Tips for a Beginner

jolielaide

Mr Damage, now that was a convincing argument in favor of bell siphons. Thanks for the post.

I'm still uncertain if there is actually a difference in utility between uniseals and bulkheads. I've used uniseals on curved and flat surfaces. Never had a problem with them. I'm still on the uniseal side for now.

scotty435

All these systems are reliable so you really can't go wrong. I happen to like Constant Flood for various reasons but you could use this with Siphons on some of the beds and do a mix or switch to all one way or all the other, provided your sump or Fish Tank (whichever you're draining into) can handle the water volume it's going to get.

Sleepe

jolielaide wrote:

Mr Damage, now that was a convincing argument in favor of bell siphons. Thanks for the post.

I'm still uncertain if there is actually a difference in utility between uniseals and bulkheads. I've used uniseals on curved and flat surfaces. Never had a problem with them. I'm still on the uniseal side for now.

There is no convincing argument for a bell syphon; only an argument. :lol:

I have put bulkhead fittings through 200um black plastic albeit with a backing plate and through the bottom side of an esky, try doing that with uniseals. They have their place, as do tophat grommets, its horses for courses mate.

scotty435

Sleepe wrote:

There is no convincing argument for a bell syphon; only an argument. :lol:

Only problem is, it's hard to use Timed Flood and Drain with Constant Flood all running off the same pump

At least using Siphons you can run Flood and Drain off the same pump as CF. Course then I can't think of any reason to use Flood and Drain :dontknow:

Oh Well

Cheers

Dagger

jolielaide wrote:

Dagger, as Keith mentioned, aquamax is really the way to go. Also, you'll almost never need to cool the water in your tank for tilapia. In fact, you'll probably need heaters. Tilapia will go belly up in water below 60F. A good way to keep your tank warm is to add insulation around the IBC as well.
Also, you will have to keep your duckweed netted off or in another bed because your tilapia will most likely eat it all! For homemade fish food see below! I like the bug light idea, but it would make me nervous to hang it directly over the tank.

http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=12077&f=2

I really urge you to look into the legality of owning and buying tilapia in Missouri. I had to pay for a stocking permit (~$80 per year) to legally buy and stock tilapia in So Cal. It is illegal in Nor Cal. The link below is the best one that I have found for state-by-state info.

http://www.tilapiafarmingathome.com/Pages/LegalIssues.aspx

Yeah Ive looked at it i just need a letter/permit thing that isent to hard to get! Also in Missouri it can get pretty hot in the summertime around 90-100 FH Also i dont plan on having the fish year round it gets to cold during Winter. I could put it in the garage but it still gets really cold there...

Dagger

Ive onley seen a Bell Syphon and it seems Easy to make and does what i want it to do

kitacooch

Why the negative on Bell Syphon and all the positive on Constant Flood?? it was my understanding flood and drain was better as it oxygenated the beds through the drain process. Also do the worms survive in constant flood??

Mr Damage

Kitacooch, if you build a bell siphon you can have the best of both worlds... if you remove the bell you have a CF system... put it back in and you have a siphoned F&D system.

The "negative" about bell siphons I don't understand, I've only ever used siphoned F&D in my personal systems as well every complete system I've sold... and haven't had any major dramas. The dramas come about when people try and re-invent the wheel, over complicate things, or don't follow a few design basics when building their siphon. They are very simple to make and very, very reliable.

Sleepe

If I had to syphon, my personal preference would be a loop, its about as simple as you can get and you can shove your hand or whatever down the standpipe shroud (not that it has one, the standpipe) to clean it. Ok its got a loop external to the GB, perhaps not so pretty for some bit water height level in the GB can be adjusted simply.
My other favourite is a Flout.

I have given up on the number of threads that have "my bell syphon does not work properly" I think why *frack* bother.

scotty435

It really makes very little difference which system you choose based on the BYAP Trials. The Oxygenation may be different but I'm still waiting for someone to actually look at this using a DO meter and report back to the forum. Regardless of what this shows there are ways to adjust for any problems you may have.

I've had better luck using the Affnan version of Bell Siphons than I did using loop siphons. Both worked well enough but the loops needed more tweeking.

Quote:

I have given up on the number of threads that have "my bell syphon does not work properly" I think why *frack* bother.

This is kind of where I'm at.

I think you can get low voltage pool lights where they are below the water, others have done this and it causes the bugs to become disoriented and hit the water where the fish can get them.

Cheers

Sleepe

"I think you can get low voltage pool lights where they are below the water, others have done this and it causes the bugs to become disoriented and hit the water where the fish can get them."

Thank you scotty, I did not know that, I will look around for some underwater pond lights that I can drive off solar.

kitacooch

Sleepe wrote:

"I think you can get low voltage pool lights where they are below the water, others have done this and it causes the bugs to become disoriented and hit the water where the fish can get them."

Thank you scotty, I did not know that, I will look around for some underwater pond lights that I can drive off solar.

This is something i have been thinking about also. Am sure you could get some LED ones. I have been told though, that you should only run them for a coup[le hours after dark as it will effect the fish. My Jades Loooove it when i feed them insects from the garden.

Backyard Aquaponics A place to discuss aquaponics

Tips for a Beginner

Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics