lots of questions

[starter]

does any one use sand in their grow beds? What exactly a wicking bed? it sounds like a growbed that doesn"t completly drain out Thanks again.

[bigdaddy]

Hi Starter,

I started my first system in mid January so I am just starting out as well so people with more experience can advise further.

I use 3/4"cottage pebbles for my media.Some people use 3/4"gravel,which costs less but is sharper but OK,some people use expanded clay which is light and very nice but expensive.

There are many different types of media to use.

I rarely see people using sand.

Wicking beds..I don't know a lot about them,no doubt people who have built these will advise soon.

Cheers.

[kellenw]

Hello Starter,
Avoid sand. Sand will clump, compact, channel, travel (throughout your system and even into your pump), etc. You'll end up with a giant mess ultimately.

[starter]

Thanks guess I'll have to stick with the gravel. How can I be sure I'm getting the right kind? Can I just pour some viniger on it and watch for bubbles? most rock around here is trucked in. Our native rock is mostly iron ore and rather soft, I'm afraid it will slowly stop up a system.

[bigdaddy]

Hi Starter,

Why don't you get an old cup or plastic container ,fill it up with the gravel you think you would like,then fill the container up with water,let it sit for a week or so,drain the water out into another container and water test the drained water.I've never done that before,but if I did not know about my media,I would probably do that.It can't hurt.

Just a thought.

Cheers.

[GaryD]

Hi Starter,

To learn more about wicking beds......see here.

They are quickly becoming my favourite plant growing system. They are water-wise, cheap to build and able to grow all types of crops.

Gary

[starter]

Gary does a wick garden grow as fast as flood type beds. I understand in a greenhouse the flood type grow faster and of course longer season than dirt gardens. From what I read a wick setup would be ideal if water was an issue. I guess it would also work with fish you would just need a larger reserve.

[GaryD]

Hi Starter,

Gary does a wick garden grow as fast as flood type beds. I understand in a greenhouse the flood type grow faster and of course longer season than dirt gardens. From what I read a wick setup would be ideal if water was an issue. I guess it would also work with fish you would just need a larger reserve.

How quickly plants grow depend on a number of things. Normally, a flood and drain grow bed will grow plants pretty quickly.....but that assumes that enough nutrients of the right type are available.

Wicking beds can be very productive and any difference in the rate of growth is more than offset by the fact that wicking beds are much cheaper to set up than grow beds.

The other benefit of wicking beds is that you can grow all plants.....including potatoes, root crops and melons.

I wouldn't recommend connecting a wicking bed directly to a fish tank. Just take the water from the fish tank and top up the wicking bed reservoir.

Gary