Wick Bed project

stevo

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I don't know much about it, i just buy/cut/build, ... but ...the trough is a luxury if you can organise it. There is no grow media (no gravel)... there are plants that are inserted in to styrofoam, styrofoam floats and shields the water from the the sun. The plant roots just dangle down and draw nutrients from the water flowing past. It's all about flow, that's why it's a bit skinny. It's all interesting stuff. Someone might come along and say it's all wrong, but we're not experts, it's all about learning.
 

stevo

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PS. The soil at thier place is terrible. I would normally have just made some raised garden beds, but because the soil is terrible on the block, this method makes sense, it could be more productive to do it this way. I think this is really suitable for the location.
 

steve h

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Todays progress - we built a new layer for the pond and put the pond liner in...

shackers.net_images_photos_aquaponicsbed2.jpg


This is the deep water trough ( it will get another 200mm layer on top, the water will be 300mm deep. The water goes through this from the grow bed to the fish pond. This is classed as an extra water cleaner , there will be more plants grown along the length of this bed.

shackers.net_images_photos_aquaponicstrough1.jpg


We made a new layer for the wickbed - this will get one more layer next week.

shackers.net_images_photos_wickbed2.jpg
Great job stevo, love what your doing, you guys make this a very valuable site and interesting
 

stevo

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another session done today. Next weekend is the big installation and set up.

The pond liner is in, and the top hardwood cap on the fish pond.
shackers.net_images_photos_aquaponics22092013a.jpg


second layer of sleeper on he trough...
shackers.net_images_photos_aquaponics22092013b.jpg


third layer on the wick bed..(blury phone photo)
shackers.net_images_photos_wickbed3.jpg
 

Mark

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Excellent. This is great "how to" thread for anyone wanting to do an aquaponic or raised garden bed project. Looking fwd to seeing it in action!
 

stevo

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The supervisor decided the wick bed might be too high, so we removed the top layer and put the top layer in another part of the yard using it as a normal raised garden bed. Now the wick bed is just two sleepers high. We should have the liner, plumbing, gravel in next weekend and starting on the mulch/soil filler.

This is great "how to" thread

well, I made a bit of a mess mixing the aquaponics and wickbed threads together :rolleyes:
 

Mark

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The supervisor decided the wick bed might be too high, so we removed the top layer and put the top layer in another part of the yard using it as a normal raised garden bed. Now the wick bed is just two sleepers high. We should have the liner, plumbing, gravel in next weekend and starting on the mulch/soil filler.



well, I made a bit of a mess mixing the aquaponics and wickbed threads together :rolleyes:
Nah, not really they're both relevant and excellent information for someone wanting to do similar. I reckon they go well mixed together personally.

I really need to get moving myself and get some big projects done also especially at this time of year ( nice weather).
 

stevo

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The liner is in, ag pipe and water outlet. We used a water tank outlet pipe. There is a short length of pipe going vertical on the outlet , this will dictate the water level in the bed. If you lower or raise the outlet that alters the water level inside the bed.

Now it just needs a whole bunch of gravel and soil or mulch to b built up over time.

shackers.net_images_photos_wickbed05102013.jpg
 

stevo

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Yeah it looks a bit out of control. Apparently the soil in that area/suburb isn't very good for gardens as it doesn't hold water, and can even repel water, so to have a successful garden you have to build one bringing in outside soil etc.
 

Mark

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Yeah all soils need tlc and refurbishment. I add organic matter like manures and composts to my beds at least twice a year to keep the soil healthy.
 

Director

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Hey Steve, did you put Barley Straw in the lower portion to keep the water sweet?
I built a couple of beds last year and the expert I spoke to insisted that this was necessary, make sure it's barley STRAW though and not normal barley hay.
 

Ken W.

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I've heard of barley straw used in dams to remove/inhibit algae growth but wouldn't think that would be necessary in an enclosed environment like a wick bed. It would eventually rot away leaving the reservoir "strawless" anyway. IMHO
 

stevo

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cheers Mark. They prefer the Wick Beds now and have a few set up. They've converted all the Aquaponic beds in to Wick Beds. The Aquaponics didn't work out for them. A bit too much maintenance and wasn't performing as well as the Wick beds.
 
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