Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

just thought I would show all some of the wicking beds weve been making lately.
I love using these as a bolt on to the AP systems. The are watered by AP water a couple of times a week. I have connected a 200l blue drum to an overflow on the sump. I occasionally over fill the system on perpose to re-fill the drum.
We grow figs, blue berries, pawpaw, herbs and an assortment of vegies in these beds/ drums.

each has a length of 90mm slotted PVC pipe in the bottom with some gravell to protect the slots. I then put a layer of filter fabric / geo fabric over the top of that and fill with our soil mixes. We add quite a bit of vermiculite, compost and a sprinkling of organic fertilizers to our potting mix.

The outlet pipe sticking out the side controls the maximum water level.
On the inside of the drum that overflow pipe sits inside the end of the slotted PVC to protect it from the media.

Looks great!!

AP + Wicking Beds=

WE also use 5 bathtub wicking beds with no 6 on its way.

Between the wicking beds, the 7 IBC GB's and our conventional dirt gardens we are now producing about 70% of our friut and veggie needs. we are still adding on and expanding all of our systems.

I'm not sure where it all ends but we will be very close to self sufficient in another year or so.

The atatched pics also detail how the pipes go together in the tubs.

YOur blueberries are going OK with FT water? I was reading up on them on gardening sites and they all claim BB's need acidic conditions so I was having a rethink - but I'd really like to have some WB's with some of the 'other' plants that might not be so successful in GB's.

I have 2 x 200L barrels, cut in half lengthwise and joined to make a long half-circle tray that I'd like to use for WB's.

I've heard (and seen photos) that carrots tend to grow stunted in GB's so I was thinking of WB's for them as well.

Nice to see I haven't been wishful-dreaming for nothing...

Very impressive blind freddie.

I very much like the idea of being self sufficient. A level of life satisfaction that is hard to get anywhere else.

I like to join my wicking beds together with uniseals. Then I only need one float valve to keep them all watered.

good to see your BT WBs - mine have gone too acidic - I went down the woodchip route for the reservoir layer and added blood and bone to the wood chips.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=14488

Its a bit hard to tell from the pics, but what depth is your drain set to, and how much soil deoth do you have above that? I have my drain set at about 15cm with about 25-30cm of mushroom compost/potting mix above that.

Like the simplicity of your way if incorporating the drain into the distribution pipe. I had a separate 40mm pipe extending up from the bath drain hole with holes drilled 15cm up it and wrapped in shadecloth - I extended it all the way up so I could see when the water reaches the drain level when filling.

Like the idea of joining with uniseals - how much do they cost? the uniseal website is not working...

think I may take the woodchips out and go down the gravel/ old cheap chinese clay balls route instead. I've got some in one of my GBs and the routes always seem to come out more 'muddy' than the hydroton filled beds.

Good job BF, I gave away the idea of a floating raft, from when you saw it. Added the pots back to the beds and 1/2 full of gravel and then add the compost mixture, so that it just contacts the water. Then just run slow continuous with the AP water.

Matt, best place I've found for Uniseals, so far, is Bulk Reef Supply http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/uniseal-5.html at least in US dollars....

holy moly! they are ALOT cheaper than a bulk head fitting! I can see the attraction!

BG - do you have any closer up pics of how you clad the outer of the baths - looks like wood of some sort. Would like to do a similar thing with mine to gain approval from the Aesthetics inspector

me too mate, I dabbled in the concept about 25 years ago. I joined a little local back yard self sufficiency club in the town where I lived.
That was way before the internet and forums etc. back then we passed around magazine articles and re learnt how to do the stuff our forbears took for granted. I have always planted some vegies, even in rental homes.

We also keep hens for eggs, I would like to grow meat birds but we are a bit short on space.

we enjoy a few meals each week made almost totally from our own produce, thay are my favorite meals. Everything taste better when it was picked 10 minutes before its eaten

I have one pick that might help.

all I do is build a timber frame to support the tub and get it up to an easy working height (we both have bad backs). some are clad with courogated colour bond the others are clad with the metal external lining from an old above ground swiming pool, it has a woodgrain pattern on it. this is a lot easier to work with than the courogated steel sheets.

Very interesting Dufflight, at this point in time I am enjoying the time I spend topping them up. Some days its the only peace and quiet I get.
Its amazing how quickly I can get over a crap day at work just by pottering around the yard

I can see the attraction of automating the process, maybe down the track I'll go the same way.