Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Hi Bob,

I will have a go at answering this and it is only in my honest opinion , so it may be disputed which is fine !!



Sounds great, the plastic sounds really durable so good......



Now this sounds bad. I would think you could possibly end up with an anerobic sludge bath.




I would never hook a wicking bed dirt garden to an AP system EVER !!

When I grow fish, the last thing I want were particles of dirt going through the system. Personally I would never consider doing it, but it has been discussed in the forum in the last 3 months. If my beds where close to the system, I would use the AP water for sure if I wanted to drain some of the system in a water change, so not to waste

IMHO I think the beauty of the wicking bed is the good soil composition, the beds being self watering for X amount of days , watering water wise , and being slightly raise by 450cm or so.

Good luck and hopefully there might be a few more comments on your proposed wicking system that will help you

Hi Jessy,

Thanks for the reality check!

I was hoping to get away from buying tons of gravel and such

I see where your coming from about things getting mucked up in the AP system.

BTW do you drain or flush out your water once in awhile and fill with fresh water?

Do you replenish the nutrients like a dirt garden?

Thanks again.

you might only need a trailer load at the most, depends on how many beds your making.

I am in landscaping mode !!! I needed a heap of rock/ gravel

because the water is wicked up, it is always fresh going in the stand pipe, and the over flow regulates.

BUT I water from the top with nutrient rich water mainly....only just because I like to.

As with the change over of dirt, I haven't got to that part yet but I have been thinking about it and still not sure on the direction I will go.

Another week one all is going OK plant pic's I know are dull

Heaps of worms provide a lot of nutrients, have to treat the same as a normal dirt garden with regards to fertilising. I used Charlie carp and seaweed. As well as a compost tea. Dug in plenty of organic stuff to feed the worms.

Set some large PVC pipe with holes drilled below ground, drop in veggie scraps and a loose cap to cut out the sunlight. You can all so use the small plastic buckets with lids does the same job.

Before planting the bed after a harvest dig it over with fresh compost and worm castings if available. Otherwise an organic fertiliser.

Remember a Wicking bed is just an efficient way to water for a period of time, in all other matters treat as you would a dirt garden. Also remember to water your seedlings/seeds from the top for the first week to ten days to help them establish their root systems.

.......yep fully agree CC Bear

That is my baby curry plant, and my first baby chilli ( Asian Lantern ) Happy yes.

Looking good my beds are dormant and will before awhile I think. Your seedlings are coming on well! Are they in store bought jiffy pots or something you made yourself.

E bay I can even give you the seller, he is cheap !!!

I thought he was cheap anyway, 500 pots for $58 dollars, the garden sticks came from there as well


http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/220865791346 ... 1439.l2649

I would of liked the next size up on the coir pots....next season ( maybe the one after !! I have big bag of the pots )

Holy shieza town! What growth! So jealous of your weather

Damn nioce work Jess.....

Love the look of those tommies starting to ripen...

That is some impressive growth Jessy! Nice work

Thanks Jessy

Thanks again Jessie and ccBear. Jessie those beds are outstanding and I'm jealous !