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How make an overflow that sucks from the bottom of the FT?

I've seen some picture where you have an overflow pipe from the top of the fish tank, controlling the water level in the FT and draining to the grow bed. At the same time it has a pipe to the bottom, to suck up the solids. How do I make one? It's meant to go in an IBC tote cut down to approximately 800 litres (200 gal).

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http://www.aquaponiclynx.com/aquaponic-lynx-llc/aquaponics-in-detai...

You need a couple pieces of PVC pipe and a PVC 'T'-connector. The top of the 'T' needs to be open. The pipe at the bottom of you fish tank...you can cut the end at a 45 degree angle so that it doesn't suction to the bottom. Many folks put a really big net pot around the bottom of that pipe (or a plastic milk crate or whatever) as well...

If you you search the term SLO (solids loft overflow) you can probably find more info...

I second Vlad's comment about the top of the T being open, but just so that's clear, the T will be sideways, like this: ⊢

The reason is to prevent it turning into a siphon and draining all the water from your tank... of course, if the other end of the pipe (draining into your sump) stays above water level, it won't siphon anyway and it's a moot point.

The net sounds like a good idea, too... I have had trouble with small fish (I'm using goldfish) going up the pipe intentionally and repeatedly in search of proverbial greener pastures.  You would think one or two exposures to the sump tank would be enough to teach them it's not worth the trouble, but goldfish have never been known for intelligence!

Are you saying to have just the part at the bottom of the tank be an open pipe end, surrounded by a net pot to keep it from getting blocked by a fish corpse or large debris item? I think this important, because the small size of the intake port means a higher velocity of material through the hole, therefore giving adequate suction to pull fish waste off the bottom. If you spread the intake across too much opening, the flow rate gets to be so low that only the smallest and lightest particles get sucked up and the larger heavier bits stay on the bottom of the tank.

The T goes at the top, I believe.

The anti-siphon T isn't necessary if the outflow to the growbeds is not lower than the desired level of the fish tank. In my case, the tops of the media beds are just a couple of inches below the water level in the fish tank. But I put too big of an intake at the bottom of the SLO so I'm not getting the big things to move. A small opening surrounded by a net barrier is a good idea.

Thanks! The lynx-link was very useful! And so were the tips about the small diameter! Is one inch (2,5 cm) a good size?

Next question: how do I make a loop siphon, and is it better in any way than a bell siphon? I haven't yet managed to make a reliable bell siphon.

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