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I've been brewing different batches of compost and worm tea and was wondering how I might know if it is a good brew. I've read that after 12 hours of brewing the top of the tea should have a good foamy head on it. None of mine have done that at all. I'm brewing 5 gallon batches and have tried anywhere from 1 cup to 6 cups of compost or worm castings. I've added 2- 6+ oz of molasses. I've even thrown in some liquid fish. Also I have two aquarium pumps running three tubes into the bottom of the bucket. Any advice?

7/25/2006 5:06:29 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

... no foam... are you SURE there is enough air in the mix? I have found that usually the problem with no foam is that there simply isn't enough bubbles "bubbling" the tea. And my next thought would have been not enough fish, but you seem to have taken care of that too. I'd double-check on the air, but other than that, thats about all the advice I can give... good luck fixing your problem.

Cameron

7/25/2006 5:36:01 PM

get t's for the air lines,,add 5" stones..lots of air

I brew in a 25 gallon barrel with 4 ,5" stones and get foam in the 12 hour or less time frame when the temps are above 60F. I'm increasing size to 55 gallons and will add a water pump to the equation this week. I would add my kelp when diluting the tea just before using it.

7/25/2006 5:43:55 PM

Abbotsford, B.C

Oh, I just remembered another thing from my compost tea making experience. It is better if the air comes up in lots of tiny little bubbles instead of really big ones. The foam forms faster if the bubbles are little even if there is actually less volume of air. The gas dissolves into the water far better when the air bubbles are in little bubbles. It makes sense too; small bubbles have a greater total surface area than large bubbles, so more gas will dissolve. Air stones are a must.

Cameron

7/25/2006 6:39:50 PM

New Hampshire

The small amount of oil in the fish will keep the tea from foaming. Oil breaks the surface tension of the bubbles.

7/26/2006 6:00:10 AM

ENGLAND

Jim is right about the Fish Oil breaking surface tension of any bubbles that may try to form. Coincidentally, i have recently been reading up on some anti foaming products and most appear to contain an oil of some sort.

7/26/2006 6:42:14 AM

Montoursville, PA

One more point. There may be, to little oxygen moving, to generate a maximum visual account, of the bacteria and other living critters, if you have them to get asperation. Some, of my early attempts with fish tank stones gave similar results although three days would yeild a good increase, in the living asperating bacteria and other living critters. The foam will show when the air, temperature of the fluid and batch components are right.

The latest professional thinking and writings, from the really involved users, in agriculture, indicate and have brought advisement, to generate larger rolling bubbles not unlike a pot, of rabidly boiling water. The point they make is that fish stone bubbles can be abrasive, to the living bacteria, and other living critters that you may have in your base compost. My little compressor generates about 3.2 cfm out of 1/16 inch holes in the bubble making head which is a half inch cap, on a half inch blow tube. Few if any fish tank compressors will yeild that much cfm.

I had only one batch fail to make as expected and in that batch I pushed the fish oil about double what the suggested rates are that can be found on the site of North Country Organics, home, of the Biti Bobolator. That site is loaded with basic information.

The fish oil comments may apply, to a learning experience where in there is just, to much fish, in the mix. My 35 gallon mix calls, for one cup. In a five gallon mix that gets down, to very small amounts, of fish. Using one cup, in thirty five gallons gives me excellent asperation aeriated, by larger rolling bubbles, in 18 hours. This varies somewhat an hour or so either way depending, on water temperature and the individual batch components.

It takes a little learning and experimentation, to find out what your home made bubbles systems will make. Hang in there and work with one element at a time. Maybe my comments will give you some ideas.

7/26/2006 6:16:07 PM

Thanks to all for the ideas. Currently I have a batch brewing and have attached an airstone on one tube. I also crimped the other tube and poked many many small holes in it with a needle. Currently I have a 5 gal bucket with lots of rolling small bubbles. We shall see if in the morning there is a foamy head on the bucket. If that doesn't work, I will have to agree with Doc that my air pumps just arn't delivering enough air pressure.

7/26/2006 8:02:03 PM

Montoursville, PA

You may have the pressure but I doubt you have the vollume to get larger fast moving bubbles. My buddy takes two to three days, to get a batch made with fish tank stones and a Mickey Mouse compressor.

