Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Here's some pics

I tried again today needs fast flow to start it up then it won't turn off, just keeps flowing out at the rate of the inflow. I can hear the little air tube suck in air but it obviously is not breaking the seal. When flow is slow it finds an equalibrium and will not begin to siphon out at a fast speed to drain.

I'm not experienced with this type siphon, but I'll toss some thoughts out.

1 - Les wrote up some prescribed measurements. Did you follow those?
2 - Maybe it would work better if the air tube went to the top center of the cap rather than the side.
3 - Maybe it would work better if the air tube was a little bigger diameter.

From memory I think Les had a similar problem initially..... think he solved it by cutting down the last upswept elbow bend.....

You''d have to read through his thread to check.... perhaps try turning the last elbow down or at least horizontal and see if that makes a difference.

siphons are nasty, tricky little things imho. However when you get it set up right, cement it in concrete because it'll work forever so long as you don't move anything.
Siphons HATE elbows in pipes, more than I could believe actually. So try and reduce the amount you have.
Secondly rotate all the elbows remaining (those that can move) and test it ou, chaning 1 elbo from a left to right, to a vertical to horizontal (made easier because I had flexible hose) worked wonders with my siphon, and now it easily drains faster than it fills.
One thing I discovered, is that I don't set up the auto siphon to the height I want the water. this seems not to work as there's not enough head to blow the air out. However I set mine almost 2 inches below the level I want to flood to, and then this works.
This way the siphon will start earlier, but the inflow will be faster than it. Some time later it blows the air out and starts sucking like a starved potty calf.
Perhaps you siphon is magically set up (siphon properties are pure magic) so that it's maximum sucking capacity is equal to your inflow (amazing and freaking as that would be)
I would suggest chocking the flow into the GB ONLY SLIGHTLY mind, not much, and seeing if that makes a difference.

You say you hear a gurgling sound, like it's sucking air. Check that the water from the GB can enter the standpipe easily. If it cant, the siphon will suck a little air, and not run as efficiently as possible.

OK that's heavy reading (I ramble a bit) so here's checkilist of my suggestions.

1. Check flow is not restricted by unnecessary elbows
2. or elbows that change the direction of the water to dramatically,
3. or elbows that would allow air pockets to be trapped.
4. Ensure flow to the standpipe from the tank is adequate so as not to suck air
5. Lower the position of your siphon
6. Try restricting your tank inflow ever so slightly.

My experience is with an autosiphon so some of what I said may not be applicable, sorry. but general principles apply to all siphons.

Hey arbor.... Les "stickied" this siphon thread......

On the first page you'll see a photo of how Les cut the last elbow.... and I'm sure there is an explanation as to why....

Includes links to all the other threads about siphons.... happy reading.

http://backyardaquaponics.com/forum/vie ... 85&start=0

I had a similar problem when I first set mine up, and solved it with the above solution.

I also noticed that it depends on gravity(fall) as to how far you need to turn this last elbow. Two of my growbeds are higher and can almost have the elbow horizontal where as the lower two seem to need more of an angle. There is about 300mm difference in hight between the two sts of beds.

Himzo

Thanks for the replies I'll try out these suggestions and report back after this yule tide. Wife wants me to do christmasy stuff so AP is on hold for a couple of days.

Cheers and complements of the season to all.

How rude, having to put AP on hold for Christmas

Ok
Snuck away yesterday and tonight and fiddled with the flow rate and turned the last bend a few degrees down from 90.

It just suddenly started working a treat but alas I have no concrete to set it in.

Only problem is to get this particular one going the flow rate fills the bed in around 5 minutes but it does drain in about 30 seconds.

Methinks this siphon is too wide for the size of the bed.

Is the fill and drain too often or should I just go with the flow so to speak.

Go with the flow Arbor..... consider the comments made previously about maintaining high flow and high DO to prevent root rot in your channels....



If you're taking 5 mins to fill then if your timer cycles are still the same as above then you will be filling about 24 times / timer cycle (2 hours) with a two hour break.....

Don't think it really matters how quickly it drains... in fact a quick drain (as others have) is probably beneficial in pulling the oxygen down through the media....

That in itself is beneficial when you consider the previous points.

Keep an eye on your plants.... if they are looking wilted during the two hour "off" period... consider adjusting your timer cycle.

How can you have time off AP for Yule??

Think of the fish...
... do they know it's Christmas

Been down the backyard again today.

I think the increased fish load is helping with the growth of the plants. The capsicum is still very slow though. Most of the other plants are budding new shoots. Common lettuce doing well. Strawberries, corriander and cabbage though showing nutrient defeciencies.

Adding stinging nettle tea daily for iron. Added some worm tea as 50% of the input is prob banana as the kids eat a truck load, to increase potassium I hope. Seasol about every 2 weeks.

Reading directly after nettle and worm teas added.
Ph 6.8
ammonia .15
nitrite 0
nitrate 30

Remain with the 2 hours on 2 hours off. No wilting of plants seen when flow off. Plants looking more happier with this as compared to continual flow, chilli back from the dead and budding new shoots.

Shade cloth altered mainly to keep the tenderer in shade as well.

Auto siphon working like a dream now, thanks for all the input. Carrot seeds planted thickly in that tub.

Fish still healthy no losses to date. Feeding twice a day.

See strawberry leaf I think it looks like potassium defeciency. What does anyone else think?

I had a similar problem with my siphon yesterday , I found that the top of the outside tube was to far above the outlet / top of the inner tube . I took it apart and rather than an end cap , I cut a round piece of acrylic and used that as the lid , then while the silicon was wet I just pushed it down into the outer tube , about 1.5cm above the inner tube . It works great now , as s oon as the GB water level gets halfway above the inner tube ( already leaking water out ) then it whooshes out all 100 litres from my GB nice and quick

I dont understand what the little tube to help get air in to break the seal is for though ?
both of mine work fine without it , and looking through the acrylic at the top of the outer tube I can watch the suction start

Been a while since I've posted but have been reading away and mucking about down the back. Finally bit the bullet and changed to a flood and drain system after a friend gave me a tall, long and thin tub. Should have done this a long time ago. See the system as it stands and a pic of a pumkin that I scrounged out of the worm farm (looked like a mung been sprout when I put it in the medium). It has grown past all my expectations and run around the side of the building, had to crimp the runner to stop it growing.

I now stand confused!!

The pumkin grows and flowers like a madman and would have kept going if I didn't stop the runner but the leaves remain pale, fruit sets but then turns brown and mushes. Basil next to it in tub grows well and the leaves are nice and green and show no deficiency. I have two type of tomato in the new tub one from a cutting and one from seed. Cutting shoved straight into medium of new tub doing well, initially showed leaf burn but now looking healthy and growing. See pic of one from seed in new tub showing leaf burn and growth pretty average to say the least. Capsicum and parsley from seed in new tub doing Ok fro now.

At present I have 16 goldfish which have grown from @ 4-5 cm to now 10-12cm looking healthy and fed 1 to 2 times a day of @ a leveled dessert spoon of fish flake. 200 litre tank pH 7.2, Ammonia 0, nitrite 0, nitrate 40-60. Have added chelated iron and seasol. Running out of Ideas. Suggestions welcomed.