Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I've explored the hardware section looking for someone who has successfully created an over the side siphon. My brother John will soon be setting up his AP system using EPDM. I've seen where people successfully used shower drains through the bottom- b ut he would rather not as it is in an interior sun room.. Thinking too that it would be a good thing just to drop something in go- hence the quest. Too much to ask?

What I've created so far is way in it's preliminary stages- but ran for an hour before I yanked it for the pics. Vic gave me a an open barrel to play with that I blocked the standpipe and put said contraption in. It's basically 2- 4" pvc caps joined w/ a short piece of pipe- perforated on the bottom 1/2. A 3/4" tee w/ a vinyl hose for the pickup, a 3/4" feed and a 3/4" outlet to a loop siphon off the top. I used clear vinyl so I could see what's happening in the prototype. So far, I have 3- 4 minute fill and drain times. Version 2 will likely be a 4" outer pipe with the set up being re-designed for 3" that can be more easily removed and configured.

Definitely the goal is to create a reliable siphon. I would like your thoughts on what has been done so far as well as suggestions to improve. TIA Tom

Have a look at TCLynx's no holes overflows thread she has an auto siphon setup there.

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4086

WOW, new ways to defy physics

is the pump on continuous?

The pump is on continuous and the siphon is working to create a flood & drain growbed.

hats off to you for the precise calibration of flow that must have been required!

I can see how it would work, the pump flow will push just that fraction of water through the pipe before the bed overflows..........nice work

Will roots be a problem in clogging the holes - like the concept

Algae in the clear tube will be a lot bigger problem, roots blocking the holes will make the siphon start sooner - interesting design, definitely outside the square on that one.

My no holes overflow auto siphon requires an extra container with the normal hole to actually house a "normal" auto siphon.

This concept looks quite intriguing. How hard was it to get the flow balance right?

Just so you know, it really isn't that hard to plumb through liner. A bit of hard backing material and a bulkhead fitting will work just fine. I've even used uniseal fittings since they are much cheaper than most bulkhead fittings and seem to work fine going through curved or rounded surfaces.
http://www.aquaticeco.com/subcategories/829/Uniseals/uniseals/0
(kinda like top hat grommets) through my liner grow beds with no problems though the plywood is almost too thick for it to work properly or be easy to push the pipe through.

Thanks for the tips thus far. TC's post will prove very timely for us. We have a somewhat similar overflow inside- but coupled to an auto siphon would be awesome! The clear tubing is really just for the prototypes- it seems to work well for that purpose. I will get back to it a bit later in the week. I think that I will do a 4" outerpipe w/ a 3" to use as the siphon. Or the next time, set up TC's overflow out of the same 4' outer pipe. Do you think a pipe running out of the outer pipe across the bottom of the barrel would be a good idead for better distribution? This contraption really isn't anything but ran for an hour. In fact, Vic cut the pump power just before it was to cycle the second time. The fill level seems to vary by an inch +. Normally, it filled to just above the top of the canister- but then could go above the hose the next. I will need to look over the loop siphon design. It would be nice to get a simple, "no hole" system- but not at the cost of flooding John's sunroom. John on flood ! He gets to make that call!

Likely the end of this saga. Sorry that I've not posted sooner. After getting the intial siphon to run- nothing else really came to fruition. My thought was this may need periodic maintenance, so I made a like one out of 3 inch and set it in a 4inch outer pipe similar to what we use w/ the auto siphons. No matter what I tried, it would not reliably break. Even the prototype from above had a range which was acceptable- but not as consistant as should be. I thought maybe the smaller diameter dirctly in the gravel would work- but the smaller diameter was less consistant. In the gravel, the 4 inch functioned- tho as time continued maintenance would have been needed- and dificult to do. Maybe some day, the light will flicker in my mind once again re this design. For the moment, my experimental bed is the home of a tomatillo plant rescued from the onset of fall. Fresh winter salsa can't be a bad ending!

Please keep updates on the tomatillo coming! Had enchiladas verde at the local restaurant and commented to the wife about how cool it would be to make our own from homegrown tomatillos!