Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Heh, well the timer I've got, has a battery too. Sometimes the power trip fooks it up, other times it resets, and the rest of the time just goes back to normal... and it is a digital one... one that you plug in before you plug in the pump.

Sorry TC ,, can't find it

So it would appear that most people running siphons have had issues with siphons in most systems of assorted sizes and arrangements at least within a few months of running. (ok not every one) Yes, they run fine while the water flow is good in a system to begin with, and depending on the system they continue to run well if there is enough flow to keep the system cycling well, this is what I've found with most of my systems that have had siphons in them.

As I said, this is not an attempt to try and pit one particular type of system against another, this is an attempt to find "THE" most fool proof style of system possible. So ultimately we at BYAP can supply systems and designs that are the most fool proof to people who don't have much of an idea of aquaponics. The simple fact is that most people are not going to want to know about the ins and outs of aquaponics, they just want to grow nice fish and veggies, without having to worry about how things work.

Interesting feedback, and thanks....

And believe me, I don't have anything against siphons, I love them, THEY ARE AMAZING, and I've spent many hours pondering over them and watching the cycles...

There's this one on Ebay, but it's only a 3 outlet.

Was someone on here looking at building a 4 outlet timer along the same lines as this one?

Anyone using this 3 outlet timer like to comment?

Taz , yep that's the one ,, thanks for finding .

I think that unit is good for the job , 15 on / offs per day would suit most systems.

OOPS ..... no good for our USA brothers/sisters .......... 160V-240V.

found this timer... has 5 relays in it...


http://www.omega.com/ppt/pptsc.asp?ref= ... nav=#order

The SLO not being able to keep up with the full flow rate is brought on by the undersized crenulations at the bottom of the stand pipe is it not?

I've been running the numbers on something like this. IBC SLO 15 on 45 off.

1000L FT turning over the full volume every 15 minutes. Filtering with say a 1000L grow bed holding 40% water. So is there 600L of water flowing back (or overflowing your GB stand pipe and drain hole at the base of the stand pipe) to the sump in the 15 minute period? With 400L building up and staying trapped in the GB then slowly draining back (via the small hole at the bottom of your GB stand pipe) once the pump turns off?

Hi Taz

I think you could be right I had a similar issue to OBO and I calculated that my pump moves about 600 litres every 15 minutes or so. I use a SLO made out of 40mil PVC but I moved it so the bottom sits about 15cm above the IBC floor in the corner where most of the crap accumulated. The fish and general water movement means that the poo still gets sucked up anyway.

i have a syphon in my system and it works fine, i cant however say how long it would qwork without intervention as i keep adjusting the water level in the GB when i add new seedlings and seeds

i have had to blow backwards down the hose to clear some algae once or twice but thats my own fault for using clear tubing (it was free though )

however im not sure if my system will be able to handle a second GB ( soon i hope) with an syphon as im not sure my sump holds the volume of both GBs so i may have to change over to stand pipes later which will be tricky due to my design

as with most things with AP it seems to be if it works for you then there is no reason not to do it

CHeers
pete

Yeah that'll fix it. Why was all the crap accumulating in one corner?

120 fish in one IBC

I LUV it when bounderies get pushed,,, that is how humans got where we are today ....., ummm including able to destroy the world ..... OHHH welll such is life

Meh, total weight is still low.

or death as the case maybe