Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have my pump running for 15 minute periods. during that time should the grow bed fill and drain more than once? Should the bell siphon break suction during that period. Also how would you ensure that you don't end up with a partially full grow bed if the time for pumping ends before the bed fills again?

Why are you running a timer and siphons? One or the other, both are not needed. The fill times are not really a big concern, just put enough water through them for the siphon to work.

If you are going to run a siphon then you need to drill some small holes at the bottom of the standpipe so the water can drain. I have them drilled on my system, because I shut my pump off at night, and I want the water to drain out. During the day the pump runs continuously.

More info needed to answer your questions. How big is the GB? How big is the pump?

Normally you would have a timed pump OR a siphon. The timer and siphon are both there to give a F&D cycle. And the rule of thumb for the F&D cycle is to turn over your FT contents at least once per hour.

Yep - no need to run a timer with a siphon (or a siphon with a timer).

That gave me my answer right there. So I just need to get the siphon to break suction and then start the fill process all over again. Awesome that helps me very much. So I basically drain and fill the bed continuously. Thank you. I just need to put a vent on my siphon then and it will be perfect.

Also I plan on using composting worms to. Will a constant fill and drain stress the worms in any way?

Thank You for your most helpful answers

I've got a heap of worms in my GB and it's been F&D for more than 12 months.

Look up Afnan siphons on the site - they work as well. There's also a design for the bell siphon where the vent tube sits in a cup floating on the water in the base of the media guard - it helps with making and breaking siphon.

Also a 90º bend in the outlet tube under the GB can help with the siphon action and I've seen one (not sure if on BYAP) where the section under the GB actually has an upside down U bend - can't recall how that one was, just found it interesting that there are so many 'fixes' people come up with to make their siphons more reliable.

Not sure what you mean by vent. The afnan siphons are the way to go. No issues with any of mine.

Well I got the bell siphons working great.

The vent I was talking about is a hole with a tube in it at the top of the bell and the tube goes down to where you want the water level to stop. Once the water level gets down to the level the vent sucks air breaking the siphon.

Added about 20 fish and some plants to see how it will work. now just have to build a greenhouse

There is no need for the vent. I have had over 10 siphons with no vents and all worked perfectly. It is just adding more complexity to the system. But as long as it is working for you, than cool

when I expand the system to support four grow beds I'm going to expierment with Affann's (Most likely mispelled) Siphon. I couldn't get the siphon to break without the vent . so I decided to try with one. Didn't take long to get it right.

Afnan siphons are great. No issues unless you try to run a loooot of water, or barely any water. And flow in the middle and they run without issues.

What kind of siphon are you using Bell, Afnan or something Else.

Afnan, never even tried one of the others.