Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

built a similar thing out of ice cream containers to try attract all the worms out of BYAPS 2nd hand hydroton
thanks for the idea

how much worms do your get in every 48 hours period (roughly). i was just thinking if you worked out a average for your 100l (?) worm farms your could do a comparison to a BSF farm. while the BSF may be more productive, cost, climate and simplicity has to come into it,and i think the worm farm might be a winner in cooler climates

Hi cd,does anything eat that big slug,that is the one I described elsewhere that not even the chooks or ants will touch.I have heard of a mechanical worm harvester that is like a small cement mixer but I can't find the energy to make it and i'm often told that I have too much junk around the yard now.

Have you tested out different "baits" in the worm harvesting cup?

How would it go in the ground in your veggie bed? I have heaps of earthworms in there when I turn it over. This could be a good way of harvesting some of them.

Anecdotally, the BSF pod is more productive in the summer, but it slows right down in Perth's winter and the worms take the lead.

However, primarily I am after the nutritional variation to provide the fish with as wide a profile as possible. Also, I believe (and I know others won't) that mixed feeds gives a better tasting fish.


Nope, there was no interest whatsoever from the SPs or the BBs.


Come on Don, you still had a bit of room around the back of the shed


Not yet TCL - though I now know that once the bread gets really mouldy and funky, the worms lose interest, so it needs to be replaced every 3-4 days or so.


Haven't tried it LV. I assume it would work, but probably slower as the worms are likely not as concentrated in the soil as they are in the worm farm. Let me know !

I've been told that corn meal is a really great treat for worms so perhaps cornbread might be worth trying in the harvester.

Happy to give it a go, but I'll have to make it first. It's not very common over here TCL.

While in the States on on furlough I visited Will Alan and Growing Power. They have a huge section of vermicomposting. When they want to harvest the worms they simply put a screen on top of the dirt with banana peals and coffee grounds. The worms crawl through the screen to get thier favorite snack(banana and coffee) then simply pick them up... no digging through dirt.

Good luck

MM

a small wooden frame with 1/4" hardware cloth or wire screen works very well. bread fruit peels grain meal all work fine try covering the screen with a sheet of news paper to block light...that will improve your yeilds.
i am a commercial worm grower in the souteastern united states...big worm
http://www.earlybirdworms.com/index.htm

happy to help anyone looking to raise them.

good simple solution, sometimes they are the best. Nice work

this is one of the two i use on the farm

i find that goldfish will eat them i had a couple that would eat the ones that fell into my front pond

Hi Scubaman

The slug in question was as large as my thumb (and I have have big, awkward hands) - I think they're called leopard slugs over here (not sure on that). There's certainly a lot of meat in them and therefore a lot of protein, but nothing would touch it in that form.

I like it too CD. Great idea.

I will give it a try.

Thinking that another holed pipe, on the outside, may help.
Say, one stationary 100 mm pipe outer. Then, a 90 mm caped pipe inner. For easier removal and replacement.

Thanks DO - let us know how it goes !