Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hey all..

I built a barrelponics system probably 2yrs ago now and has been very successful in learning and showing my youngen how much fun growing fish and plants can be.

The system i built was the original barrelponics system with a blue barrel on its side as the tank, a blue barrel cut in half to create the 2 growbeds and then the overhead tank with the dunny cistern to supply the flood and drain affect with an additional growbed right up the top. Over time, i have found this system fails intermittently due to simple blockages. Maintenance fixes this, but i was hoping for a more maintenance free situation. I also struggle accessing anything growing in the top growbed.

Looking deeper into this game, i have noticed everyone going for the bell siphon..

Can i eliminate the entire top tank and cistern for just a bell siphon in each of the grow beds? My pump has a recirc line and valve, so controlling inflow is easy.

I am guessing i will need to stick with just the 2 GB's due to the volume of water that could be taken from the fish tank at any one time.

I have downloaded the University of Hawaii document on the bell siphons and found it very informative and intend making 2 up this set of days off.

I suppose my question is...

Has anyone already got dimensions for the half 44G blue drum with regards to standpipe size, bell pipe size and more importantly, the standpipe length or water depth? I would hate to build it all and then find that when i fill it up, the media swells or floats or something or i have built it too tall..

The document i read says for 30 gallon growbeds the siphon should be constructed with a bell pipe of 1" and the standpipe of 1/2"

ALSO... what seals have people used for a curved bottomed growbed as with a sideways blue barrel? A flat bottom would be easy... but the curved may have some issues that someone has already ironed out...

Cheers all in advance.

A few members use Uniseals not sure what else?

If you have not already got it do a google search for Barrel- Ponics by Travis W Hughey and have a good read.

I just use the normal drain fitting but I do flood and drain with the pump on a timer

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