3-Tray Worm Flow-Through, When to Add Second Tray

by Brendan

I have a 3 tray worm farm, the worms are doing good but when do i add the second tray as I am still on the first tray?

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May 03, 2013
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When To Add a Second Tray to the Worm Bin
by: Pauly

Hey Brendan,

Great question and real easy to answer. When you see the castings are high enough to reach the next tray.

That's when you're ready to take it to the next level. Worms can still climb the sides if the they can't reach the next tray from the center.

It's just easier for all worms to make it up there.

Once you have a ton of worms (4-6 thousand or more) you can fill the tray up completely with bedding and food (especially goat manure) and let them "go to town".

Then just fill another tray again and keep stacking and storing (or using) the worm castings.

Thanks for posting,
~Pauly

May 04, 2013
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Adding trays to worm farm
by: Professor90018@aol.com

I've been worm farming for three or four years now, and add another tray when the one I'm using gets full.

The new bin should rest about 1/2"-1" below the top of the one below when it is in place.

Also, the first worm tray should reveal quite a bit of finished compost. Even though you will still have worms in there working.

Sep 14, 2016
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Second tray
by: Myles

Sorry my question is when the first tray reaches the second level what do i put in the second one I know food but do i start every level with sand a compost and food ???

Sep 14, 2016
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What Foods to Add to the Second Worm Tray
by: Pauly

Hello Myles,

It's pretty much adding what you added in the beginning only NO paper or cardboard sheets on the bottom.

So IMO add plenty of moist shredded carbon in the form of paper or cardboard and a small handful of buried kitchen scraps. Add good amounts of minerals as well.

I personally use a mixture of aged, heated goat manure (to kill pathogens, insects, and seeds) shredded paper products, minerals, and the occasional kitchen scraps.

There are several ways to implement foods added to a tray system just always remember to add plenty of carbon and minerals.

This keeps the system well aerated and overall maintains a thriving population.

Thanks for the question Myles :)
~Pauly P

Jul 12, 2019
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Soil in top layer
by: sue

I've just started my worm farm. My question is; when the worms start to make their way up to the top layer because the second one is full, and I encourage that with scraps of food, do I need to add soil once again to that top layer. I can't find any instructions that say to do this.

Mar 14, 2020
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Woems falling into Wee
by: Michael E

I have the three trays and just started a few months back. My worms all seem to work their way into the bottom tray and end up in their wee. How can I stop this?

Jan 02, 2021
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When to stop adding soil to worm bin
by: Pauly

Hello Sue,

After the initial soil microbial inoculant, there's no need to add any microbes. They'll all be in the worm castings.

Worm crawl over the bedding. They exude enzymes that contain powerful bacteria to start the decaying process more rapidly than normal.

If someone is starting a worm bin at the same time they receive their worms, also no need to add an outside soil source.

Thanks,
~Pauly

Jan 02, 2021
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Worms in the bottom tray and in liquid leachate
by: Pauly

Hi Michael E,

You'll always have some stragglers no matter how perfect a system is.

In order to mitigate most of the worms from going to the bottom tray and in liquid leachate, add three sheets of newsprint, or a thick piece of carboard.

Some people even use the breathable landscaping fabric. It's plastic and will not have to always be replaces. Make sure it fits perfectly from wall to wall and even overlap, going up about a half inch. Be sure there are no openings, in other words.

This prevents worms from ending up in the liquid run off. The holes are too small in the fabric, or the newsprint will take too long to breakdown preventing them from going down in the first place.

Also, if you have leachate, it's from the scraps you're placing in the bedding. You may also be adding too much water.

The bedding should contain plenty of carbon. Much more than kitchen scraps (nitrogen). A ratio of 20:1 C:N or higher C is best.

This prevents the material from getting muddy and keeps it well aerated like the worms and beneficial microbes like it.

Keep your worms happy ~~~~=~~:)
~Pauly

Mar 24, 2021
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what minerals should I add and where to find them
by: Gail

I started a worm bin several weeks to a month ago. My worms are doing beautifully and seem happy and are reproducing. My bin (sorry, purchased elsewhere) came with little information and nothing about minerals. I want to be sure to keep my bin healthy and the worms happy. I don't have access to goat manure. What mineral should I add and where might I find them? Thank you.

Mar 24, 2021
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Adding Minerals to a worm Bin
by: Pauly

Hello Gail,

You don't really need goat manure or any manure in a worm bin if you don't have it. Does goat manure make great worms castings? YES!

Worms love everything from carbon to kitchen scraps to manure but adding minerals ARE very important too.

Some of the best minerals to add (which you can find in the Worm Farming Revolution book) is Diatomaceous Earth, Azomite, finely ground eggshells, oyster shells, dolomite, glacial rock dust, agricultural lime, etc.

All of these need to be in a fine powder and you don't need to add all of them. You can only add AG lime or ground eggshells or a mix of two.

However, you can add as many minerals as you want. As far as the worms getting their grit and nutrients in percentages or ppm, Azomite will contain over 70 trace minerals and can be found on Amazon.

You know where you can get the eggshells ;)

If you're going to grind anything, get a spice or coffee grinder and use it only for grinding minerals. It'll be rough on the ole machine.

thank for your question,
~Pauly

Apr 21, 2023
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Bottom tray is still full of worms. NEW
by: Gaga Suzy

I started my worm farm six months ago. The bottom tray is full of moist dark material and WORMS. Is there still too much undigested food in the bottom tray? I don’t see anything recognizable.
I’m adding a third tray today.

Dec 04, 2023
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Here is my plan... NEW
by: Anonymous

Add 3rd tray. Add food and newspaper. Once full of castings/worms/food stuff, ill take the 1st tray which should be fully broken down, and put it on top. Then leave the top off and put light on it to drive any remaining worms down into the 2nd or middle tray, which has the food in it. I'll empty to top tray castings and any stragglers worms should avoid the light and go lower. Thoughts anyone?

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