Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I found that a one inch difference between the stand pipe and the Bell siphon seems to be somewhere in the mix.

I built a small system using .5" PVC piping for drain and 1.5" for the Bell siphon and it worked great everytime. I built a secnd system and used an old Bell that I had and it frustrated me for days because it wouldn't work properly everytime, as compared to its "identical" sister system until I realized that the "old Bell" was a 2" Bell vice 1.5". I made a 1.5" Bell and it works great evertime! I also built a 1/2 barrel system using 1" stand pipe and a 2" Bell and it works great too.

I do believe that the flow rate of the pump is a substanial factor, more for the "tipping factor" than anything else to trigger the "flush". I had mine sitting out durring a major rain storm, the pump was off and the awning above collected the water and funneled into one of the grow bins... flushed like a champ!

Anyway, I'm the new guy on the block but thats my two cents!

Tony