Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Guys/Ladies

I've been browsing this forum for some time now, have gotten a lot of useful info so thanks to all of you.

i have currently got a little "test system going of about 125L FT and 50L GB with 20 goldfish

I'm starting to build a new system where ill have a 1000L FT and 300L GB with 20 Goldfish, do you think I can add more Goldfish?

Secondly, what size bell siphon do i need it my inlet pipe it a 20 mm pipe?

Thanks in advance

Hi Marcel

welcome to the forum

I think a 25mm standpipe would work well then you can just play with the flow to make it work

Welcome..



Depends - how big are your gold fish?

I have only two monster 400mm+ long "gold fish".. er, carp I mean, in one of my systems, eating about the same amount as my 50 smaller silver perch



More important than the diameter of your inlet pipe is how much water turnover you will be pumping through the growbed? ie what sized pump are you using?

Even with just one growbed, common practice is to install one T-piece with two inline taps to feed the water in. The taps are used to fine tune the inflow water in order to make the autosiphon work. Any excess pressure is "T-eed off" back into the fish tank, using the second tap to control pressure. This way no excess backpressure is placed upon the pump - it is instead used constructively to add extra aeration to the fish tank

Regarding diameter pipe for autosiphon, this is what's most commonly used for a small setup like yours:

1) 25mm PVC standpipe
2) 65mm bell siphon
3) 100mm media guard

Number 2 goes over number 1, then number 3 over both of them.

Here's a photo of the above components:



There are heaps of websites detailing construction of auto-siphons (some better than others), but let us know if you need more info

Hi Guys

Thanks for the info.

I have decided to go with a 32mm stand pipe as it was the only size fittings I could find in town.

As for the fish they are all around 5cm long, Ill leave them for a month or two and see how much bigger they get.

Thanks

Hi Guys/Ladies

Here's a few pics of my system,.