Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Yesterday we had 36 mm of rain and the goldfish pond filled. Damn syphon stopped working. Got up this morning and tried all sorts of ways to get this thing to work. Even went to the hardware store and bought more fittings. Still won't play right. It syphons, then goes into aquaponic incontinence.

I hate aquaponics, I hate it.

Had a break and came back to the problem. If I put my finger over the hole in the pipe, a vacuum is formed and the growbed empties but continues to dribble. Take my finger off the hole, vacuum ceases and the growbed fills but goes back to dribbling. Whaaa!

Brain engages. I get an old outboard motor carby jet, drill a smaller hole in the pipe and screw the jet in so it makes a thread. I then reversed the jet and attached a piece of silicon rubber pipe. Great stuff, won't kink and is soft and rubbery like my - WHOA - I digress. I then drilled a hole in the riser and supported the tube with a zip tie.

Had to fiddle with the right amount of tube to put down in the riser but finally got it right. Syphon kicks off until it reaches the end of the tube and air is drawn into it. By then more water has drained out of the gravel and water is again drawn into the tube and the syphon keeps working. More air is drawn into it again and it then completely breaks the vacuum and syphoning cease.

Have attached some photos. Notice how well the plants ar going.

God I love this stuff, especially when it works.

Ah well, I have had my seniors moment for the day. Now for a nice cuppa. Wonder where I put the Prozac and Valium?

Nice work Jonty, its amazing what a few pieces of junk can do if used in the correct formula

Love the kookaburra - his droppings feed the fish then, better to have him stuck on the growbed

Ell,
Thanks. Needed something to keep the vermin away. Wife bought it to discourage a blue heron that kept tucking into her little joys. Would come out in the morning to find fish bodies all mashed on the tiles like tomato sauce.

In the end I covered the tank with mesh and wire netting to keep out - cane toads, ibis and grandchildren - plus the heron who would not take the hint to go.

System is still cycling nicely. I am now planning for my next system. Tank will be approx. 38,000 litres.

38klitres - you gonna put in an internal ladder system?
need pics of that as it progresses

Jaymie - see what you've started

oh yeh!
thats big..
C1

Nice one Jonty, thats exactly what I did with my little barel-ponics system that has an automatic syphon in it. I tried for days to get it to turn off the syphon automatically but it just wouldn't stop.. Sucking air into the peak of the syphon works a treat, it's been running for about 4-5 months now without a hic-up..

certainly sounds like a big jump up there from a small system to 38,000 litres, is that an old swimming pool?

Sorry Guys and Gals,
Got carried away and put in one too many zeros. Try 3,800 litres. Ah! another seniors moment.

Don't blame it on mature aged people

You're right there. Hope I mature real soon.

Hey people

just a quickie.....what would be the pro's and cons of this syphon vs the ones simmo is using.....both the same?

I have piped up additonal GB's (3 tubs like simmos) and now I cant decide on the syphon lmao


PS good work Jonty...I hope to be at that stage soon, everyone that comes over now keep askin when Im going to put plants in lol

You're lucky - I get them showing up at my front door with a fishing pole in one hand and a tinny in the other

and I've only got 10 wee goldies

BK,
I just played around until I got something that worked okay. When I get a chance I intend to have a play around redesign the syphon. I will try a zelvalve (the ones in the plastic honey jars) to see it it can improve it.
The valves allow air to be drawn in but give and effective seal. Plus I already have a couple spare. Well, I will have when I dump the honey.

that is an interesting use for them - like to hear how it turns out Jonty

BK,
Just had a look at Simmo's system. The great part about using 20 mm pipe is that the growbed empties in about 45 seconds. If I fill it up and remove the syphon it takes about 3 minutes to drain.

It's charlie carp type fertiliser on steroids.

Played around for half the day trying to get the zelvalve working. Alas to no avail. It did not leak any water but would not seal enough to set the syphon in motion. If I held my hand over it, syphoning started and it would cease flowing when the growbed emptied.

It would then fill and go into aquaponic incontinence. Put it back the way I had it.

Nothing ventured nothing gained.