VERMAPONICS! Is this the Holy Grail of aquaponics?
Learn more at bioponica dot org. This is one of my favorite experiments. There is absolutely no reason why we cannot add worms to aquaponic ebb and flow beds. They improve soil-less medium by loosening up compacted areas and add all sorts of elements that improve root and plant growth. This is the missing link to growing heaving feeding plants. May even eliminate need for filtration.
25 Responses to VERMAPONICS! Is this the Holy Grail of aquaponics?
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How did this experiment go? What heavy feeding plants can you grow now?
Justin Gage
December 7, 2012 at 9:38 pm
I dont think he implied or said he came up with a new thing. He tried something and was happy with how it turned out. I got just as excited my very first hydroponic lettuce i grew.
itsjustdeb579
December 7, 2012 at 10:15 pm
this sounds great. this is done in compost.
nereidapr1
December 7, 2012 at 10:16 pm
Congratulations: you’ve just invented an ecosystem… why we humans have taken thousands of years of farming to work this out, I will never know.
Jase Emgee
December 7, 2012 at 10:35 pm
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MrTOX100
December 7, 2012 at 11:27 pm
There is no completed experiment video, though our info and pertinent articles are on the .org site. shopping on .net. We have moved on to new designs with troughs. We encourage people to use worms in all the aggregate beds as they add bacteria and fungal organisms that facilitate root growth, as in soil based gardening. We don’t have a side by side comparison with and without worms but the media remains free of solids and plants grow exceedingly well. Feel free to email any questions.
David Epstein
December 8, 2012 at 12:06 am
which bioponica website? the blog, the dotORG, the dotNET?
Peter Bottineau
December 8, 2012 at 12:22 am
i dont think worm skin and rocks will mix.
thats just my guess.
RobCardIV
December 8, 2012 at 12:40 am
Um…… that is called aquaponics already…. LOL saying you came up with a new thing…. worms are how you keep an aquaponics system clean and healthy. with out having to change the growing media or having to do a big cleaning yearly…. its OK tho your learning..
michaelsilberstein
December 8, 2012 at 1:34 am
You could go even one step further just for kicks .Try Co2 injection or diffusion just right below the plants using a simple yeast,sugar ,water in a 2 liter pop bottle cocktail combo that you can find on several DIY sites ,Or even try the pressurized variety for accuracy.The results in combination with what your already doing would be worth it.
royalspin
December 8, 2012 at 2:14 am
where can you get red wriggler compost worms.
suckmyassloser
December 8, 2012 at 2:45 am
Tomatoes… hehehe.
radtuts
December 8, 2012 at 3:12 am
Compost worms will not harm your crops at all. As far as I can see this guys description of his “red wrigglers” as “earthworms” is both inaccurate and misleading. He is using red worms of the “compost” variety and not the big greyish “earth” worms you find when digging in deep soil. Eisenia foetida are considered to be the best worms for most composting criteria and would probably work well for you here. Hope this helps.
superfishle
December 8, 2012 at 3:50 am
hello, i just started an aquaponic system in my backyard, i want to add worms, my question is, do the worms damage the plants i have in my growbed? i use grabble as my medium and planted some tomatos, bassil, oregano, lettuce, ect., will the worm eat the roots of the plants or just the fish waste? i appreciate all the help ím new at this and i´m trying to learn as much as i can. ,y mail is douglase.palm@gmail.com any info you have on aquaponics you can mail me any time thank you good luck.
douglas palm
December 8, 2012 at 4:32 am
Granite Dust from artwork on headstones, dose really well to fortify the soil.
jlsoldwood
December 8, 2012 at 4:34 am
fyi: bioponica(dot)org
Kntryhart
December 8, 2012 at 5:17 am
Already been done buy a book on aquaponics then steal another idea
xw1k3dx
December 8, 2012 at 5:29 am
Why don’t you consider adding a rock dust such as Azomite to help w/ your micronutrients. In either form (pellets, micronized) it should help both your plants and fish. I enjoyed seeing another use for worms. Great job in trying to help improve these great systems.
jollygreenfl
December 8, 2012 at 5:34 am
Nice vid, I use a Eb and flow system but with a drip system for my compost Tea and Egg shell vinegar I place this in bottles with a clear tubing and a drip switch much like a IV as it goes through my system it comes to my bio waste filter were I grow my duck weed and it has to travel down in pea gravel sand then my green filter scrubbers two of these systems then I have a IV of H2O2 to clean the water before entering the fish tank plus it Oxides the water keep up the good work…
1stWorldofFreedom
December 8, 2012 at 6:02 am
So you gave not any soil? Only worms and those feed on the dead plant parts? (sorry if its a dumb question)
pubert01
December 8, 2012 at 6:18 am
yay, aquaponics!
microiguana
December 8, 2012 at 6:39 am
fish will not eat microscopic organisms….. they will only eat the food you feed them.. your method is cool. fish, shrimp, crab, and worms as you have shown will all work. However you seem to be saying that these worms help alot more than they realy do.. your eb and flow system it self adds O2 to your system through movement of the water.. you talk of soil as dry is the only kind.. there is a soil at the bottom of the sea formed form fish poop… where stuff lives!! both work! good job!
esplen2t
December 8, 2012 at 7:28 am
YOUR growing plants, no till, intensive, no chemicals, in rocky soil and aerating it with water and fertilizer! HEY, I do this the same thing on the Land.
Now, the Green house adds to extending the growing season; however flushing water through your system must wash the worm casting and soil out; is this re-captured and re-cycled?
MrSchpankme
December 8, 2012 at 7:55 am
My DWC aquaponics system already has worms. I don’t know how they survive or where they come from!
rageagainstthedying
December 8, 2012 at 7:59 am
see what we’re up to at our website bioponica
David Epstein
December 8, 2012 at 8:34 am