worms

[jan5134]

Hi,

I read alot about adding worms to a growbed recently. :carrot:
But nobody really specifies what type.
Will Red Wrigglers do the trick? beganim

Thanks
Jan

[jan5134]

hi,

Also is 13mm gravel to small for the worms to survive, seeing that there's not a lot
of space betwen them? beganim:24locos:

Thanks
Jan

[Greener]

Yes, Rig Wigglers are the typical worms used.

13mm might be a bit small, 20mm is better. It also depends a bit on the cut of the gravel -- is it designed to 'lock in', or is it rounded? I would suggest 20mm smooth/rounded gravel if you can find it.

[jan5134]

Thanks Greener:p


It's a lock in type, will add a few and keep you posted.:p

[Murray]

You may find that your beds will clog sooner than you might like using 13mm gravel
I have several beds filled with CANNA clay pebbles which could be classed as around 10mm. Approx every 18 months there is a need to give the beds a clean.
It is fairly easy to do. I rig a outlet pipe from under the bed, attached to the siphon outlet, then, I have a "spear" made from a piece of half inch copper pipe attached to the garden hose. The spear is worked / stabbed in and out of the pebbles all over the bed with the garden hose on full pressure. This action very effectively dislodges the solids. They are washed out and collected in a drum, or spare trough.
This process takes about 45 minutes from start to finish for one average bed.
The collected solids are well used by adding them to the compost heap. The compost will later be used in a regular garden or wicking bed, or wherever you choose.
The water can be drawn off and sent back to the AP system as top-up water.
It is pretty easy, and only once every 18 months is no big deal.

I have not had to clean any of my 19mm gravel grow beds in just over 4 years of continuous service. It would be a bit more difficult to clean the gravel beds in the same way, I imagine, but very do-able.

[bill newton]

if you buy compost worms in australia - they consist of reds blues and tigers - but they're all compost worms - they exist quite happily together and will interbreed if they cant find their own species according to experts

carna pies -- three games left!!!

[bigdaddy]

Hi Jan,

I used to only be able to buy the tigers,blues and Red wriggler mix,I think it was very good,but now I can only buy Red wriggler compost worms also very good,so yes if the red wrigglers are readily available I would be using them.No problems.

They should survive in 13 mm media and 20 mm media.The size media should not be an issue with them as far as I can see. As a side issue I use 20 mm rounded media in my systems,and it works well,it is nicer on the hands and fingers,but the initial cost is a fair bit more expensive.

Cheers.

[fishfood]

I just removed 1/2 kg of worms from my 200 litre sump and put them back in the grow beds

[jan5134]

Added a few worms about a week ago, and some other yesterday.
So far,so good. None died of what i could see.:broc1:

[Wendy in BC]

Will worms thrive/survive in a new system with ammonia and nitrites present?

[Murray]

Hi Wendy in BC,
There is a discussion re worms going on here at the moment you may find useful
http://www.aquaponics.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=6&page=16

The worms will need something to eat in order to flourish, so unless you put some decaying vegetable matter or similar, or until there is some solid fish waste they will not do too well.
I have beds that have worm feeding stations fitted to assist this process.
I bury directly into the beds any damaged or over ripe pawpaws I have. The worms have a feast on them I can tell you !!

(http://www.aquaponics.net.au/forum/showthread.php?t=6&page=16)

[Wendy in BC]

Murray,

Thanks very much for the information and link. I think I'll wait a bit before adding the few worms I've been growing. Fall is upon us here; I'll wait until my system stabilizes before risking my worm population. Worms will get harder to find as the temperature drops. BTW what is a pawpaw?

Regards,
Wendy

[Wendy in BC]

I love your worm feeding station, however as I've created an inside system I believe that it could create a bug problem for me.

[Mantis]

I pick off any old leaves of the lettuce, celery etc and just bury it in the beds. It dissapears pretty quick

[Murray]

BTW what is a pawpaw?
Hi Wendy,
A pawpaw is otherwise known as Papaya in your part of the world.

You can read about my Pawpaw / Papaya trees grown in Aquaponics HERE (http://aquaponics.net.au/blog/category/pawpaw-tree/)

An example of the fruit I get to harvest....and eat....:)

http://aquaponics.net.au/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/pawpaw39-400x345.jpg

[Wendy in BC]

Thanks for the explanation Murray. That's one giant Pawpaw, I think the ones we buy here are about a couple hundred grams.

Wendy