Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

When I tested the siphon, it wasn't starting up or it started for a bit and stopped. The stand pipe is 2 inches, the bell is 4 inches and the pipe going out has one 90 degree turn. I did try a three inch and it was the same result.

Links to photos: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1sVB ... 2gwcjlWS3c
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B1sVB ... kw3YXhCWjQ

What did I do wrong?

Hmm, bell siphons can be a pain. IMHO your pipe is way too large, especially for the short drop. It will be hard to get a siphon going with that. I recommend trying a 3/4" standpipe with a bell shaped "reducer" (3/4 x 1 or so) at the top to enlarge the opening. Then use a 2" bell.

Search the Afnan siphon on youtube and you'll get some good ideas.

Oh look! another 'my bell syphon wont work' thread

If you are using a timer, you don't need a syphon. Use a stand pipe with a small drain hole near the bottom.

I am going to use a timer and solar panels for it. Now with that, any photos of the method? Also, I don't really want to drill any holes into said IBC tote. And that I am on a tight budget so I need to find ways to do this while having enough for solar panels.

Put the plug back in (where you installed the male pvc adapters). You might be lucky and have pipe threads there and and can install a male adapter (thread/slip), feed the threaded part throught the cap and afix a female adapter (thread/slip) on the other end.

You'll have both slip connectors for your stand pipe and to join piping to drain back to sump.

If you need a picture, I can show intent because I did this on my ibc grow bed.

Adam

I do need a picture for that.

You don't need to drill any holes in the IBCs for stand pipes, the holes are in the bottom of the pipe, ie near the bottom of the GB, so that the water can drain out to empty the GB. It's just a pipe standing vertically over the drain in the GB, with a hole (I use 2 X 8mm) near the bottom, and another hole (or the cut off top of the pipe) at the desired water height in the GB.

For the constant flood/timer, how does water get out of the ibc growbed (is the pipe tall or short)? Could red wigglers be introduced into the siphon? I do need a photo of the pipe.

The pipe is the height equal to the depth of the media plus a bit more, with a guard around it to keep the media out. The water gets out through the previously mentioned hole drilled through the side near the bottom.
I don't have a photo, but it is just a pipe with hole drilled through the wall near the bottom.
I'm not sure why you would want worms in your syphon. I have lots of worms in my GBs and ST, which have passed through my standpipes.

I mean worms in my growbed. I am a little frustrated in how the bell siphon wasn't functioning along with how the rest of the system is going out.

i think the standpipe is too short for that width of a pipe. You'll need a reducer on top and it'll solve your problems. I also put another 90 at the end of the 3 inch and point it slightly upwards,

use 45's instead of 90's. smoother flow

I built my first bell siphon in a bucket so I could see how it works.

Way back when I was doing siphons the one on the left was better and I think it probably still is but there's probably not a whole lot of difference. I'm not sure I follow the reasoning on the captions - If the same volume of water is going over the lip then there should be no difference. If more volume goes over the one on the left then it can start with less flow but will handle the same maximum flow since they're the same size - so it has a wider range that it can operate over . You'd probably get better (faster - hard to explain but basically it's focused on a smaller area near the pipe) suction along the bottom from the siphon on the right but that's only good if you're trying to remove the solids.

I don't use siphons anymore and you don't need them as Gordon (Gunagulla) mentioned . When I did use siphons I used the Affnan version of a bell siphon - like the one on the left - and they worked very well.

My local home depot does not have a reducer (3 inch by 2 inch). Any places where to get one. And with the timer, is it possible to have the system only run for a few times a day and not run at night?