Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi yall. Long time creeper, first time poster.

I have been interested in setting up an AP system for a long time now and have just had the time/equipment to give it a go. Logistically, its easier for me to DIY, and I am a pretty DIY kind of guy.

first system I wanted to build was just a "proof of concept" type system. just to prove I knew the mechanics of it all and fully understood the concept. So I know ll my GB to FT ratios are all wrong, but not growing anything at the moment. just wasting water. I have a IBC with about 800 litres in it, a plastic blue barrel cut in half for GB, on a stand, with a sump. pump in sump, overflow from FT into GB.

my bell siphon seems to work when it wants to. rarely it will start by itself, most times it will just run like a constant flood system, but if I "jiggle" the siphon tube, it will start, and run and stop perfectly. I think that I may not have enough flow from the pump, could this be why my siphon wont start?

I have done a search but couldnt come up with the same problem as I am getting.

cheers,

westy

Welcome to the forum Westy Not that I have a lot of experience with siphons, however I do remember that if a siphon won't start you may need more water flow, if it won't stop there may be too much water flow. Have you got an inline tap to be able to adjust the flow from the pump?
Photos would be really, really nice Westy

Yep, if it wont start you need more flow. Thats if there is nothing else wrong
They are usually easy to start but stopping can be trickery

Are you using a bell with a tube or an Affnan bell?

If it only works when you jiggle it, could be that the air gap in the top of the bell is too big. ie: the distance between the top of the centre standpipe/downpipe and the top of the bell is too big.

You could be right MrD but Im banking on not enough flow. As previously mentioned, more info please.

couple of photos.

the gap between the standpipe and the siphon tube is about 25mm.

im thinking water flow. the little water feature pump that I have stolen from the mrs just isnt cutting it. New pump is on the way.

Maybe take the bell off and throw it away, just leave it constant flood.

I had that problem with mine, but after I dropped an inch long piece of smaller pipe down inside the standpipe, ie: a peice of 20mm into the 25mm standpipe, it worked a lot better.. I also have a coupling on the top of the standpipe, to lessen the gap between the standpipe and bell, and give a bit of water level adjustment..