7/26/2006 9:27:11 PM

Butler, Ohio

Interesting reading guys. Good post!!

7/27/2006 7:51:54 PM

OK, at the 24 hour mark the tea has a good amount of bubbles and foam on top. Not as much as I wanted to see, but better than before. Based on the last adjustments that I made, I would say that lots of small bubbles (and probably more volume) is the way to go. Tony

7/27/2006 9:44:31 PM

like I said Tony,,add t's to your supply lines and double the volume,,it works for me,,
I did this last batch trying doc's "bigger bubble" idea and took the stones off 2 lines,,seemed to creat a better head faster,,so,,2 lines with t's,,2-5" stones,,2 lines openended was the setup. Did a 25 gallon batch with the 80+ temps in 18 hours,,nice 1" of foam at the top. I used worm castings, alfalfa meal,and molassas. I add the fish and/or kelp when I dilute the tea for use.
I been trying different recipes and techniques all summer, the results are proving themselves in the gardens. Not too scientific, but effective!

7/27/2006 9:57:39 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

It seems to defy conventional logic but several strong streams of large bubble have been proven to do a better job of adding oxygen that the small/numerous bubble that we see from an aquarium air-stone.

We see the exact same thing with aerating ponds. Large & fancy ornamental fountains are nowhere near as good at aerating a pond as the boring & less falshy propeller turbine aerators. However when a dissolved O2 test is performed the results do speak for themself.

7/27/2006 10:32:38 PM

Paradise Mountain, New York

I bought the biggest fish tank bubbler they had last year at a pet supply company. I think I paid like $20.00 for it. It has two fittings for two plastic clear lines. I hooked two ten foot lines to the bubblier and then I tied a stone on the end for weight. I dropped it into my 35 gallon barrel and it works great. I have about 3-4 inches of foam on the top of my tea. Sometimes more.

7/28/2006 12:43:12 AM

President - GPC

Could it be the size of the bubble at the surface that when it pops it has a better surface gas release?. This is true in a fish tank and would result in a higher oxygen ratio in the tank......

7/28/2006 8:38:42 AM

President - GPC

Also interesting is that I have no air in my 55 but get 3" on foam after 2 days and lots of bubbles down deep.....WHen its done digesting ( no more bubbles) does that mean its finally done.....or is it already done after 2 months of doing this?

7/28/2006 8:40:51 AM

No Place Special

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0030427119450a&type=product&cmCat=search&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=110+areATOR&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=110+areATOR&noImage=0

7/28/2006 10:14:11 AM

No Place Special

I got the above aerator after Seeing what it did for Don Young. The thing is very impressive. I had a aquarium bubbler before this and it didnt do much. I tossed this in when it arrived and I had a HUGE amount of foam almost immediatly. Kind of expensive put well worth it in my opinion.

7/28/2006 10:16:43 AM

Colorado

After your tea is ready, what do you use to dilute the tea with?
How and what rate do you apply….. foliar or drench?
Thanks Kirk

7/28/2006 1:39:32 PM

I dilute with equal parts water, foliar spray and drench. This is also when I add fish and or kelp if I think it's required.

7/28/2006 5:27:17 PM

Montoursville, PA

Dilute anaerobic tea down to the color of what you would consider drinking yourself. Use it once or twice a week depending on the healthy appearance of your total plant.

Following what others do does not clearly show the strength or color of the base amount of tea.

As, to the continued foaming, in an unareated tank. You are seeing maturing much the same, as you see bubbles, in a vat of wine. It simply proves you have some live action within your vat or barrel. This indicates it is still working. For most, us that is a positive sign. Use it but dilue it based, on your tank color or strength.

7/29/2006 9:43:54 AM

Montoursville, PA

Someone ask, "dilute with what" WATER!

7/29/2006 9:47:26 AM

Snoqualmie, Wash.

Check out the web site for soil soup, great brewer with there system, Mine never stops, Jerri

7/30/2006 12:05:12 AM

The Netherlands

how many air is needed? or just the more the better?

8/7/2006 8:21:14 AM