Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Try it and see... saves changing the siphon around.

True enough

LED lamps must be close to plants (15cm) like eco growlamps
I think the light intensity is not enough to get the plants to grow but to climb towards the light source, long leggy plants that fall and die.

What are your nitrate levels? Have you tried with putting a fully grown plant. Concerning your aeration system, it could work even better with an elbow at the top, drill a hole for the air line in the top and plug the airstone.

The LEDs are just supplementary lights (that aren't working at the moment actually). My main light source are day spectrum fluorescents.

Of course these aren't good for fruiting plants, so I do greens only at the moment.

Regardless, I lowered them closer to the bed today. I also added more gravel, but am having to readjust the siphon.

Things to do:

Create a foil reflector to capture more light

Raise siphon height to within 1" of gravel top

Restart regular water testing (haven't done any in about 2 months)

If you go for foil, use white plastic paint at the place it reflects better.
Or try to get some mylar, standard one or diamond from a hydroponic shop, this is the best product for reflectors.

Have you checked getting some fluo eco lights too?
I've got 2 and they work really well.

I'm not sure what an eco light is.

This is a grow lamp, that is based on the enery saving bulbs but adapted to plant growth or flowering.

Ah, i know what you are talking about now.

Hey Tamo, at Lowe's they have white styrofoam panels with silvery mylar-like foil plastic on them. They work well.

Thank god the forum is back up!

So I've made some changes.

1, I swapped out my old GB that had a bell siphon for 2 GBs that use loop siphons. The GBs use bulkhead connectors both for inlet and outlet. At the base of the GB, the inlet is connected to a PVC pipe with small diameter holes drilled that allows the water into the siphon. My issue is that one GB works perfectly, and the other (identical) GB's siphon doesn't fill up properly. It's boggling my brain.

2, I swapped the light around and dropped it close to the GBs

3, foil reflectors on the way.

4, pictures will be forthcoming.

Do you mean the growbed doesn't fill completely.... because the siphon is constantly trickling?

No, the GB fills just fine. The siphon doesn't fill completely, and never kicks in properly. There is always an air gap at the top of the loop.

I have tried bending the loop this way and that. Even when the entire tube is pointed downwards, the air gap remains.

I don't think it's a matter of the air getting into the siphon tube because there is solid water in it until the loop reaches its highest point

Morning Tamo, maybe the one bed is getting less flow? How are you making sure that the flow is even to the two beds?

Tamo - I use 19mm syphons, with a piece of 13mm tube, (capped off) inside to get them to run properly with a lower flow rate.

The GBs have independent ball valves on the inlets to control flow. On the non-working siphon bed I have tried everything from full on to a trickle.

My only guess at this point is that the drilled pipe that allows water into the siphon is getting all blocked up by my LECA. I had thought of this already, and doubled the number of drill holes in that pipe, but to no effect.

I'll try an obstruction like outback says.