (I plan to downgrade the drain stand-pipe to 1 1/4" from the current 2" to slow flow rate thus allow more drainage before siphon break) which leads me to my question.... How can I determine if I have an anaerobic zone in a grow bed due to improper drainage?

TY

I'm thinking worms wont live in the anaerobic zone.

RSS

© 2024   Created by Sylvia Bernstein.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service