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Comment by Jeb Calen on November 1, 2013 at 5:29pm

Honeydew was the big grower (but definitely on it's last legs / rotting in the bed) that I pulled.  There's asparagus, thyme, oregano, a failed zucchini, and water iris growing there also.  Also there was a good algae mass that I buried.  The adjacent bed which I also found them in has tomatoes, sweet basil, green onions, bok choy, and lettuce in it.  Trying to have something for everybody I guess.

Nifty link you got there of bugs.  I appreciate the beauty even as the little buggers are gnawing at my home grown stuffs.

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on November 1, 2013 at 4:52pm

Here's a great picture of various kinds of bugs (these are official "bugs.") Bugs have 6 legs and their wings cross over their backs and make kind of an X pattern. Typically they're bad - milkweed, squash, leaf footed, etc. - but some are good - assassin.   Bugs

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on November 1, 2013 at 4:45pm

LOL! OK, from this angle, it's clear they're not roaches. These are bugs. They look like a young instar (stage) of bug. They could be leaf footed bugs or squash bugs. Milkweed bugs are red. Washing them won't help, but you know that now. :)  What did you grow there before?

As for the debris, I let my redworms handle what's inside the media, but I clean up what's on top. That eliminates hiding places for critters like these.

Comment by Jeb Calen on November 1, 2013 at 4:09pm

I tried hosing off the grow bed, woke those little guys up.  I took another few pictures and I swear that one of them gave me a "Stockton Hey Buddy!".  They seem to be in more than one grow bed, with the prerequisite being lots of decaying matter in the grow beds they inhabit.  Do most people try to keep up with removing dead leaves / etc, or is the philosophy to let a lot of it stay in the system to decay and contribute back to the nitrates?

Comment by Randy Mann on November 1, 2013 at 10:03am

Thanks for the tips guys....will start production!

Comment by Sheri Schmeckpeper on November 1, 2013 at 8:12am

Randy, we did that with our first tank that we sunk into the ground. We floated a raft on the top with plants in it. It was our first floating bed. Since you won't have flowing water, be sure to have plenty of aeration.

Jeb, I hope this doesn't sound disconcerting, but those look quite a bit like juvenile roaches. It could be something totally different, too. Regardless, they're there because it's comfortable for them, so if you make it uncomfortable, they'll go away. I'd hose them down thoroughly into the water to try drowning them. Most critters will drown, but some are more durable. If they come back up, especially after a couple tries, spray them with worm tea, or a tea made from cinnamon, garlic or cayenne. You can also use some diatomaceous earth. Or, if you have a chicken, let it play on your grow bed. :)

Comment by Jim Troyer on October 31, 2013 at 11:53pm

Hi Jeb

I have had those bugs around my properties since I moved here.  I don't know what they are, hope they are not problematic.

From your photos it looks like you have a well thought out system.

It is usually no big deal to re-plumb an existing system to a chop or chop 2 system.  Both have constant height FT which is the safest design for fish safety.   Since your grow beds already flow back to the FT, a CHOP1 would be a simple project.  I would consider using a 32 gallon garbage can ($10 @ wmart) as a sump. 

It would be a simple case of making a hole for a bulk head in the side of the fish tank for an overflow pipe with a bottom fed inlet which would move water and the solids into the sump from the fish tank.  A length of PVC and a few 90s later and your pump flow goes into the distribution lines at the same point. Easy enough! 

Be sure to enjoy a BBB (brewed barley beverage) after your project is complete!

all the best!

Jim

Comment by Jeb Calen on October 31, 2013 at 10:34pm

Hi All.  I grew some honeydew among others more usual choices over the summer.  The honeydew leaves are almost all dried out now, I imagine from the cold weather.  Pulled it out today and found a lot of little bugs running around in the grow bed.  Anyone recognize these?

Definitely an interesting learning curve for year 1.  I had a bed clog up today from root overgrowth around the drain siphon and it overflowed today (build overflows into your beds if you're planning your builds).  Didn't lose too much water - some waterlogged seedlings may be lost, but if it wasn't caught it could have drained my system to about 50 gallons today.  Will think about CHOP next time instead of fish tank as sump.

And the thai basil - it's a bush now...  :D

Comment by Jim Troyer on October 31, 2013 at 12:23pm

@ Randy

add a floating raft with net under neath,  I grow duckweed that way.  Raft made from pool noodles with PVC pipe for connectors, I used netting from walmart notions dept, sewed it togoether with zip ties. Cheap, easy and it works

Comment by Randy Mann on October 28, 2013 at 9:46pm

Hey guys I want to use an IBC tote as a giant fish tank without grow beds until after winter any ideas on how to make a filter to take out the amonia. 

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