Well there are some variables that come into play such as how cold the area you live in gets during the winter… Where the worm bin is stored…. But basically it was designed to handle an 18 gallon Rubbermaid style bin but could go larger under some adjustments in some areas. For example by building a box to house the 5 gallon bucket and insulate it to enable it to hold a more constant temperature while heating the temperature higher…

Another nice feature I have not touched on is the summer time. One could remove the heating element, bury the five gallon bucket up to a few inches from the top of it and run cool water to help keep the worm bin cooler during the hotter months. One thing to consider is that while using for cooling there will proabably be more condensation build up withing the worm bin.

Bruce

Welcome and congratulations on joining the rest of us wormaholics

The amount of red wigglers to buy depends on your needs and more importantly the size of your worm bin and amount of food you wish to feed them. A law of averages is one pound of worms to one square foot of surface area. If using a 15 – 18 gallon Rubbermaid style worm bin, then one pound would do for most people, giving ample room for them to reproduce for you.

another way to figure out worms is one pound of red wigglers will eat half a pound of decayed food scraps per day. Now I mention decayed as first the worms need to settle into their new environment, hence they will eat less so do not add as much food and secondly they will not be able to eat raw food scraps until they begin to decompose. So once the system is set in motion then you can figure on the half pound of food scraps per one pound of red wigglers per day.

Bruce

I have heard that red wigglers can live up to ten years. I personally have not tagged one with a radio transmitter to follow…

From experience I would have to say anywhere from one year to three years can be expected after the worm grows to full size under the right conditions. Take for example African nightcrawlers would be total life expectancy of 2 to 4 years since the worms we sell take 8 months to reach a size of 6 to 8 inches in length, and will grow some more given enough time. I have had African nightcrawlers as long as ten inches plus without being stretched out.

As for thinning worms, the best and easiest approach is to keep them thinned out. Simply screen your bedding every two weeks if a large system or perhaps once a month for a 18 gallon size worm bin for cocoons. Use some of the original bedding material for your cocoons to hatch in and allow them to grow. Wait about 4 months to screen the new bin of cocoons which gives the red wigglers enough time to grow, mature and begin producing cocoons.

Again this differs with different types of worms. African nightcrawlers do not mature until about five months old, hence you would allow this bin to sit for six months or so before screening the hatched cocoons again.

Bruce

Boiling the water will not remove the chlorine however I do believe you are fine by adding the coffee grinds directly as long as in moderation or by drying them out in the sun first… As much as red wigglers like coffee grinds, you ever notice when first added the worms usually do not take to it? If so then the chlorine level maybe to high. Otherwise the coffee might have some effect in helping to remove or reduce the chlorine levels enough…

Stick to what works. If your worms take to it, continue what you are doing.

Bruce

Did not think about this but yes if adding salt and chlorine for softening water. I would check on a water purifier that can remove the salt if using this in your system as it can build up over time and hence dry out and kill your worms. The sun’s UV will not help to remove the salt content, as holds tru in the oceans around the globe.

Great question… thanks

Bruce

Thanks for the compliment…

Have a great day!

Bruce