Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

IMO.. a timer based system requires two pumps, one (timed) in the fish tank, the other float activated in the sump... and growbeds with standpipes, or perhaps bell siphons...

If you're going chift pist... then IMO... run a single pump in the sump, continuously... and because you're using blue barrels... go for loop siphons...

It's all just so easy and simple that way... and the water flow from sump to fish tank... to (chift pist) overflow to growbeds... to growbed flood and quick siphon drain return to sump....

Continually oxygenating, continually flowing and turning over the tank volume and lifting solids into the growbeds...

Not sure that I see the advantage(s) of running chift pist on a timer (on the sump pump)....

Particularly if you're running standpipes.... what happens if the growbeds, potentially ten of them.... continue to drain... while the sump pump timer is "off"... the sump keeps filling.. until the timer reactivates or they overflow...

In the interim, the fish tank is getting no flow and/or re-oxygenation...

well i think i will go with the loop siphons

i had a look around at other people using them, a few had some trouble but it looks like it just takes a bit of fiddling around with until it works, and then they seem to tick over nicely after that

i went outside and made my own loop siphon to prove to myself i could make one work

and i could, easily, and it also gave me a much better idea of how they worked, i just ran it from a big container into my wheelbarrow


i was just thinking though, if im running chift pist,
which means the tank drains from near the top

how do the solids at the bottom of the tank get pumped out into my GB's

run a pipe from the bottom, up to the top, then out the side below the water level... this causes the tank to 'overflow' when water is added, but suck from the bottom of the tank.
WARNING: in order to prevent a siphon, you MUST put an airgap at the top of the pipe...

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Above is an ascii example :-) I know I've regressed 15 years
the piping is all that is shown. the pipe runs from the bottom to the top and is open to the air.
then, it tees off and goes to your GB or ST (however you have your system designed)

oh yes i understand

thats fairly simple actually thanks for that

hmmm pesky ascii dwg didn't work cos the spaces got deleted... glad you get it though

yeah i had to picture in from what you said the picture just confused me

Alright, well the last year or so has been a bit hectic, year 12 and parents split up, so the aquaponics took a back step.

I've got a sparky apprenticeship now, and don't start until the 31st of Jan, so I've had a bit of spare time on my hands.

A while ago I was organising to buy a 3000L tank off Rupe but I'm a fair way away and for some reason it never happened.

I've now just decided to keep the IBC as my fish tank, and run some half barrels as the GB's.

I'm still running CHIFT PIST, I've made one GB already, full of scoria with 19mm soft black PVC loop siphon.

I've got my scoria, (still have to wash the rest
Got the fittings for the other GB's drainage still to be hooked up
Cut all my GB barrels in half
Got my IBC ready

Just need a pump bigger than the 750l/hr one I already have, and to make a GB stand, and plumb in the sump and tank. Oh and then just the plants and fish (thinking silver perch??)

I don't have a camera at the moment, but I'll get hold of one soon and put up some photos.

Maverick.

ouch another thread disappears...