Growing stuff in a Bipod: Basic Questions

Paulieg

- Where can I buy one?
- Which is a good one to buy?
- Do I just put in scraps, and the flies will just "gravitate" to the bipod and drop maggots?
- What does "self-harvesting" mean?
- At what point in the life cycle do I harvest the maggots?
- How do I clean them prior to feeding to my tilapia?
- Do I get compost tea from this, and how would I use it if so?
:dontknow:

I know it's a lot of questions, but the answers to each of these is hard to find. I'd appreciate some kind soul dropping a knowledge bomb on me. I don't want to rely solely on pellets. Much thanks.

gorotsuki69

good place to start is here:
http://blacksoldierflyblog.com/

Bender

Paulieg wrote:

- Where can I buy one? Try a Google search. You can buy one online or build your own.
- Which is a good one to buy? Biopod or biopod plus
- Do I just put in scraps, and the flies will just "gravitate" to the bipod and drop maggots? Yes
- What does "self-harvesting" mean? The larvae will look for a dry place to pupate and will exit of their own accord ie self harvest
- At what point in the life cycle do I harvest the maggots? They will harvest themselves when they are ready
- How do I clean them prior to feeding to my tilapia? No need just throw them in your tank
- Do I get compost tea from this, and how would I use it if so? You get a very concentrated leachate which needs to be diluted with water by at least 50:1 or 100:1
:dontknow:

I know it's a lot of questions, but the answers to each of these is hard to find. I'd appreciate some kind soul dropping a knowledge bomb on me. I don't want to rely solely on pellets. Much thanks.

There are heaps of threads on this forum about black soldier fly or try Google the black soldier fly forum for more info

Paulieg

So, regarding this "BIOpod" (versus bipod), I've learnt some amazing things. All I have to do is:

(1) Order/build it.
(2) Order/stock initial larvae.
(3) Thrown in organic scraps.
(4) Harvest grubs/tea.

Heck, I can even put it in a green house year-round since adults won't eat my plants, and grubs just eat what's in the pod. This stuff is AMAZING! Sorry, I'm just getting into aquaponics, and the more I learn about it the more I love it. This is just one more thing to keep me up at night tossing and turning at how I can use it in the future.

Ronmaggi

I am going to order a ready made biopod. I am handy, but sometimes it is easier just to get the factory made ones. BTW, I now have Ramstein in my head, German Metal was big where I grew up...

Paulieg

Check out THIS beast

http://www.thebiopod.com/pages/pages/protapod.html

If you live near a community of aquaponics farmers, chicken farmers, or fish hatcheries, you could be the "grub dealer". I've read somewhere on the internet of people calling restaurants for biomass pickup (food scraps) for home systems. Imagine doing weekly pickups at multiple restaurants, pouring it all into 2-4 of these commercial jobbers placed under mosquito tents, then sellling frozen larvae to farmers as fish/poultry food.

This could be a lucrative local sustainment movement on its own. This is brilliant.

Paulieg

Other question which I've tried to find answers and found none:
- How can I use the leachate in aquaponics?

rsevs3

With my worm farm I just pour a bucket of water in the top and then what ever drains out goes in my grow bed.

I don't know about with a biopod though...

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

RupertofOZ

Paulieg wrote:

Other question which I've tried to find answers and found none:
- How can I use the leachate in aquaponics?

Don't... dump it on a compost heap....

You can use a tea (made from worm castings).... but not the leachate... which is anaerobic nasties...

earthbound

I doubt you'd have a good climate for BSF in Germany, I think you'd get too cold.. Oh and the Biopods are a bit of a rip off really, we sold them very briefly here but cost vs build quality was not great so we gave up on them.. Much easier to build something yourself.

Ronmaggi

earthbound wrote:

I doubt you'd have a good climate for BSF in Germany, I think you'd get too cold.. Oh and the Biopods are a bit of a rip off really, we sold them very briefly here but cost vs build quality was not great so we gave up on them.. Much easier to build something yourself.

Really? Glad you said so, I might just build one instead do shelling out $250 on one!

Paulieg

Yes, I've already got the gist of a design for my own with some Rubbermaid totes, PVC and some 3M boat adhesive.

So, can't use the leachate at all in an AP system, huh? It's all good. The grubs are what I'm after.

Also, I'm USAF stationed in Germany, but I move to north Virginia in April. I want to get things up and running as soon as I get a yard, which is why I'm putting so much thought into it. Eventually, I want to go commerical, grow roses, ginseng, and just sell my tilapia.

I will post mucho pics and video of my triumphs and failures for all to see! :headbang:

Charlie

Ronmaggi wrote:

Really? Glad you said so, I might just build one instead do shelling out $250 on one!

Id imagine you'd have a few 'planks' laying around Ron?

Ronmaggi

Nah, planks are useless, it is better just to toss people overboard.

scotty435

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Growing stuff in a Bipod: Basic Questions

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A place to discuss aquaponics