Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

1. Most of us use the API Freshwater master test kit and don't use the strips.

2. Having the larger pipe isn't a big deal. Basically most of us just size the pipes to handle the flow that comes into the bed from the pump. A good safe bet is just to size the drain pipe one size larger than the inflow pipe. If I were running 3/4 PVC in I'd use 1" for the drain. For 1" I'd use 1.25" out and so on. Once the water leaves the bed most people go to a larger pipe so they can drain all their beds without running separate pipes.

Smaller pipes and fittings are cheaper and they are also easier to work with. Pushing a 4" pipe into a fitting without something to brace against the back side of the fitting can be interesting - with two people or in other circumstances it's easy.

This shows some of the pipe in my system build.
http://www.backyardaquaponics.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=18&t=9511

Now that's one awesome system you got, how much did it cost you for that fish tank and where?and where do you order the api master test kit from?

So that's why my setup differs from most I went with 1 big grow bed instead of multiple smaller ones it's also easier on plumbing for me. It's very interesting to see everybody's setups from all around the world.

API Freshwater kits are available at most pet stores. In addition, I use a colorimeter for measuring nutrients(calcium, mag, iron, potassium, etc.)

The pipe sizes should be dictated, as Scotty mentioned, by flow rates. There are a ton of docs online that will tell you the sizes you should be running based on flow. I personally use this site for sizing pipe flows for systems I design: http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/

Hope it helps!

The API kit is pretty common in pet stores that have fish, at least where I am. On line is probably cheaper, at least if they don't add in shipping.

The Behlen 625 gallon stock tank cost about $325 and there may be a delivery fee if you don't have a way to get it home. They make a 1000 gallon one that's the same diameter and slightly deeper. It wasn't available locally or I would have gotten that (the 625 gallon has worked well but I sometimes wish I had gotten the larger tank, mostly for the extra depth (it's 30" instead of 24")).

So i had time to go out and try it out again and it still just wont stop the siphon its crazy here are pics of the changes ive made.I went with what walmart had its standard air tubing for aquariums im thinking about getting bigger air tube like 1/4th inch and see if that will do it, What do you think? and any ideas why it will start but NEVER stop the siphon i mean i turn off the water and it just goes until it cant anymore.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Py2S ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Py2S ... sp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1Py2S ... sp=sharing

I'm not sure what the hitch is. You may still get it to work but if it was me, I'd just switch to run without the siphons . Just pull the bell and make sure the standpipe doesn't have a weep hole toward the bottom.

Is that how your system is? So how does that work it stays flooded until it reaches the top then it stays at that level all the time?So do you think putting in a bigger air line would fix the issue?

Ben,

Can you take and post some videos of the siphon trying to operate?

That might really help diagnose what the problem is. A video showing when the siphon starts (or should be starting) and another when the the siphon stops (or should be stopping) along with the numbers: water flow, pipe sizes and lengths, and views of where the water enters and where the water exits. There are so many experts on this forum that have been there and done that, I suspect if they can watch it try to work they might be able to zero in on the problem.

Keep with it if you really want to use siphons -- they do look cool. In the meantime if you've got siphon trouble, remember that a lot of folks run without them successfully doing constant flood...

Good luck!

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Sam

Okay, so the 2" Standpipe has a 3" to 2" reducer on the top providing a larger "mouth", right? I think that should help start the siphon and it should increase the velocity of the siphon.

Is the Bell really just 1/4" inch above the top of the Standpipe? That seems to be not enough of a gap -- try raising the Bell or lowering the Standpipe.

Do you still have that weep hole at the bottom of the Standpipe? I think I'd experiment with that closed.

When the siphon starts, is there a noticeably faster outflow of the water and the water level in the growbed starts to go down?

When it gets to where it should stop, does the water outflow slow down and then just continue at the same flow of the supply line? Or is it continue to dribble slower than the supply line? I've seen some suggest this is a result of not enough supply flow...

That picture showing the drain pipe under the growbed sort of looks like the horizontal pipe is slightly tilted up. Is that the case? Probably not a good thing if the siphon is starting okay without it.

Does your Media Guard have a lid on it? Try taking that off to make sure that is not causing weird pressure inside your siphon.

There has got to be just a little bit of tweaking that will make your Bell Siphon functional and reliable...

I'm experimenting with Bell Siphons as well. I like that they are cool, and I like that Flood and Drain airs out the growbed a bit and maybe helps flush things better. Even despite production evidence that shows little difference between Flood and Drain versus Constant Flood.

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Sam

I do have the mouth piece on still and I'll make a new stand pipe that do ed snt have a hole and try that, also I cut an 1 inch off of the stand pipe since then. Yes it drains notably faster it drains down to the desired water level in about 2 mins.The water outflow slows down to the rate that the supply line is.I'm not sure if the drain line is sloped up or not I thought it might be so I drilled a bigger hole and it's better now it still might be at a slope if so not much and I have never had an issue with the siphon starting even from day 1. I've tried with and without the lid since I added more holes that hasn't been a problem. I'll make a full video after work tomorrow. It's just very odd it starts fine and drains then it never stops.

Ben,


I think the classic cause for this is that the supply line is providing water too fast for the siphon to break because it cannot take in the big gasp of air which breaks the siphon. I forgot to ask, but did you add an air-tube to the side of the siphon to help introduce that big gasp of air? If you haven't added that yet, it may be the easy way to introduce enough air fast enough to break the siphon. My bet is that this siphon will work like a champ WAY before Texas Independence Day. Surely this weekend will have it working great!



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Sam

Sounds similar to a problem I had. How long is your drain line? I found that the length of my drain line caused a vacuum preventing the siphon from stopping. The drain line dropped 5" from the grow bed then ran 4' horizontally to the sump tank. To solve this issue I placed a tee about 5" from the elbow and ran a vertical pipe up to the top of my growbeds. The tee allowed air to enter into the drain line closer to the siphon allowing it to stop.

I added 2 air lines for a aquarium air stone it doesn't work right not sure if it's big enough.I've turned down the supply to nothing and even then it still goes I think I have a 2in t if so I'll add one. The drain line is about 10-15 ft long pipe it doesn't drop much just a few inch over that run.

Ben,


Send pics! Especially good to see the air lines (on the outside of the Bell, right?) So the siphon should continue even without water coming in the supply line until the bed drains, but then it stops, right? Cutting that long pipe might just be the ticket. Even before adding a T you might see that be the solution...

Good luck!

--
Sam

I have tested it before and If I recall right it never breaks siphon even with no supply and what do you mean cut the line?it goes to the ft I can't make it any shorter. And when I get home I'll make a video of the whole system.