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Ontario

Need help, I'm using a 5 gallon bucket. Tryed my first batch and no foam after 48 hours. I think I don't have enough oxygen but also here too much fish and seaweed is no good. I tryed 1 cup worm casting 1 cup compost, 5 ounces of fish 5 ounces of seaweed. Put in some molasses and kelp and alfalfa meal. Would like to know the quantity of ingredients. Thanks

drew

5/28/2007 3:41:23 AM

Owensboro, Ky.

Drew, no pro here, but I dont put fish and seaweed into the brewer. Have read some folks add it after the brewing is finished. I brew 10 gals, use a fish tank air pump, rated for a 90 gallon tank. Two air lines, no air stones...the larger bubbles keep the brew movin pretty good. I add approx 4 oz of molasses. The worm castings and manure used is about the same rate that I use. I add approx 1/2 cup of kelp meal to my brew bag. Good success so far. Peace, Wayne

5/28/2007 7:53:09 AM

Www.extremepumpkinstore.com

drew email me, tprivitera@optonline.net

5/28/2007 8:31:27 AM

Gays Mills,WI

The oil in the fisk prevents the foam I believe, I usually dont add it to the mix.

5/28/2007 1:59:24 PM

Santa Rosa, CA

Drew,

I have only been doing this for a few weeks. I went to Mainepumpkins.com. Under "Msc." click Homemade fish & seweed. Great article on how to make compost tea.

The lack of foam could be from chlorine. Here is my easy method. Fill 5 gal. bucket 3" from the top. Insert stone with air bubbles from a fish pump. After 1 hour the chlorine should be gone. Add a 1 gal. container of either compost, worm castings or soil. Add a handful of alfalfa pellets and a tablespoon of molasses. I get foamy compost tea in 36 hours. Good luck!

Chuck

5/28/2007 3:09:46 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Drew,

How are you aerating? What type of pump?

5/28/2007 6:56:31 PM

Grandfield Oklahoma

Just one persons opion!

I worked in a waste water treatment plant for 26 years, and foam is a sign of young bacteria, and it will stop after a few days.

I have now started making my own compost tea, and finished the first bucket, and poured it on my plant.

Time will tell how good mine is.

I used molasses, fish fertilizer, compost from cotton,and sugar to activate the younger bacteria and help it die off fast.

Again time will tell how well mine is working. Note: the fish smell diminished after the 3rd day.

I'm using a pump for a 90 gal fish tank from walmart and put the air stone on the side of bucke with the suction cups that came with it.

Our commercial aereators were all on one side of the bays at work so the bublew pull water over to it as it brews.

I also stir mine with a piece of old pvc pipe about 3 times a day.

5/29/2007 7:08:48 PM

mmmmm, we're brewing FOR bacteria here,, when the foam starts to drop off I use the tea asap,,24-36 hours max for brews at 72F,,,been working ok so far for me ;-)

I add fish/kelp at the end of the process and dilute the teas with H2O before applying foliar,,,straight as a drench but then watered in.....

5/29/2007 7:39:02 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

Curious as to why anyone has to stir the mix, doesn't the compost and stuff go into a "tea" bag? I use a knee high nylon stocking and suspend it in the brew kettle!!! Right or wrong??? Peace, Wayne

6/4/2007 10:13:37 PM