Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I have seen mention of worms being used in an aquaponics system. How does that work? Is the upper growbed constantly above the waterline? How do the worms not drown? Are these compost worms or other worms?

Also, I seem to remember some post saying that copper piping was toxic to fish. Doesn't our water come through copper pipes? This was a while ago and I may be mistaken in this.

As always, thanks for your responses.

Rand

Rand, Worms drowning is a common misconception. they "breathe" through their skin so if the water has HEAPS O2 (which ours does) then they're fine.

Also the grow bed is constantly flooding and draining.

most of us put compost worms in but have also found earthworms find their own way there

Think of it this way, the water in your pipes spends what maybe 10 seconds there between the ceramic/concrete/poly pipes in your street and the tap at your sink.

having copper as part of a re-circulation system means that the copper is in contact with the water 24/7/365 a very different proposition

Also I think our exposure limits to copper toxicity are remarkably higher than those of fish.....

Remember that fish are swimming, eating, breathing the copper contaiminated water constantly.......

I added 100 compost worms maybe 6 months ago and they vanished into the gravel. They're all through the growbeds now. They seem to do a good job.

Could some1 define 'Compost worm' how does one differentiate. I always thought I had earth worms in my compost bin...

Proper "worm" farms or composting systems usually use the "tiger" composting worm rather than the normal earthworm

Yup, getting that picture... What is it? What does it look like? How do I tell the difference. ATM, a worm is a worm... (not entirely true, went fishing last week and used 'night crawlers' - these I define as 'big buggers' - but otherwise I have NFI)

not just tigers, there a are a few types of composting.

basically earth worms do a good job of structuring the soil eating microbes i think.

Compost worms are the special ops of the compost worm, actively eating decomposing material and associated microbes.

One of the amazing attributes of the compost worm includes being able to consume their own body weight in food each day.

Known as "Tiger" worms, "Red" worms, "Red wigglers".... etc...

did you mean compost instead of tiger?

Yep... all types of "compost" worms

OK, I see why they're called tiger worms... stripey buggers... so the red uns that sometimes breed like crazy in the compost bins, they'd be the first lot eh? Tiger worms do look meaner

LOL

What worms would appropriate to bins is usually the ones dubbed "compost worms" Depending on the part of the world you are in, you may find different types. Also there are so many common names and sometimes applied to different species somewhat randomly. Composting worms are sometimes called manure worms. They are far better adapted to living in a bin than the common nightcrawler Lumbricus terrestris which can have very deep burrows in the ground.

Eisenia fetida is often called a redworm around here and is one of the species I got for my worm bin. These are a little small for fishing IMO but I think they are similar if not the same as the ones in that first picture above.

Lumbricus rubellus is another common one for bins. Round here it is often called a red wriggler. Another common name is african nightcrawler which is odd since I believe this one is native to the Yukatan in Mexico. This is the worm that bounces around so much when disturbed that it sometimes breaks it's self in half. Quite a challenge to pick up off of the patio. These are more like the tiger worms but are probably still another species. Oh, and I think these are the ones more likely to escape.

Anyway, probably whatever worms you find around your place would be more appropriate for your systems than what I have here (the whole keeping it native thing.) If you feel the need to buy worms look into Vermicomposting and see if you can find a local supplier to your area, that way you can be more assured that they will survive in your area.

I just read something interesting on that subject of worms surviving in water.

Forum Link

This person dropped a couple worm into their aquarium thinking the fish would eat em but they took up residence in the gravel instead and it sounds like they were still alive when the aquarium was cleaned several months later.

I thought that was a great tidbit to read.

I said the same thing here ages ago!

don't know where. fed some red worms to my tropical fish and saw an electric yellow tugging at some gravel about 2 weeks later. pulled out a live worm