Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

now that I have seen some amazing wicking beds
I have decided to do a smaller version while waiting for my system to cycle

I used lava rocks as the gravel
will they provide enough wicking action or should I add some gravel?

should I go with burlap ,landscape fabric or a t shirt in the next layer
is cotton fabric or synthetic better to wick and stop the soil roots from getting through

once again their are many designs to chose from, but if your using materials on hand...

Nice use of materials

You could probably use anything to separate the gravel and dirt and I think the lava rock will wick nicely.

My only thought with burlap (hessian) or cotton is that it wil break down pretty soon so will not provide its function for long. Probably better at wicking than synthetic material though. I've just got shade cloth (synthetic) in mine and they still wick.

Use weed mat or shade cloth.
Cotton will break down - I just found a sock filled with shell grit in my AP and its nearly totally disintegrated.

If you want to refresh your potting mix each season - i.e. tomato disease - then you could just use mulch which will make a nice wick layer - see BnBob on youtube. But you would have the rocks getting dirty.

Take care if using mulch that it is not too green - I used wood chips as my wicking layer in my first wicking bed and had nitrogen draw down issues.

thank you for the input
I am waiting for the soil to settle , before adding tomatoes, as I want them to have a hydrated bed to start
here are my step by step progress photos

introducing Tybee the hermit crab, a garden scrap consumer

getting ready to saturated the wicking bed

Check out Backyard Farming site on this website to get great ideas on wicking beds, Sweetpotatoes

And welcome to you and Tybee

Does he live in your garden?
How many have you got?

I have 11 but in tanks.

Tybee has been a member of the family for over 10 years. He has his own cage, but comes out to climb on furniture, crawl to the kitchen pantry, (can they smell dried cat food), run about the house, play in garden containers, and even has outings to a neighbors house .

the kale transplanted seedlings are staying green in the wicked bed, but are turning yellow on the edges in the ap bed (adjusted ph today)
the radish seeds have sprouted Yeah

Cotton will block up with silt. I dug out an old soak at the local scout hall this winter. It had been wet all through summer, and was only going to get worse. Someone had put an old pillow case over the end of a pipe. The water wasn't flowing at all. Unfortunatly, we found this close to the end of our dig. Problem solved with some media fabric, and some gravel. Handled the water this winter no problem.

the hard water and high ph may also affect my wicking bed,
but hopefully with the lower amount of water it may not be an issue

found some great info on Florida water at edis
publication #SL219 and #SL142

on the effects of the waters hardness and ph in irrigation

I will be keeping an eye on the wicking beds . for water quality issues
and will be adjusting water for the ap bed , before I add it to the tank