Making the Grow Bed

Once you have a suitable container for your grow bed, measure the depth of the gravel. Learn from my mistake and measure the types of gravel separately to save yourself from sorting them again later. Make sure to shake the container to ensure the gravel has settled before measuring.

Cut your stand pipe to a length 25mm - 35mm below the depth of your medium. The pipe used here has a flared ending which makes the draining process more rapid.

Drill a pilot hole into the bottom of the grow bed in the position you want your stand pipe. Use a spade bit to increase the width to the thread diameter of your fittings. Sand away any jagged edges.

Place the male fitting with a rubber o-ring into the bottom of the grow bed and secure it with the female fitting and another o-ring on top.

Cut a length of PVC pipe around 30mm longer than your stand pipe. Mark out slits in the bottom of the pipe and use a sharp saw to create a groove. Widen the groove using a saw with a larger blade.

Using the elbows and more of the pipe to create a downpipe with a bend. More length will ensure the water is drained quickly from the grow bed.

Fit the standpipe, bell siphon and down pipe into the grow bed. Add the bigger gravel first to secure your bell siphon and add the smaller pebbles on top.