Wicking Beds

[Kaduda]

Guess I'm lucky...If I need worms I just start digging...

[GaryD]

Hi Kaduda,

Guess I'm lucky...If I need worms I just start digging...

If you are planning on using the worms for fishing, you'd certainly be lucky to be able just dig them up, however, the worms that inhabit aquaponics systems and wicking worms beds are compost worms rather than earthworms.

Gary

[arthoz]

Thanks for the wicking bed idea, although I was incapable to implement it as a growbed but it was useful as a sort of life support for my plants. I buried a plastic container filled with rocks and covered with coconut fibers. Clearly the plants are looking more luxuriant and they no longer wither when I forgot to water them in the evening.

[GaryD]

Hi Arthoz,

I confidently predict that, for many people, wicking beds will be used in place of media-based grow beds, as time goes by, because:

• They are suited to a wider range of crops.
• They are more consistent with the 'organic' ideal to which many soil-based gardeners aspire.
• They work with a much broader range of growing media.....including soil.
• They are much cheaper build.
• Far less plumbing is required.
• Their separation from the fish side of the system enables the use of a broader range of organic (or non-organic) pest controls.
• They are just as water-wise as any media-based grow bed system.
• Watering them from an aquaculture system contributes to the optimisation of water quality.

In fact, I have the view that:

• a small aquaculture system (complete with appropriate mechanical and biological filtration)
• coupled to a grow bed or tank (or two).....just to create an aquaponic eco-system
• supplying nutrient rich water to a series of wicking beds

......is the ideal set up for a micro-farm.

Such a system could be put together for a fraction of the money that the kits that are about......and it will out-produce them as well.

Gary

[arthoz]

True, true, true...my thirsty bamboo and I and my loveable mother have nothing for you but gratitude for putting forth this idea. The only nagging thing is that I can't see any of the pics posted here...maybe there's something wrong with the forum (btw nice forum makeover, I like the greenish hue) or maybe my internet explorer needed an upgrade download or two...nevermind...maybe it'll sort out later....

Anyone got any advice how I could make the growbed box? We got serious termite problems here though I did read somewhere that they cover the plywood with fiberglass...CAN WE DO THAT? Sorry for my ignorance, I'm partially clueless with farming so fiberglassing is an absolute mystery to me...

And how should I design the plumbing if I want the water to circulate with an aquaponics system...so sorry if someone have posted on this subject already, haven't got time to read the whole thread...should I let it go in a continuous flow (won't the soil get soggy?) or just simple flood and drain or a timer?

So much to learn and so little time...I hope I could learn more before I have to go outstation to a place void of any internet connection....

[francois]

Hi Arthoz,

I confidently predict that, for many people, wicking beds will be used in place of media-based grow beds, as time goes by, because:

• They are suited to a wider range of crops.
• They are more consistent with the 'organic' ideal to which many soil-based gardeners aspire.
• They work with a much broader range of growing media.....including soil.
• They are much cheaper build.
• Far less plumbing is required.
• Their separation from the fish side of the system enables the use of a broader range of organic (or non-organic) pest controls.
• They are just as water-wise as any media-based grow bed system.
• Watering them from an aquaculture system contributes to the optimisation of water quality.

In fact, I have the view that:

• a small aquaculture system (complete with appropriate mechanical and biological filtration)
• coupled to a grow bed or tank (or two).....just to create an aquaponic eco-system
• supplying nutrient rich water to a series of wicking beds

......is the ideal set up for a micro-farm.

Such a system could be put together for a fraction of the money that the kits that are about......and it will out-produce them as well.

Gary

that is the way i have been running my system
fish,worms,vermicasting and brewed vermitea
only other things i add
lime,iron
nothing else but maybe a banana
works well

[GaryD]

Hi Arthoz,

The only nagging thing is that I can't see any of the pics posted here...maybe there's something wrong with the forum (btw nice forum makeover, I like the greenish hue)......
We're still grappling with how to transfer all of the images from the former version of the forum software.

Anyone got any advice how I could make the growbed box? We got serious termite problems here though I did read somewhere that they cover the plywood with fiberglass...CAN WE DO THAT? Sorry for my ignorance, I'm partially clueless with farming so fiberglassing is an absolute mystery to me...

Fibreglassing over wood is possible but it's a messy job and I don't know that the termites wouldn't find their way into the wood eventually anyway.

You can build wicking beds directly on the ground with nothing more than a sheet of plastic. I've seen other raised wicking beds made out of welded steel mesh lined with plastic, too. You can certainly make them out of many plastic containers.

And how should I design the plumbing if I want the water to circulate with an aquaponics system...so sorry if someone have posted on this subject already, haven't got time to read the whole thread...should I let it go in a continuous flow (won't the soil get soggy?) or just simple flood and drain or a timer?

Wicking beds don't recirculate like grow beds do......you simply top them up with water from your fish tank every now and then.

I suggest you google 'wicking beds' to get a better idea of how they work.

Francois, your system is an inspiration. Have you managed to overcome any of your water supply problems?

Gary

[GaryD]

Here's a photo of our wicking bed....taken today.

This bed is planted out to tomatoes and, as the photo illustrates, they are in flower. We've already taken fruit from one bush.

Given that, in our part of the world, its mid winter things are growing superbly. Such is life in a sub-tropical environment.

Gary

[mcfarm]

Arthoz, I've found that IBC's cut in half make great wiking beds. The finished beds end up roughly 500 deep, which is deep enough for most root crops, and rougly 1m2 each. No need to build or fibreglass anything, just need to paint or cover the plastic of the IBC's as the transluscent ones are not UV stable and will go brittle in a few years.

Gary, I have come to the same conclusion as you about AP and wicking beds. My AP system is for leafy greens in rafts, and I will tap water from the AP system to the wicking beds for fruiting and rooting plants. Best of both worlds as I see it.

[Shane]

Here's a photo of our wicking bed....taken today.

Hi Gary,

Looks good, the frame above the bed...is that Qubelock?

Cheers,
Shane