Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Looped autosiphons will work fine--post pics of what you have so we can tell what is wrong.

I love bell siphons. Only way to go IMHO

OK, so here's the latest on my siphon doings. Attached a couple pics.

Here's the setup: FT -> variable speed pump -> 0.5" inner diameter line -> GB -> .625" inner diameter line siphon loop -> FT

On low speed, the GB fills, and the siphon drain reaches a in/out equilibrium before the whole siphon tube fills. So basically it turns into a high DO continuous flow system

On medium speed, the GB fills, the siphon kicks in, but reaches an equilibrium right before the water level falls below the top of the outlet. So no air break.

On medium-low speed, an air gap forms, but there is still some water going through and a meniscus forms on the downward side that just sits there.

It's hard to see in the pics, I know.

Whole system prototype shot

VB, I was thinkign a loop-style siphon, but with piping instead of tubing.

I tried bell siphons before, and just couldn't get close to them working.

Just for fun, try turning the white piece so the tubing exits horizontally from the white piece rather than near-vertical. I tried different initiating angles, and always had the best luck with the tubing starting horizontal.

Make sure the loop remains smooth and round when you adjust the white piece. The exit of the loop should be as vertical as possible. Maybe add a weight to straighten it if needed. When you make this adjustment, the effect will also be to shorten the vertical drop, and that will help the siphon break more easily. Try again on medium speed.

Hallelujah! Got the auto portion of the siphon working. I ended with a design like janet suggested with a lengthener.

I think the main thing was increasing the relative height of the GB to the FT, providing more h in the mgh potential energy.

Thanks to all who helped!

Here's a pic

I guess the next step is to get some test kits, a couple goldfish, and start cycling.

Oh, I should probably construct a stand or something too

Ah the good old ocky straps

So after getting the siphon working, gravity taught me an important lesson:
Don't use deformable bodies to hold 80lbs of water 4 feet off the ground.

My GB is now gone, I'll have to re-wash all my hydroton, and create a new GB and siphon.

Maybe a bell siphon this time? If my inflow pipe is 12.7 mm diameter, how big should my outflow pipe be? 2x?

Somehow I could have predicted that go for system 3!

I really thought it would be OK for a couple days.

Tam, for bell siphon measurements, there is a whole thread on that

I saw the outer pipe/inner pipe in the autosiphon for aquaponians, but not in pipe/inner pipe (if that makes any sense). Either way, I've decided my next experiment will be with the coral reef style setup that was posted a few ages ago.

Hey Tamo, which link is the reef setup from?

Siphons are a good tool to know about, even if you revert to using timers for some things...