Will red worms (wigglers) drown in a flood and drain system?

[Shannon Craig]

Hello all,

    I am new to aquaponics.  My friends and I are planning on starting a system so we can test out how well it will work for us in our area before we build a larger one.  My question though will red worms drown if we have a system that floods then drains (using a bell siphon) every 15 minutes as suggested in the book by the owner of this website?  From what I have read elsewhere the answer seems to be no but I was hoping for your opinions and insights from experience.  I do not want to kill the worms or stress them out if I can avoid it.

Thank you for your time,

Shannon Craig 

[Keith Rowan]

they'll thrive in your flood and drain growbeds..

as they will in constant flood..

they breathe through their skin so as long as the water is oxygenated (which the flood and drain system does quite effectively) they'll be fine..

i've had them growing completely submerged in filter material in an early "swirl" filter i built

[Alex Veidel]

Nope, they love it; worms need moisture to breath. As long as your water isn't anaerobic, they'll be fine.

[Shannon Craig]

Thank you very much for the information.  I feel better about adding them now.

Keith Rowan said:

they'll thrive in your flood and drain growbeds..

as they will in constant flood..

they breathe through their skin so as long as the water is oxygenated (which the flood and drain system does quite effectively) they'll be fine..

i've had them growing completely submerged in filter material in an early "swirl" filter i built

[Shannon Craig]

Thank you as well.  I am glad that they enjoy it.

Alex Veidel said:

Nope, they love it; worms need moisture to breath. As long as your water isn't anaerobic, they'll be fine.

[Garrett Van Neste]

I've got red wrigglers in my flood an drain system and they are doing great!  Good luck!

[Rose & Tony]

what would the benefit be for adding worms to a grow bed????? sorry im new to AP...

 

[Robert J]

As many said above they do great in the grow beds.  They breakdown dead things of all sorts, root matter, over sized fish waste, left over feed, etc.  and they break it down far enough for the bacteria and the plants to take over.  Occationally, they'll get into a bell syphon and find their way into the fish tank...  Not so good for the wiggler, but the fish really seem to like it.

[Rose & Tony]

Tyvm ;) im in australia, never heard of red wigglers lol would any normal garden variety of worm do????

[Robert J]

I'm sure what ever is native would be more than adequate.

[Rose & Tony]

Ty robert, i have just filled my grow beds w seedlings ;) still early days as yet n lots to learn :)

[Converse]

Answer to Rose &Tony - No, just any 'garden variety' of worm will not do.  It depends on where you get them in your garden.  You see, different types of worms inhabit different areas of the soil horizon and have very different requirements for life. If you type "redworms" in the search box of this website you will come up with all sorts of great info to help you with the answer to your question in great detail.  You really want the 'right' worms...or you could end up with a lot of dead ones..or ones that pose a mass exodus.... My best to you in this...I'll be happy to answer any of your redworms questions if you'd care to send me a private message.

- Converse