A Community and Forum For Aquaponic Gardeners

Wicking bed growers

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This group is dedicated to those who are interested and growing in wicking beds. Wicking beds in conjunction with aquaponics can enable us to grow just about every crop that cannot be grown in standard aquaponics. Lets discuss deign, operation and whatever aspect of wicking bed growing you can think of.

Members: 212
Latest Activity: Dec 18, 2020

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Discussion Forum

Does water need to stay at full depth for wicking action to work?

Started by Lida Soileau. Last reply by Lida Soileau Feb 4, 2016. 6 Replies 0 Likes

Hi all,I am looking to build a wicking bed this year. (Once I get it going successfully I plan to tie it into an aquaponic system.) I have seen many different designs on the web - some put net pots…Continue

Wicking bed for seedling and cuttings

Started by Philippe Pauvert. Last reply by Philippe Pauvert May 8, 2015. 12 Replies 0 Likes

Hi,What would be a suitable media mix to ensure adequate capillarity and soil quality for seedling and cuttings?Since the WB will be in a aquaponics system it will be of the Earthan type, if there…Continue

Winter wicking

Started by Carl Jacobs. Last reply by Paul Smith Apr 15, 2015. 10 Replies 0 Likes

Any body attempt to grow in winter using hoop covers in zone 5 ,if so changes requiredContinue

Thoughts on recirculating wicking / sub-irrigated grow tower

Started by Robert Jack Meyer. Last reply by Paul Smith Nov 17, 2014. 5 Replies 0 Likes

Hey folks,I'm new to aquaponics, only having dabbled in it briefly before, and am considering my system options. After much research and brainstorming, I've come up with an idea that I am not…Continue

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Comment by Sahib Punjabi on August 26, 2012 at 7:24am: Hello Bob,
Good to know that you are re-circulating the AP water. I have been using such re-circulating wicking beds in my AP systems and find that it really expands the horizon of what we can grow. Thank you Chris for setting up this thread and to all for keeping it active. Learning a lot of excellent information :-)
God bless

Moderator Comment by Bob Terrell on August 26, 2012 at 6:27am: Joshua, I am using a mixture of light compost and garden soil mix

Comment by Chris Smith on August 25, 2012 at 7:55pm

Comment by Josh on August 25, 2012 at 7:26pm: Just saw the pic of the inlet pipe. now i get it. whats the growing media made of?

Moderator Comment by Bob Terrell on August 25, 2012 at 4:41pm: Joshua, Yes is is actively connected to my AP with the discharge pipe flowing back into my one of my fish tanks, I have 3-300 gal fish tanks.

Comment by Josh on August 25, 2012 at 4:22pm: Very cool. One thing i may be missing tho: are the beds actively connected to an AP system or are their reservoirs just filled with AP water manually and allowed to drain in to the FT?

Moderator Comment by Bob Terrell on August 25, 2012 at 12:02pm: Chris, I planted some carrot seeds this morning. I did add some more lava rock after taking the picture so that the drain pipe and lava rock are about level with each other. I hope this works then I plan on building 2 more beds that are 10' x 2' x 12" for potatos and corn.

Comment by Chris Smith on August 25, 2012 at 9:30am: Looks good. what are you going to plant? There are two things that stand out to me. Your drain pipe may be a little too high above the reservoir which may keep the media too wet. I try to keep the drain at or slightly below the top of the reservoir. You don't want the media to be able to sit in water because it will get too wet throughout the media. The nylon wick is unnecessary. Grow something in it and see how it works!

Moderator Comment by Bob Terrell on August 24, 2012 at 2:29pm: picture 7 finished ready to test any ideas, comments or correction to what I have done are welcome