Backyard Aquaponics
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Hello I am trying to get a simple (for you maybe) loop syphon to work. I have not seen Photos here of the whole syphon down in the bed/box.

I am trying to set it up in a large window box with pea gravel. The boxes are 12" deep and 2 feet by 5 feet.

Everyone says it is simple enough for a child to make. But there are no kids around here to do it for me.

Using 1/2 food safe tubing.

HELP!

Larry

Larry,
A simple loop siphon can be made by simply bending your food grade (clear?) tube as shown on the attached graphic into an upside down "P" trap. These are very simple and work well by being adjustable for top water level and by restricting flow (pinching at the attaching support clip etc) and you can see exactly what is going on. Hope this helps.
Cheers IanK

Hello Ian,

Thanks I went right outside and did a quick test of the syphon on the right and it worked first time. No gravel in the bed yet and the bed is full of water so it was really easy to see it will work everytime at every level. I have it set up to protect the syphon from rocks and junk to cut down on clogs.

I had it set up for an outside syphon anyway. So you got me up and running. The Bell syphons seem to mess up sometimes so this is perfect.

Thank you again I just needed to see it I guess. Great drawing.

Larry

that's exactly how a loop or Tantalus siphon works.
They're easier to setup, but aren't as robust as bells imho.
Due to you using flexible tubing, the top of the loop will need to be held up by something.
As you're using food grade PE, I expect it's thermos plastic, and so after a while in the sun will become flatter as the weight of water pulling on the top of the loop squashes the pipe.
Also using clear tubing, external to the bed is possibly a problem as algae will grow on the inside of the tube, increasing friction as it slowly blocks flow.
try to support the entire arc at the top of your loop to reduce squashing.
Ensure your support is well secured and not flexible, as the weight can stretch the support or dislodge it over time. This will stop your loop from working.
ensure your loop is lower than your maximum desired fill position, as they take some pressure to push all the air out.
make you loop as tight as possible without kinking the hose. The tighter it is, the less air has to be expelled, ans the easier the siphon will start.
Ensure the exit of your loop is as vertical as possible and not obstructed.
There are detailed threads about the loop siphon and bell siphon, try reading the following:
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=129&p=956&hilit=siphon#p956
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=4096&p=147698&hilit=siphon#p147698
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=484&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=siphon
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3439&p=126567&hilit=loop+siphon#p126567
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3567&p=131009&hilit=loop+siphon#p131009
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=4316&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&hilit=siphon

My new "loop siphons" are hard pvc pipe. No chance of clasping tube. I like the fact that no bed space is wasted. If faster drains I use a longer piece of pipe inside the grow bed; it is full of holes to collect water and move it out.

Thanks so much. I am using a food safe tubing I found here. There is a thin plactic tube inside covered with a layered sleve that is not clear in fact no light gets through to the inner clear tube. So I hope that algae will not show up. They have this hose in 4 colors.

This hose is strong and firm so I made it big and no sharp turns. I did support it in three places so that kink should not be an issue.

The drop from the bed to tank is over a foot and I kept it Vertical so the water can pick up speed.

The bed is full of water with no gravel so I must have tested it 20 times and it worked perfect. Next is add the gravel and check the real levels and the time to fill and drain. But that is not so hard.

Thanks again to you both this info really helped me get it running.

Larry

I was thinking of doing that, but was concerned about the turbulence in the corners causing air pockets. Can you post a pic of yours?

tamo do a search on bending PVC pipe, you don't need to use elbows.

But I don't have a bender

Sand works well.
inner spring benders are not expensive either.

New PVC bends easy with a spring. Older stuff get brittle.

Don't know about loop siphons, but that's one impressive beard Ian....

Ta!
The beard colouring is for the World's Greatest Shave (March 12 - 14) to support the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland. I can't shave my head because I have too many lumps and bumps from Rugby! So I decided to do some coloring in and then make people pay me to get rid of it!
My local bowls club contributed money so that I would stay away until it gets shaved off! I threatened that I would turn up to every client meeting that my bosses attended unless they sponsored my efforts. . . got a nice round figure from the Company.
I have now passed my smallish target of $500 and will have it shaved off on Saturday morning at 10.00.
It is a great cause to assist . . . none of our family has suffered from the disease. . and I hope we never do, but I just don't like illnesses that predominately attack children. Anything I can do to promote research into finding a cure for this group of diseases, I do gladly.

Cheers IanK