Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

not sure if this is the right forum for me...

I've been stalking this forum for quite some time, and have drooled over all of the cool aquaponics systems. My ultimate goal is to have a small aquaponics system but i have to convince the boss.

I'm starting with a set of wicking containers to warm her up to the idea. She is already of the mindset that wicking beds are for lazy gardeners who don't want to water everyday! so i have a long battle ahead of me.

i have 9, 27 gallon black totes that will be my wicking containers. I am having a hard time wrapping my brain around setting up the wicking bed. I am going to be using a 2" fill pipe and the adding a couple sections of 4" landscape drain pipe. topping it with gravel and covering with landscape fabric and then compost.

My question is how does the wicking happen if the dirt is not always in direct contact with the water at all times? In my setup if the water is half of normal height then it will only be in contact with with pipes and gravel. Do i need to dip the fabric and dirt down into the water area?

Welcome to the forum Goomanchu .

Believe it or not the landscape fabric actually works as a wick at least in my system (and I used rocks like you're planning). I wouldn't use the gravel anymore unless you're going to be walking on the bed. Have a look at Food and Fishes thread or DecalsbyJT and the way they do their wicking beds. Less heavy lifting .

I appreciate the quick response Scotty!

I'm now thinking of using 2 sections of corrugated drain pipe and the 2" fill pipe and wrapping that in the fabric and then covering with something absorbent, then the soil. I think that would be a small version of what JT and F&F have done.