Simplest, Most Adaptable Siphon for Aquaponics Systems

This Greenway Siphon is easy to make, never leaks, doesn't damage the integrity of the tanks and is very adaptable for moving water from pond-to-pond in aquaponics systems. When water is added to one pond, it flows through the siphon to the other pond. Siphons over the top are easily moved and two or more can be used to increase the flow from pond-to-pond. If a siphon gets air in it, the air can be removed simply through the small opening and tube at the top. The transparent plexiglass tube in the center can be made any length to adjust to the distance between two ponds
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[@NuclearCow100]

Thank you! I really like the idea of using clear PVC to inspect for air. Thats really smart.

[@earlebarnhart6026]

Air accumulating in the top of a siphon is the main problem with using siphons. Air ALWAYS slowly accumulates, slowly reduces the volume of water that flows through, and eventually stops flow altogether. In an opaque pipe you cannot see it happening until it's too late. Even then, when you restart an opaque siphon you can't see how much air is in it at the beginning. The air that accumulates is from tiny bubbles, some are oxygen bubbles from algae, and some are normal air that come out of the water because the space above the water in the siphon is always under a light vacuum and it pulls the tiny drops out of suspension in the water.

[@ghostphalanx]

Beautiful stuff! Nice technique and great message overall about sustainability 🙏

[@isanBen]

This was something completely new to me, will come in handy soon, starting to build a small aquaponics system, just waiting until after April, it's called fire month here in Thailand, was looking for something easily adaptable to expanding and be able to rearrange without the permanent solutions I've seen so far, thanks for making life easier and making time to record and share, very easy to understand what you're doing 🙏🇹🇭😊🌱

[@darkinian]

Great innovation, I'll give it a try here in the UK. Thanks for sharing!

[@bc4yt]

I had the same idea for connecting many fragile containers that couldn't be drilled, to form a water "tank"... But, I was never able to figure out how to get the syphons started, a problem you just solved for me. Thanks! 👍

[@elihuthompson626]

Thank you that was informative

[@Huertech]

Thanks

[@user-mo6vd9nr5u]

Very good

[@genome692002]

very nice

[@marycrosiar5571]

your awesome thank you thank you

[@greencenter9608]

Mary, Thanks, one of the best features of these siphons is that they connect two ponds over the top, and you don't have to put holes through the sides of the tanks and try to seal the connections.

[@vanzelerluis8520]

Muito inteligente

[@AztecWarrior69]

Loves this. If I ever make some ponds this way I am going to implement this. However instead of drilling a hole and having to buy extra fittings you should just run the tube inside the pipe. Glue or use a plastic cup just smaller than the ID of the pipe. Just large enough to press the tubing against the top of pipe without crushing the tubing. Then finis putting the elbows and downpipes. Also buy a brake bleeding kit from harbor freight and use that to suck the air out. Pond water can have very bad bacteria that will make you sick.

[@johncollins3910]

or even add fittings to both ends with a hose adapter and valves if they are a longer distance than what you can get in the pond. hook a hose to one end and leave the other end open until the water pushes all the air out then close the valves put them in place then open the valves.

[@AztecWarrior69]

@johncollins3910 well I was thinking to remove cost, making it easier to start and add a bit of safety. Adding more fittings doesn't exactly go with removing cost. Also it seems, what you are suggesting, will make it harder to start.

[@Decacityfarms]

Do you use some other siphon to keep the water level from filling past a certain point. I understand the high to low aspect but how do you keep the water level static at a chosen point for the proceeding tanks to then mimic/fill to that same level?

[@miko2kadir]

great idea! simple and efficient. i am curious about how much water you input to the system: l/h? is it a constant input or only. when it rains?

[@greencenter9608]

New Alchemy's research on Zweig Ponds (lettuce aquaponics) suggested removal and replacement of 20% of water per week (to remove some portion of the dissolved nutrients). 5'x5' ponds are about 700 gallons. So each pond should get 140 gallons of new water per week . We have a row of 4 connected ponds, so theoretically 560 gallons of new water should be run through, though its not the same as replacing 20% new water into each pond. In practice, we use a timer and put new water in at the upper end for about 30 minute from a garden hose at about half-rate. I donut know the gallons/hour but willmeasur it and let you know.

[@miko2kadir]

@@greencenter9608 ok great, i would appreciate. this is gold!

