Bell Siphon for Ebb and Flow Hydroponics

I’m excited to share my 3D-printed Bell Siphon, designed specifically for a strawberry hydroponics system I built using rain gutters attached to the wall. This design includes a bell siphon, a media barrier, a durable TPU O-ring, and flow rate adapters, all aimed at making your hydroponics experience smoother and more efficient. The concept was inspired by Affnan bell siphon, which has proven to be effective in similar setups.

I printed the part in PLA, which is not durable on the long run but probably sufficient for one season. For durability, ASA would be a better choice.

Here’s how to get it all set up:

1. Start by drilling an 18 mm hole in the container you’ll be using for your hydroponics system.
2. Insert the siphon component, which has a screw thread, through the media barrier and into the hole you just drilled.
3. On the other side, place the O-ring and tighten the nut securely.
4. Connect about 20 cm of tubing to the outlet, and place the other end in a container to recirculate the water.
5. Position the siphon cup upside down on the siphon part within the media guard.
6. Fill the container with roughly 4.5 cm of expanded clay pebbles or another suitable coarse material for hydroponics.
7. Now, test the system by pumping water into the container. When the water level reaches the top of the siphon cup, stop the pump. The water should flow out through the tubing until the container is completely drained. If it doesn’t work as expected, you can fine-tune the system by using the provided 3 or 4 mm flow rate adapters to adjust the diameter of the hole.

I hope this Bell Siphon helps you achieve great results in your hydroponics journey, especially for growing delicious strawberries! Enjoy the process!