They are all reliable if set up correctly. Possibly the most reliable piece of equipment in an AP system. External loop are attractive to kids...they delight in fiddling with them. Do not use clear hose.
They are all reliable if set up correctly. Possibly the most reliable piece of equipment in an AP system. External loop are attractive to kids...they delight in fiddling with them. Do not use clear hose.
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Well, sir, there will probably be a number of opinions (rather like "footie, you know), but I've had a good deal of trouble with both my "u" and loop siphons. All of that, however, had to do with a black slime (that infests just about all water repositories here) and several kind of algae. Also, each of the "u" and loops siphons were made of relatively small hose or PVC - 3/4 inch (19mm) or less. I also had a bit of trouble with my bell siphons which used 25mm standpipes until I added a Venturi (at the top of the pipe).Originally Posted by PAPA PIP
If you have clean, algae or black slime (don't know what else to call the confounded stuff) free water, and larger pipe or hose, I should think you'd have little trouble with either loop or "u" siphon. The bell siphons I have are in two grow beds (50 mm around 25mm standpipes) and for the first time since I started my aquaponics adventure, are working beautifully (finally growing pickerel weed and New Zealand spinach in profusion). That, however, was after I jury-rigged Venturis (Bernoulli Effect) standpipes from those with which I started. As I mentioned here elsewhere, I had a great deal of trouble with my bell siphons before, that due mostly having the cisterns around the siphons plug up either with the hydroton clay pebbles and/or fish waste and algae. It also took me a while to realize that I had far too many fish in my system - meaning too much waste. That had much to do with plugging things up, also.
There are photos of it all elsewhere on this site, but if it will be of assistance, I'll post some more.
I'm so pleased with the bell siphons now that I am adding three more grow beds and reconfiguring my system to CHOP (two, as I recall Murray's diagrams).
Again, good luck with your efforts. Hope this helps.
Last edited by Walks-In-Storms; 29th July 2012 at 10:50.
Sounds like the bell siphon is the way to go. I will build one like the affnan siphon one YouTube.
I started off with 25mm loop syphons. 2 worked well - still going great untouched today. these were set up on IBC bottoms.
The 2 on my IBC tops were always a problem. turns out I didn't have enough drop under the IBC to create sufficient pressure difference.
swapped these to the Affnan venturi type...and with the extra external pvc air breather - they are great!
Marky Mark
"Some people tiptoe through life, so carefully, to arrive, safely at death." ~ Jermaine Evans
Interesting... i've never tried the air breather. What are the benefits?
I haven't had any issues with my bell siphons yet, which have no breathers or leak holes or any other mods i've seen used... but am curious.
Rob
I've just looked at the YouTube Affnan series. It all looks good to me, too - except I had the same idea concerning the 3mm hole in the standpipe. It stayed open exactly eleven days before the algae and black slime here closed it and I started having start and stop problems.
The 25-50mm Venturi is appealing, though - makes construction simple and easy. It seems to me that I tried something like that some time ago. The Bernoulli Effect I wanted, however, is enhanced when there is a narrowing in the conduit pipe - meaning that a portion of tube going down inside the the standpipe is more effective than having a reducer fitted around the outside of the standpipe. Experiment, you'll see what I mean - it's the reason I went looking for a construction that resulted in the Schweppes bottle rig.
Just thought I might save you a problem or two.
Last edited by Walks-In-Storms; 2nd August 2012 at 03:50.
I agree with Murray re: not inventing the wheel, however in my case I had to due to the fact access underneath the growbed was not possible, hence the change, as a ancillary benefit I found this design can handle a hell of a lot of flow. Definitely the simpler the better though!
Yeah, roger that! I've been designing and re-designing the changeover from my original system to a Constant Height, one pump system, entirely in the interests of making it as simple and effective as possible - "judo," we call it. I have constraints imposed here by the weather, the geology of our property, and mistakes I made at the outset (following "expert" advice that was at best suspect in the first place), however. My copier has gone "on the fritz," or I'd post a diagram of the system I've settle on and begun installing. Maybe soon (too busy with the gardening, the wind and solar energy system, and a fuel booster for the cars at the moment).
I think that's the awesome thing about siphons... they're just so simple once you understand the basic mechanics of it all!
I'm working on a water bridge at the moment in increase available crossflow between my sumps. Should be cool!
Rob
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