Re: [Killietalk] Grindel Worm Question

["Mark R" <oldsan at gmail_com>]

I haven't done a systematic comparison either but my experience has been:
the soil/coir cultures are more productive but don't last as long. I have to
change the bedding (restart) approximately every 6 weeks or they get very
smelly and production drops off as well as being very prone to mite
infestation; the poly pad (open cell foam) method is cleaner, more resistant
to pests, and lasts much longer (many months between restarts) but
production is not as high as soil method (I'd estimate approximately half)
and they seem more prone to mysterious population crashes. Personally I
prefer the poly method.

Mark.


On 8/31/06, Killiefishjlh at aol_com <Killiefishjlh at aol_com> wrote:
>
> I have a question about grindel worms.  I have been trying the  scouring
> pad
> method and the worm farm method and have been having far more  production
> from
> the worm farm method.  I put Magic Worm Bedding in the shoe  box, spray it
> well with treated water, introduce the worms, lay in 6 -8  pieces of
> Purina
> Kitten Chow, cover with a poly bag and put the lid on.   Then I place the
> box in a
> plastic bag and close it with a bag clip to keep the  moisture in.
> With the scouring pad method, I start with start with a layer of
> Marineland
> bonded filter pad, lay the green scouring pads with no additives on top,
> add
> water to completely cover the filter pad, and wet down the scouring pads
> and
> add  the worms and the kitten chow.  I cover with a poly bag and put the
> top
> on.  No need for the plastic bag around the box as the box holds plenty of
> moisture.  The scouring pad method is obviously easier because it does not
> require an outside bag, but all other things being equal, I am getting
> substantially less production from the scouring pad method than from the
> sealed  box/worm
> bedding method.  I would be curious to hear from other fish  keepers who
> have
> compared the two methods.  I am not working with the third  method,
> involving
> combination of red wigglers and grindels on worm bedding, but  I know this
> is
> an effective method also.  I would appreciate input on the  first two
> methods.  Thanks,
>
> Jack Heller
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