Simple Siphon Empties Ponds Fast
Kenny Ranta found a way to empty out silted-up farm ponds without getting his feet wet. He uses a siphon made with electrical conduit, pvc pipe, and flexible hose. Built in 10-ft. sections, the siphon connects easily for set-up and breaks down easy when done.
“I don’t buy anything if I can make it,” says Ranta, explaining why he doesn’t use a gas-powered pump. “I don’t do it to save money, but for the fun of making it.”
He uses 10-ft. lengths of electrical conduit. “I just stick male and female ends together and connect as many as I need with duct tape. As long as the conduit ends are dry when taped, the tape holds the tubes together.
“I can extend the siphon as far into a pond as needed by just adding more conduit,” explains Ranta.
To create the siphon effect, Ranta fills the pipe with water and then creates a vacuum to pull the water through. There’s a shut-off valve at the discharge end with a plug at the pond end. The plug consists of a right angle elbow with a small ball stuck in it. The ball has an eyebolt in it that’s attached to a cord.
“As I fill the pipe with water, the pond end sinks to the bottom. When it’s full, I shut the fill valve and open the discharge valve, creating a vacuum. A tug on the cord pulls the plug and the water starts flowing.”
Water flows at a rate of about 20 gal. a min. until the end of the pipe in the pond is exposed.
“The great thing is that when I break it all down, I can tie the sections of tubing into a bundle and carry them out on my shoulder,” says Ranta.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Kenneth Ranta, 1711 Wornall Rd., Excelsior Springs, Mo. 64024 (ph 816 536-6320; kiranta1@yahoo.com).
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Simple Siphon Empties Ponds Fast FARM HOME Miscellaneous Kenny Ranta found a way to empty out silted-up farm ponds without getting his feet wet He uses a siphon made with electrical conduit pvc pipe and flexible hose Built in 10-ft sections the siphon connects easily for set-up and breaks down easy when done “I don’t buy anything if I can make it ” says Ranta explaining why he doesn’t use a gas-powered pump “I don’t do it to save money but for the fun of making it ” He uses 10-ft lengths of electrical conduit “I just stick male and female ends together and connect as many as I need with duct tape As long as the conduit ends are dry when taped the tape holds the tubes together “I can extend the siphon as far into a pond as needed by just adding more conduit ” explains Ranta To create the siphon effect Ranta fills the pipe with water and then creates a vacuum to pull the water through There’s a shut-off valve at the discharge end with a plug at the pond end The plug consists of a right angle elbow with a small ball stuck in it The ball has an eyebolt in it that’s attached to a cord “As I fill the pipe with water the pond end sinks to the bottom When it’s full I shut the fill valve and open the discharge valve creating a vacuum A tug on the cord pulls the plug and the water starts flowing ” Water flows at a rate of about 20 gal a min until the end of the pipe in the pond is exposed “The great thing is that when I break it all down I can tie the sections of tubing into a bundle and carry them out on my shoulder ” says Ranta Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Kenneth Ranta 1711 Wornall Rd Excelsior Springs Mo 64024 ph 816 536-6320; kiranta1@yahoo com
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