Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Ok I need some good brains that understand Bell Siphons better than I do...

The Bell Siphon for our daughters' mini fish tank Aquaponics only engages if (for example) I add two cups worth of water to the growbed.

Then it engages beautifully!

Is the pipe on the bell too long? Is this why the increased water volume makes it engage?

Thanks in advance!

32mm Bell:



15mm standpipe:


Bell in position:

If it won't start you water flow is too low. If it won't stop your waterfall is too high.

Thanks Arbe! That makes sense. If I can't increase my water flow, would reducing the diameter of my standpipe work?

yes

My options are:
1) Either increase the standpipe diameter (less effective) or put a funnel on top of the standpipe and/or reduce the bell's diameter.
According to Affnan's bell, the ratio between the bell and standpipe should be 2:1.
2) Keep a minimum of 5cm(2 in) between the height of the end cap and the overall height of the standpipe.
3) Use one or two 90° elbow on the draining pipe.



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I've looked at it from all angles and my bigger problem is that once the siphon kicks in the water level in the fish tank rises over the outlet for the standpipe...

Which means the siphon doesn't disengage.

I really need to raise the growbed higher off the fish tank and then put in a couple of 90degree elbows or a spray bar so the standpipe empties slower and there's a bit of water backlog to kickstart the siphon.

But that won't happen until I build a new support frame for the growbed...

So it's just running CF at the moment.