Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Another thing that really helps me to get a good clean flow is to have a sharp right-angle fitting on the end of the siphon, slightly above the water (to avoid obstruction). I spent a week trying to get one to flow reliably and a fitting made all the difference.

Do you mean above the fish tank water?

Yes.

I've found that if the tip of my siphon is vertical (down) it either never runs fully (=growbeds stay full) or never completely shuts off (=growbeds stay empty). But, with it above water, it seems to clear fine and, with the 90 elbow, starts reliably.

Another factor is height: my siphon with a 6"(about 15cm) drop is quite touchy (not quite enough suck to reliably clear the pipe and stop the siphon), the one with a 24"(about 60cm) drop is rock solid.

I think I have figured out my siphon problem. The water just doesn't enter the siphon tube fast enough. For whatever reason, the LECA in GB 2 blocks the inlets more effectively. So... I'll have to take all of it out, and redo with some better kind of screen.

2nd GB is up and running

I was right that it wasn't draining fast enough, but my hypothesis about why was wrong. I had a piece of LECA stuck in the drain line. I have no idea how it got in there since the only openings are about 3mm in diameter, but whatever.

Works now!

Goodonya tamo. It had to be something simple bc all things being equal, loop siphons are pretty reliable. Glad u persevered.

So today's mod was converting to a CHIFT PIST setup.

Because my set-up is in the garage, I don't have a hole lot of vertical space to work with, so my sump is side by side with my FT. Seeds in GB1 have germinated, and are shooting up nicely. I expect germination in GB2 in 3 or 4 days.

here's GB1

Starting to churn over nicely Tamo

Hope that board holding down the styro foam is not treated pine, might be an idea to move it out of the splash zone (if it is to become a permanent fixture )

Hmm, hadn't thought about whether or not that board is treated or not. It probably is.

Hey tamo, it looks like the seedlings wanting more light - they're stretching pretty far.

I agree DD...how old are them fluro tubes? 6 months is the usuable (sp) life for plants.

A bit older than 6 months. A reflector cover is the next thing on the to-do list.

you need new fluoros then...

Quick update. I haven't replaced the bulbs or made a reflector hood yet, BUT! I turned the water temp up to 72F (from 70F) and saw sprouts in GB #2 2 days ago. The sprouts took a bit longer than expected.

I'm getting a fair amount of water loss to transpiration, but it's super easy to add water into the sump.