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Black water - worm composting - reed beds - aquaponics. Daft?

 
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I've just discovered on this thread the marvels of worm farm processing for grey + black water. Below are some articles on existing set ups and a link to commercially available systems down under:

http://permaculturenews.org/2012/08/11/food-forests-part-4-humanure-black-water/

http://www.solviva.com/wastewater_management.htm

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/how-make-vermicomposting-flush-toilet

http://www.wormfarm.com.au/

I've been dreaming up a wormy waste water treatment system for domestic use in the UK. The site we will be building on has a restrictive covenant which does not permit effluent to be discharged on it.

All grey/black water and compost will enter an insulated IBC, half filled with carbonaceous material and worms. I plan on housing the entire system in a greenhouse attached to the south of a house. Along with warm liquids entering the tank regularly and heat given off from aerobic decomposition, this should keep the worms at a happy 13C.

From the worm tank the sewage would run through a horizontal series of bunded reed beds. I will have to consult on how much reed bed surface area would be appropriate for a mixed black/grey water system for X amount of people.

The outflow from the reed beds would keep a lined pond topped up.

Now, if this is all done correctly, and the water is nice and clean, could this pond be used in an aquaponic system? Or would that a be a big no no?

Also, can anyone envision how a portion of the worms could be taken out and safely used a fish food?

Or if duckweed or similar species could be grown in the reed beds and safely fed to fish?

It would be amazing if they could help close the loop on an aquaponic system. But I fear they may be too poopy.

Sean
 
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Personally I wouldn't want to handle poopy worms, but you could use the effluent to grow plants to use as feed for Black Soldier Flies (if you have them in your locale) or for non-poopy worm beds to raise fish food. I think you could easily close the loop this way.

 
Sean Kettle
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Tyler Ludens wrote:Personally I wouldn't want to handle poopy worms, but you could use the effluent to grow plants to use as feed for Black Soldier Flies (if you have them in your locale) or for non-poopy worm beds to raise fish food. I think you could easily close the loop this way.



Yeah, I don't fancy handling poopy worms either... I like your idea. As far as I'm aware you can raise black soldier flies in the UK
 
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