Friday's AP system

[Frydaze1]

Hi, everyone!

I already had the tank (and one lonely fish) so this weekend I did all the rest of my setup. And since the nitrate levels in the water were already really high, I thought I'd try planting some more mature plants and hope they would help to balance the system. (Then when the nitrates drop low enough, I'll start adding fish). Of course, I'm 75% expecting the plants to die. But it seemed worth a shot. :-)

So here's my system as of Sunday night:

And with the plants in it:



When I got up Monday morning, the bell siphon was still working beautifully, the plants were still looking good, the water had cleared up a lot, and everyone was happy.

By the time I got home from work, the siphon wouldn't start. I put in a bit of tubing as a reducer, and increased the water volume a bit, and then it would start but not stop. This morning I drilled a hole in the top of the bell and ran a tube down the side. When I left for work it was behaving itself, but we'll see what it looks like when I get home. lol

[froggo]

Hi Frydaze1,

hey well done.

If your anything like the rest of us when you see the plants grow like crazy you will be extending that system outside.
What type of lighting do you have there?

God bless, froggo

[Frydaze1]

Thanks!

This is just my proof-of-concept. I've already got my backyard spot all picked out. I'm just waiting until next year when my fiance has moved in. He's the gardener in the family.

I've got an LED system on its way. In fact, it should arrive tomorrow! Along with some seeds, since I suspect the plants won't like the way I treated them. (Though they're all still looking pretty healthy, so we'll see.)

My biggest concern right now is that my flood and drain is cycling WAY faster than I want it to. I think it's running at about a 6 minute cycle right now. I'd like to drop it down, but then the siphon doesn't activate. What are the guidelines for optimal cycling?

Thanks for your help!
Fry

[kellenw]

Frydaze1,
Welcome to APHQ! Looks like you are well on your way to developing a nice system.

[froggo]

Hi Frydaze1,

I don't use bell but loop syphons so I don't know the best way to adjust your setup. Maybe someone who uses them will chime in and offer some advice or solution.

God bless, froggo.

[Crusty]

My biggest concern right now is that my flood and drain is cycling WAY faster than I want it to. I think it's running at about a 6 minute cycle right now. I'd like to drop it down, but then the siphon doesn't activate. What are the guidelines for optimal cycling?

Hi Fry

Most put a tap just above their pump so they can slow the flow down to the grow bed by putting most of the water straight back to the fish tank. This seems to be the way most are controlling the speed of the flood and drain. It is interesting your siphon does not activate when you slow it down, must be an air leak somewhere. I doubt there are any optimal guidelines, well none I have heard of. I do know that many are running a 15minute flood cycle, though I would think that would be dependent on the volume of their growbeds and the depth of the siphon.

[Rew]

I have an indoor system with 4 small grow beds that cycle a little faster than yours do Fry. Everything seems to grow well except my green onions, they did better on a timer. Tomatoes, basil, radishes, lettuce even a carrot or two have all grown like crazy.

[Frydaze1]

Thanks, all!
I decided to go to a timer for now. I might mess with the siphon again at a later date, because it's just so cool.
My nitrate level finally went down low enough, so today I added some fish. And used some of the parsley and cilantro in tonight's dinner!

[Ravnis]

Nice job on your first setup.

My first indoor system ran on a 2 minute cycle and did fine for lettuce. The size of your bell in relation to the inner pipe will have the biggest effect on starting and stopping. I found a bell diameter twice the size of the inner pipe to work best. I have a stand pipe that is 1/2" diameter and use a 1 liter coke bottle as the bell.

[Frydaze1]

1 week update
The Nitrates were finally dropping from their unmeasurably high state, and the plants mostly seemed healthy, so I added 5 mollys and 3 algae eaters. The fish are all healthy and happy, but some of my plants started failing. But since I transplanted decent size plants to start with, that might just be unhappiness at having their roots so rudely washed off. Or it might be from the inconsistent watering caused by the malfunctioning siphon. Or it might be lack of light. Or it might be the high PH. Or, or, or...

I've added a LED light system.
I also bought 10 more fish (which is now going to be a problem since the plants are going away... sigh)
I pulled out the miserable lettuce, and I think my cilantro and parsley are going to go next. The tomatoes seem to be doing okay, though there was some burning and yellowing on the leaves. It doesn't seem to have gotten any worse since I put in the timer.
The basil is thrilled. It's ready to take over the planet. If nothing else, I seem to be successful at the expensive plant. lol
I've planted some seeds in rockwool. 50 squares of various herbs. Hopefully those will sprout quickly enough to be transferred to my gb to balance out what may now be excessive fish population.
And now my nitrites seem to be rising. I started out with an existing (and dirty) ft with a high nitrate level, so I didn't think I'd need to wait for all the cycling. But evidently the new gb's are cycling and are in the pre-nitrate phase. I hope they get through it quickly!