Need help starting new bin

[bricned]

I am new to raising worms. I have some 5 x 5 x 5 fiberglass shipping
containers that I wanted to use for my bins. Since they are so deep
I put 2 foot of wash sand from a local gravel pit in the bottom. I then
added 12 inches of peat on top for bedding. After all my expense and
labor I was told by one person that the worms would go down into
the washed sand and it would kill them. I was by someone else that
the sand in the bottom of my bin would not hurt the worms. I would
like some more opinion

[priswell]

Red worms generally migrate up, since they are surface feeders, and rarely dive below ~15 inches of living space (some will say 12 inches). You say that there is 12 inches of "living space" within the peatmoss, so you've probably given them enough room.

The worms will go where they are comfortable and fed. The sand won't kill them, unless it's dry, but if it's dry they won't go there voluntarily. If there is enough dampness in the sand, some might wander there, but if there is no food, they won't stay.

The only "problem" I see with having sand in the bottom is when you turn the bins. You are likely to incorporate sand into the peatmoss despite being careful. Getting sand mixed into the main part of the bin won't hurt much per se, but you'll be adding extra weight to your bin filler.

On the plus side, and what I think you're trying to do, is create a seepage area that excess water can drain into. What some people do for that, is lay the sand (or even gravel) in the bottom, overlay that with planks (cracks between the planks allow water to drain, but the hard surface of the planks prevent most intermixing) and then fill the rest of the bin with your bedding material.