Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

water bridges like that work nicely, as long as you can get the air out completely, and as long as you never have any problems that introduce air into the loop.

I'm sold!!!!
Can you elaborate on the bleeding of air a little more, not as thin as I used to be.

I agree.

To stop air going into the discharge end, in my FT, I have fitted two right angle bends and a short piece of pipe. This makes an upturned U, so no air can get in.
The input also has the same configuration. As air only goes up, in water, no air can get in. All above water joints are sealed with silastic.



The photo shows the connection between my FT's. You can notice a black plastic connector at the very top, that's the bleed nipple.

To bleed the pipe, a cap is placed on one end, the nipple cover is removed, and a water hose is placed at the other end and turned on. The water fills the pipe. When water comes out of the nipple, the system is bled, and the nipple cover is fitted and sealed.

Aah the ol bridging pipe. Good resurection dunder

I've done something that suits the title I have 2 ibcs, but daisy chained by cascading in to the other, one ibc tank is proped up on cement blocks, works a treat

Thanks DunderOZ, I have 4 sumps to connect togerther, this will make it much easier and inexpensive.

The main reason for me posting this bridging pipe concept - One of the systems I recently saw on the forum, the owner went to the trouble of connecting two glass aquariums, via side entry. I thought it was very expensive way of doing things.

Agree water bridge works well.........until. I had one on my large tank and eventually changed it, like murphys law they have a knack of failing at most unlikely time.

On another system I have 3 IBC's interconnected by 32mm (1 1/4") through the side 200mm down from top and about 300mm down from the bend I have a air bleed (large hole or sawn slot across pipe) the pipe continues to base of tank (solids pickup). On the outlet side of the syphon can have outlet at top of water or U tube (does give better airation) It is on timed flood and drain using sump pump with float (15 on 45 off). Tank 1 fills until over top of 1st 90deg and then water starts to drain into tank 2. When the water outlet is covered (by water level) the drain turns into a syphon and drains at a fast rate until the water level in No1 tank uncovers the air bleed and breaks the syphon.

The same applys to No2 tank draining to the 3rd which is the sump. Water is moving even when pump is turned off.

Thought I had some photo's but can't find them, hope the explanation is sufficient for you to understand how it works.

Yes a few people have used water bridges in their systems.. I like this one.

WOW......and the fish swim between tanks????????

Thanks Joel. Great photo.
Great to see atmospheric pressure at work, in such a cool way


Looks like they do swim between tanks.... Which is why I have a filter on the inlet.

I was thinking about running 8 inch pipe from an outside IBC into an aquarium inside so I could put my demand feeder on my desk and fish would have to drop in for a visit if they wanted to eat, but thought it wouldn't work.

After seeing that wacky aquarium, I might give it a go after all.

I wonder how they keep in clean.

What about getting them to swim straight to the BBQ

these have been used in aquariums on and off. sooner or later they fill with air and fail, so only the brave tend to use them. the best design ive seen uses a small powerhead with an aerator attachment on the outlet, connect the hose that usually just sucks in air from the atmosphere to the top of your U to suck out any air that gets in there. the powerhead can also restart the U when its full of air.



through tanks may be a little harder, a little more expensive, but a ton safer. thats why people tend towards them rather than relying on a syphon that will only work if airs not in there.

as was said earlier, adding some clear tube at the top of your U will at least enable you to see whats going on inside and how fast it fills up with air.