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Using Black worms

I have a dirty sump system so cleaning fish waste is a monthly chore. I pump out of the sump into a media bed. No problems with this. I got the black worms to eat the fish waste and be a food source for my blue gil and cat fish. I haven't added them in as I thought I would ask someone knowledgeable about this first.

One concern is clogging the pump. I'm told they will stay on the bottom so I've put my pump in a shallow bowl where water can flow over but is still about 1/5 " deep.

Next concern is they will run amock. What if I keep them in an aquarium with fish waste water and just feed to the blue gil. Since water flow out of FT into sump there is still a chance they would migrate and then breed and run amock.

I'm happy to compost them and scrape the whole idea if this isn't wise.

Please share what you know. Speculation is fine but I'd prefer info based on experience or real knowledge.

Thanks in advance.

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cheri Bower on August 2, 2014 at 12:15pm

Hi Linda!

I am still pretty new to all this, but am learning fast (more by trial and error then anything). I have red worm in my system, their great at gobbling up old roots and debris. I do not actively feed them to my fish but am sure that the fish are enjoying the larvae that pass thru the system.
I posted to the beginners group on the filter I built....it sets between my FT and all my beds, making cleaning the solids a breeze! My page shows my system setup. It's a consistent hight one pump system 275 gl fish tank, which feeds to my 55 gal hybrid filter out to 1 floating bed , 3 3x3 shallow media beds and 4 2x2x12" media beds then to a 150 gal sump where the pump sends clean water back to the FT. I have tilapia as I am in Ca and the handle the heat best. I even have managed to match a breeding pair and have had 3 successful spawns = over 1500 fry. :P

Permalink Reply by Linda Logan on August 2, 2014 at 4:45pm

Cheri,

It sounds like you have a nice system. Good work on all the spawn.

Permalink Reply by Jack Rife on October 5, 2014 at 12:18pm

I USE A 15 GAL SWIRL FILTER BETWEEN THE FISH TANK AND SUMP, THIS REMOVES ALL FISH WASTE, I ALSO KEEP 5/10 YOUNG YOUNG FISH IN THE SUMP, I SYPHON THE SOLIDS FROM THE FILTER TANK EVERRY MONTH OR SO. THIS ALSO PRVENTS SOLIDS FROM BEING PUMPED INTO THE GROW BEDS WHICH CAN CAUSE THE BEDS TO TURN INTO A SEPTIC TANK.