Help with Bell Siphon

[Fish Frenzy]

Hi, all,

My basement system was tested working the first day and then after I put all the rocks in, for some unknown reason, the snorkel stops working so it just keeps siphoning!! Anybody has any idea to help? I checked everything I know such as snorkel tube length, outlet length, height of bell siphon, etc. It siphons beautifully but it just won't stop. The snorkel tube is making a lot of noises right now but just can't stop. All the measurements are correct and it worked when it had water only....very puzzling. Thanks.

[stucco]

Sounds like You need to slow the flow to the bed.

[Fish Frenzy]

I did until the flow is almost nothing and it is still draining... With that kind of flow I don't know if the siphon would start. Any other ideas?

[stucco]

Does your discharge pipe go straight down? If so then put a fitting with a slight upward angel on the discharge pipe. Maybe ¾ the width of the pipe.

[Fish Frenzy]

Hi, stucco, thanks for your ideas. I finally got it working but would like your confirmation that this is normal. Here are some facts:

110g fish stock tank
50g rubbermaid stock tank grow bed
Siphon tube length: 7 inches from the bottom of the bed
Grow bed depth: 9 inches

It takes approximately 20 minutes to fill the tank now to siphon starts and it takes about 6 minutes til the siphon breaks. Are these figures normal? The flow rate coming in looks quite slow but I guess this is what it takes to work.

BTW, I use this plan for the bell siphon and I think it is one of the most intuitive on the net:

http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/BIO-10.pdf

[stucco]

If you look at photo #16 in that link. (good link by the way). I would have that last piece of pipe turned up at the 90 until the pipe is ¼ above itself. The flood and drain time sounds good as long as it is filling and draining all is well.

[badflash]

It sounds like the air break is clogged. Check the small air line that breaks the siphon.

[urbanfarmer]

It sounds like the air break is clogged. Check the small air line that breaks the siphon.

I have to agree. What breaks the siphon is air. I actually had a similar problem once because I did not build a "guard" around the siphon from the hydroton. Check to see if the medium is blocking the slits at the bottom of the outer tube. That is what happened to me.

[Fish Frenzy]

Hi, all,

I do have a siphon guard and everything works fine now. For some reason, the flow rate is just touchy; just a tiny bit more flow and it won't break. It now takes a bit over 20 minutes to fill and 4-5 minutes to siphon out and break. Here are a couple of photos:





For now, I have three large tilapias in it to cycle further the system before getting more fingerlings this spring. By the way, I really like Sunleaves' Rocks!

[badflash]

Sounds perfect. Too low a flow and it won't kick. A little touchy, but very cool when they work. They need weekly maintenace to clean out the growies and slimies.