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FT water level question
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Author:  BillD [ Feb 13th, '17, 08:38 ]
Post subject:  FT water level question
hey ya'll -

I am a newbie in the Dallas TX area, trying to design my first environment (forgive my ignorance). I have read that the FT water level should be as stable as possible.

My design is to have one 330g IBC as the FT with a ST that continually pumps water from the ST into the FT that siphons the overflow into the GB. When GB is full, drains into the ST and the cycle begins again.

would appreciate any suggestions. Please tell me what I am missing.
Author:  dlf_perth [ Feb 13th, '17, 09:13 ]
Post subject:  Re: FT water level question
it is not so much the water level as the volume variation.

In a pump in Fish Tank (classic basic style with grow bed on top) it is not desirable that half the fish tank disappears and then suddenly gets inundated from a siphon or whatever. If you have 700 Litres (150 Gallons) and it is only using 100 Litres (25 Gals) then that is no big deal. This is probably where you picked up that comment.

You mention ST (sump tank). In which case the idea is that the fish tank level self regulates via the overflow pipe.
CHIFT = Constant Head in Fish Tank = constant water level. Basically it wont go up and down at all.
In the CHIFT PIST case the sump tank has large volume changes.
The biggest thing to be aware of is you need enough water in the sump thank to make sure the pump is always covered in water. So if you are cycling 200 litres of water (50 Gal) then you need 300-400 litres of sump tank (70-100 Gal).
Does that make sense ?

It would be worth drawing up your plans and show where pipes are etc. Often many people write something that sounds OK but we will soon know from your sketch/pictures if you have it correct and can provide better feedback before you start. You can draw it in powerpoint or something screen grab it and paste it here. Or draw it on paper and scan it.
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Author:  SebZ [ Feb 15th, '17, 00:28 ]
Post subject:  Re: FT water level question
Hi,

Yes a drawing would help to understand exactly what you intend to do.

Be carefull when choosing the volume of your sump tank. If it is too small then you will have to top-off very often (water evaporates and plants do drink !).
Author:  BillD [ Feb 18th, '17, 07:42 ]
Post subject:  Re: FT water level question
hoping that makes some sense. Water will be constantly pumped from the ST into the FT and when the FT water reaches above the FT out pipe, will flood the GB, which has a Floating Outlet to drain back to the ST.

I am anticipating 4 to 6 inch cycle height fluctuation in the FT, but haven't worked out all the fluid logistics yet. Like I ever will.

deciding on GB length and I have lost all my notes, so will reply later when I find them.

Please

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Author:  dlf_perth [ Feb 18th, '17, 08:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: FT water level question
you will get some fluctuation but it will be small - andnot something you have to worry about.
the overflow basically controls the water height in fish tank.

the only time you will get fluctuation is if your overflow pipe (SLO pipe) is too small a diameter.
It is normal for the overflow/SLO pipe to be larger than other pipes (2" etc).

Note that the water does not siphon out of the fish tank to the grow bed.
It simply overtops into the pipe as 'partially filled pipe flow'.
In fact you want a 'T' at the top of the SLO pipe to stop it siphoning.

keep in mind if you raise the fish tank up that it gets harder to access to view fish or do any catching/maintenance etc. Really your fish tank only needs to be just above the grow bed height so the outflow has sufficient gravity to run.

you dont need a floating outlet for your grow bed - just use a standpipe.
It is much simpler and less to go wrong.
Author:  scotty435 [ Feb 18th, '17, 10:21 ]
Post subject:  Re: FT water level question
I don't like to have the SLO pipe go across the bottom because the fish hide under it and it makes it harder to see what's going on or clean if you have to sweep out the bottom. With enough fish in the Tank the solids get booted around and will usually wind up at the SLO (but you do have to help things along occasionally). I'm not sure the cleaning action of the SLO is any better with the pipe across the bottom in a tank this size. I used the bottom pipe in an 8 ft round tank and like it better without FWIW :dontknow:.

+1 to what Darren said
- I would eliminate the floating valve in the grow bed and just adjust the height of the standpipe to control water level.
- The fish tank can be lower down
- Air hole is OK in the SLO to break the siphon but a T might be better.

- Add a media guard around the standpipe if you weren't already planning one.
Author:  BillD [ Feb 20th, '17, 08:05 ]
Post subject:  Re: FT water level question
All that knowledge and experience is appreciated and i'm just in the design phase. how do you allow solids from the FT SLO into the GB (without the bottom pipes ) to exclude (hopefully) fish fry with a 2" SLO.. what height in the FT should the SLO pipe be?

the FT height with bricks was because of the ST height options and I am looking at alternatives.
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