Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

SF larvae are negatively
phototactic (afraid of light), and therefore most of
their migratory activity takes place at night. Their
migration initially appears to be a random search for
a way out of the waste. If a ramp of an upward
inclination lies at the edge of the waste, they will
make every effort to negotiate this ramp. If this ramp
has an angle less than 40 degrees, the larvae will

Steep Angle
have no problem exiting the unit. Such a steep angle
makes it difficult for the larvae to carry along any
adhering residue, and it also serves as a barrier
for the larvae of most other species of fly. Housefly
larvae generally are not able to negotiate a dry ramp
of a 20-degree angle,

Another benefit of the ramp is that it gives the worms time to purge their gut on the way out.

The size they are referring to is 2 feet in diameter. They also have (or will have) a 4 foot commercial version to process restaurant waste.

Yeah, I think 30 degrees was chosen as the mid range
40 degree ratio is ~8.8mm vertical to 10mm horizontal


Ah!...just went back to my previous post and saw I had used "%" - really meant degrees...45 degree ratio is 10mm:10mm, so just work out a "%" of that (30 degrees is 2/3rds etc )

ok i see, will have to work on something. I'm thinking fibreglass and expanding foam.

I was thinking of using a small heavy duty trash can and adding layers of sheet foam to the inside wall then a couple more cut to make the ramps leading up to a pvc fitting (90 or 45) to a collection bucket.

That way I add some insulation for future heat and cols extremes and the collection system can be made more scavanger safe.

Another way to figure the ramp would be 1:3 or for every 1 unit vertical you go 3 units horizontal.
Gives you a 33 percent slope basically.
1 meter vertical rise to 3 meters horizontal run = 33.3 percent slope which is a little steeper than 30 degrees

Cutting foam would work if it will bend into the container. The stuff I can get is rigid. Perhaps a hair dryer could make it bendable...

The main problem during the summer might be keeping them cool. The produce plenty of heat.

I was just going to get some sheet styrofoam from a plastics company probably 3/4" since it would be pretty flexible. It should help with both summer and winter temps. Use a industrial type glue to stick it to the can may end having to use a galvanized can to get it to stick. But foam would be easy to work with to make the entire system it would just need a hard shell to last longer.

The other thing I think I will do is cut some large holes in the top of the trash can lid and attach a smaller 5 gallon lid or foam inside with cut outs so I can rotate it to block the trash can openings to allow more air into the system. Kinda like you find on many spice containers or the vents on a bar-b-que pit.

I have a big old gray trash can (full of holes from being a compost bin) that I think might work for BSF.

I was thinking that tilting it at between a 30-40 degree angle. Near the top of the can I would put a hole that I could put a tube down to a collection bucket. That side would go down in the tilt. then I just need a lid for the can and perhaps need to screen some of the holes that might provide too easy an escape for the larva. I would leave other holes open for the adults to get in.

I was thinking a brick rectangle, 1000mm x 600mm x 350mm. The ramp inside could be formed out of brick and render, then seal the inside with slateseal or something. use Form ply for the hinged lid. It would be big, and solid

It would probably be well insulated also. Would you sink it into the ground part way or all above ground?

I was doing a patent search on black soldier fly and I came accross this OUT THERE futuristic application:

Check out patent: http://www.google.com/patents?id=o0IUAA ... oldier+fly

Frozen maggot eggs from space!

I wonder how a fish would come with weightlessness. They would taste better than powdered maggots!

Hard part would be keeping them in the water

Little water helmets for the fish?