[@t.loongchaang5081]

Hi, I just wonder how would you ensure the flow is from right to left and not the other way round? In any case, this is a great work, thank you for sharing.

[@greencenter9608]

The water will always flow from the pond with the higher water level to the pond with the lower water level. The water will flow until the two ponds have equal water levels. The rate of flow slows down as the difference in water levels gets smaller and smaller.

[@t.loongchaang5081]

@@greencenter9608 tq

[@bravennewman-morris1567]

Up here in Ontario, we built our own 33 foot geodesic dome greenhouse with our own climate battery. It made it through the first winter ok, but there is always room for improvements! I see you guys are growing citrus. What winter temperature range do you guys keep for the plants? We personally never let it get below 4.5 degrees centigrade as a low point in the night. I'm very curious!

[@greencenter9608]

We have several Meyer lemon trees about 7 feet high in large pots. We put them outdoors each summer - rain and sun and birds keep the leaves free of black sooty mold and scales that grow on the leaves if they are left in the greenhouse all summer. We put them inside in winter. The temperature in aor greenhouse often goes down to 40 degrees F and occasionally in worst times can go right down to 32-33 F and the lemons are OK. Lemons are the most hardy citrus; I don't know if oranges could go that low.

[@user-ov3gv8gd9k]

@@greencenter9608 ⚠ God has said in the Quran: 🔵 { O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous - ( 2:21 ) 🔴 [He] who made for you the earth a bed [spread out] and the sky a ceiling and sent down from the sky, rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you. So do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him]. ( 2:22 ) 🔵 And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant [Muhammad], then produce a surah the like thereof and call upon your witnesses other than Allah, if you should be truthful. ( 2:23 ) 🔴 But if you do not - and you will never be able to - then fear the Fire, whose fuel is men and stones, prepared for the disbelievers.( 2:24 ) 🔵 And give good tidings to those who believe and do righteous deeds that they will have gardens [in Paradise] beneath which rivers flow. Whenever they are provided with a provision of fruit therefrom, they will say, "This is what we were provided with before." And it is given to them in likeness. And they will have therein purified spouses, and they will abide therein eternally. ( 2:25 ) ⚠ Quran

[@workshopvillage]

Does this mean you have to watch as the water rises from the first pond and then start the siphon manually? This is an excellent video. Thank you for sharing.

[@hildamaingay]

The siphon is always full of water. It works automatically; if the water level is higher on one side than the other, water will flow over to the lower side until both levels are equal. They will stay equal all the time, unless more new water is added to either side. Then they will equalize again until the levels are the same. The siphon is always full; water just runs through it, water never drains out.

[@workshopvillage]

@@hildamaingay Thank you for the clear explanation.

[@brianbarnhart8623]

Using gravity is a great approach to making this process work. Then you are not reliant on pumps that can fail. I imagine it is also much quieter using your siphons than motors and pumps. I am curious how strong someone's lungs have to be to suck up that much water to fill the siphon. You do it quickly, so either it is not too bad.

[@greencenter9608]

It's a little like sucking a milkshake up a long straw; the water is only sucked up about 6 inches from the top surface of the pond to the top of the siphon,

[@itsmedee8351]

You can also pinch the tube between finger and thumb between sucks. Green Center: Love your setup and the siphon is the best I have seen yet, especially with your solution to starting it. Thank you for posting

[@supplies4reptiles228]

should the syphons be level? which way does the water flow? can you suck the air out and water up through that thick pipes ,with that small clear tube...

[@greencenter9608]

The two ends of a siphon do not have to be level where they rest on the top edge of a pond. It is easier to suck out any air in the top of the siphon if it is held level for that operation. The water will flow from the pond with the highest water level to the pond with a lower water level. It is easy to suck out air through the small tube; when you suck out air from the top, water will rise up each side in the large tubes and finally fill the horizontal tube with water. The siphon will work if there is some air in the top horizontal tube, but more water will flow the less air there is.

[@supplies4reptiles228]

your inflow vs the syphons doesn't seem to match up ,doesn't the syphons draw more water out than what is put back in?

[@greencenter9608]

Water will flow automatically from one pond into the other from a pond with a higher water level to pond with a lower water level. When the water levels in both ponds are finally the same, the water will stop flowing.

[@bcarroll03]

This is called a bridge siphon.