Autosiphons – Bell Siphon – U-Bend – Gooseneck – Looped Siphons – Two Pipe Siphon
Tweet ThisFor Aquaponics to work with plants, they need to use Autosiphons – Bell Siphon – U-Bend – Gooseneck , Looped Siphons or Two Pipe Siphon to flood and drain your grow beds. Auto siphons are an alternive and reliable way of flooding and draining a hydroponics or aquaponic garden. The way it works is quorkly and kindof looks like a contraptions. I have not seen comercially made autosiphons. There are two types of autopiphons I know about and use. They are the Bell-siphon and the looped siphons.
Under Construction
Bell Siphons – Autosiphons
Below is a video of how the bell siphon works. It is speeded up around 1200% to show how it works in a few seconds. Please notice there is a black 3 inch PVC pipe with holes. This is meant to keep out the ceramic balls from the bell siphon.
Gooseneck looped AutoSiphon:
This autosiphon is very easy to make and tune. As mensended above, autosiphon systems have to be tuned between the water in rate and the exit water flow rate. One picture says a thousand words on the construction of this autosiphon. See below.
The top of the loop is the level where the siphon catches and drains the flooded growing area. Here is a BOM (Bill of Material for this example)
1 @ 1/2 inch tube (This needs to be a non-colabpable kind. Simple hydropoinc tubing does not work. The bend is too steap)
1 @ 1/2 inch barbed connector to 3/4 inch PVC slip connector
1 @ 3/4 inch PVC pipe
1 @ 1/2 inch PVC valve (this is used to put on the end of the exit hose to regulate the amount of water going between stages)
For Aquaponics to work with plants, they need to use Autosiphons – Bell Siphon – U-Bend – Gooseneck , Looped Siphons or Two Pipe Siphon to flood and drain your grow beds.