Aquaponics - Updates 7th July

Updates on Bell Valve, I did cosmetic changes to the valve. Following are photos of valve with some minor alteration.

Above valve with 4" cap from sewage venting system, make it neat and prevent gravel entering water flow area.

Cap removed, bell dome in position. This dome is not touch most of the time so I guess its ok to have it capped.

Bell dome removed, shows the stand pipe with 50 mm adapter opening with extender pipe (ring) in place to make water level higher.

Shows picture with extender pipe removed, this will make water level lower.

I hope to finish the setup by this weekend, need to do water inlet in grow beds, pipes going beneath grow medium.

How to make Bell Valve check : Here
How to make Bell Valve Aquaponics System check : Here

Aquaponics - Updates 5th July

New setup almost there, grow beds in position with water inlet done. I am testing this setup, Bell valve in place but not finalized.

Water feed are subdivided using ball valve few adjustment needed to get it equalized between grow beds.

I have done 3 grow beds, 4th will be added later from the old set, and that flexible tubing just water returning to tank due excess.

Water feed to grow bed will be via tube buried within the grow media, that will need to be done next.

Bell Valve in position, outer tube that white tube are drilled only few rows on the bottom. I am not that happy with this tube it's a bit thin, thinner then the one I use previously so its difficult to glue to grow bed.

Bottom of grow bed, with water outlet from Bell Valve. That slanting tube is from pump to feed manifold. One of the bed is flushing.

BTW, those that want to make the Bell Valve as illustrated in my previous post. It is best to have the water outlet at an angle as it leave the grow bed. Photo above is an example of such angled outlet.

Excess water just let it return. I am thinking of using rain gutter on top of the brick wall to have more grow beds , then I may use grow pipe style of planting in those gutter.

Prefilter not installed, that's next in to do list.

Scraps, PVC collected over the months of experimenting and redoing. Never discard these, I reuse and if anything new to try I use it again.

Prefilter - Updates 5th July

I'm building my new Aquaponics setup, Bell Valve and Grow Bed already done. Prefilter need to be upgraded to 20 mm pipe input from current 15 mm.

Above photo, are the components necessary for water/solids separation part in the filter. Other item needed are casing made of PVC pipe 100 mm and another end cap with hole drilled at the bottom for ball drain.

From left to right are :

• 40/20mm (1 1/2" - 3/4") Tee attached to a 20 ( 3/4") mm water tank adapter.
• 100 mm (4") end cap drilled 2 holes, top and side - for 20 ( 3/4") mm water tank adapter.
• 20 mm ( 3/4") pipe cut a slanting wedge (optional to cut it slanting)
• 20 mm ( 3/4") water tank adapter.

The Tee is cut at 2 part, 1st at the 20mm connection and 2nd at one end of the 40mm this to ensure the assembly fit inside the end cap.

After assembly this is how it looks like, use silicone sealant to ensure no leak on both connection.

Another angle of the complete end cap that needed to be assemble to form a filter.

This how it should look like from outside.

The new filter end cap with separator part ready to replace the old end cap with the 15 mm inlet and outlet.

Link to filter design is here.