Hi everyone, I'd like to introduce you all to vermiponics. In essence vermiponics is the combination of aquaponics and well... worms.
First off let me introduce you to aquaponics. Direct from Wikipedia.
This leads me into my story/article. I am building a vermiponics system for my 100 gallon diy plywood. Some of you all may remember the build as I posted it here as a "test" build. A vermiponics system consists of a pump or lifter to take water from the aquarium up to the grow bed. The grow bed is filled with a loose media such as pea gravel or clay pebbles etc. The water enter via a stand pipe and can be routed around the grow bed to get even distribution. Worms and plants as well as the media all work together to filter the tank water before it is returned to the aquarium in the drain phase. Once the water in the grow bed reaches it's desired depth a bell siphon (described later) drains the now filtered water back into the aquarium.
Grow Bed
This is where the media, plants, worms, input, and bell siphon are located. It is placed above the aquarium to allow the bell siphon to return the filtered water to the tank. In the picture you can see the bell siphon on the left and the standpipe for the in line on the right.
The Bell Siphon
A bell siphon consists of a standpipe with a larger pipe fitted over the top of it that is drilled at the base and capped at the top.
Here is a picture of the bulkhead fitting and standpipe. This particular one has a one inch standpipe.
The cover pipe. This fits over the standpipe it is made from 2 inch pipe. I have already cut the bottom to allow water to flow up to the top of the standpipe from the bottom. The top is capped. When the water gets to the top of the standpipe it begins to flow over and drain into the tank, shortly thereafter it creates a siphon as no air can be introduced to the system to break it. the siphon continues until reaching the drilled holes near the base where air then enters and break the siphon allowing for the process to begin all over again.
This is an amazing filter system and provides not only great water for your fish, it produces food for you and nifty treats for your fish.
Below are two videos I made to help illustrate the concept. this particular build was simply a prototype for the actual hood version I am building for this aquarium. I will be using a geyser lift instead of a water pump or powerhead. I will make an article on that as well. Good luck and happy fishkeeping/farming.
PS please don't mind the fact that I sound like Forrest Gumps Cousin in the videos. My wife cracks up each time she hears me say rocks and drain in the first video.
Part 1
[video=youtube;MlfdhXE9FSU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlfdhXE9FSU[/video]
Part 2
[video=youtube;wNs1FE0QwZE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNs1FE0QwZE[/video]
First off let me introduce you to aquaponics. Direct from Wikipedia.
Vermiponics is simply the addition of worms to an aquaponics system. Now you may be asking, "Why would we introduce worms?" Well, worms consume dead matter such as fish poo. "Why do we need that when the bacteria and plants do this as well?" Because, worms help to do it faster, they release hormones that encourage plant growth (it is also theorized that it may work with fish) as well and other bacteria that help the overall biological health of the ecosystem. When worms feed they leave behind castings which are available immediately to the plants as fertilizer. Castings contain nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, phosphates & potash. These castings release slowly, they don't cloud the water and do not harm the fish. Worms also consume the dead matter around the roots of the plants and help keep the grow bed from compacting. Most people use Red Worms.Aquaponics (pronounced: /ˈækwəˈpɒnɨks/) is a sustainable food production system that combines a traditional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. In the aquaculture, effluents accumulate in the water, increasing toxicity for the fish. This water is led to a hydroponic system where the by-products from the aquaculture are filtered out by the plants as vital nutrients, after which the cleansed water is recirculated back to the animals. The term aquaponics is a portmanteau of the terms aquaculture and hydroponic.
This leads me into my story/article. I am building a vermiponics system for my 100 gallon diy plywood. Some of you all may remember the build as I posted it here as a "test" build. A vermiponics system consists of a pump or lifter to take water from the aquarium up to the grow bed. The grow bed is filled with a loose media such as pea gravel or clay pebbles etc. The water enter via a stand pipe and can be routed around the grow bed to get even distribution. Worms and plants as well as the media all work together to filter the tank water before it is returned to the aquarium in the drain phase. Once the water in the grow bed reaches it's desired depth a bell siphon (described later) drains the now filtered water back into the aquarium.
Grow Bed
This is where the media, plants, worms, input, and bell siphon are located. It is placed above the aquarium to allow the bell siphon to return the filtered water to the tank. In the picture you can see the bell siphon on the left and the standpipe for the in line on the right.
The Bell Siphon
A bell siphon consists of a standpipe with a larger pipe fitted over the top of it that is drilled at the base and capped at the top.
Here is a picture of the bulkhead fitting and standpipe. This particular one has a one inch standpipe.
The cover pipe. This fits over the standpipe it is made from 2 inch pipe. I have already cut the bottom to allow water to flow up to the top of the standpipe from the bottom. The top is capped. When the water gets to the top of the standpipe it begins to flow over and drain into the tank, shortly thereafter it creates a siphon as no air can be introduced to the system to break it. the siphon continues until reaching the drilled holes near the base where air then enters and break the siphon allowing for the process to begin all over again.
This is an amazing filter system and provides not only great water for your fish, it produces food for you and nifty treats for your fish.
Below are two videos I made to help illustrate the concept. this particular build was simply a prototype for the actual hood version I am building for this aquarium. I will be using a geyser lift instead of a water pump or powerhead. I will make an article on that as well. Good luck and happy fishkeeping/farming.
PS please don't mind the fact that I sound like Forrest Gumps Cousin in the videos. My wife cracks up each time she hears me say rocks and drain in the first video.
Part 1
[video=youtube;MlfdhXE9FSU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlfdhXE9FSU[/video]
Part 2
[video=youtube;wNs1FE0QwZE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNs1FE0QwZE[/video]