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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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2016 - Volume #40, Issue #1