[Tfug] *Way* OT... :>

[euvitudo]

Take a look at pet shops--they have nice siphons (for aquaria) where
you fill a thick tube with water, and lift it sufficiently to initialize the
effects of gravity.

This thick tube is connected to a hose at the other end, allowing the
water to 'escape'.

On a similar note, I had an aquarium filter that required 'manual'
siphoning to get enough water into the tube to start the gravitational
effects for the filter to work.  Needless to say, I think that may be
worse than rainwater.  Dealing with filters is bad enough--let alone
beginning the siphoning process started manually.

Thankfully I replaced it with a new filter that has a better way
(albeit still manual) to begin the process.

Phil



On Mon, Jul 7, 2008 at 11:54 AM, Bexley Hall <bexley401 at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> We collect rain water (note to self:  do not plant citrus trees
> when you live in the desert... REGARDLESS of how fond you may
> be of the fruit!).  Currently, several polyethylene (?) 55G
> barrels.
>
> Polyethylene doesn't like most adhesives.  I.e., if you want
> to "glue" a spigot onto the bottom of the tank, you need to
> either *weld* it *or* use a compression seal.
>
> Besides, why put a hole in the bottom of such a nice container
> if you don't *have* to!
>
> Since a 55G bbl of water weighs a considerable amount (I think ~400lbs
> if memory serves), you can't really *carry* the barrel to where you
> need/want that water.  Nor can you easily *tip* it to pour from it.
>
> So, I usually empty them with a garden hose and siphonic action.
>
> Of course, I am not fond of priming such a siphon "by hand"
> (by mouth??).  So, usually find other tricks to get it primed
> (somehow, it primed itself in last night's storm and emptied
> one of the barrels before morning!).
>
> When I was knee-high-to-a-grasshopper, I had a self-priming
> siphon that, to a youngster, was absolutely *magical*!  You
> just put it in a barrel of water and it started to work!
>
> Unfortunately, I wasn't oobservant enough of its workings.  :<
> All I recall was a plain tube shaped like an M -- or thereabouts.
> I.e., more than an inverted U typical of a siphon.  IIRC, the
> peaks of the M were not at the same height -- though that may
> have just been sloppy manufacturing?
>
> Anyway... can anyone shed some light on what this might *really*
> have looked like?  (ASCII art) Ideally, I would like to make one to
> take the guesswork out of the way I currently prime my siphons.
>
> Thanks!
> --don
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Tucson Free Unix Group - tfug at tfug.org
> Subscription Options:
> http://www.tfug.org/mailman/listinfo/tfug_tfug.org
>