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Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

I know there has been some discussion on this, but I'm still unsure of the required amout of air. I plan to build a 30 gal unit similar to Thad Starr (Starrfarms), OSU plans. Because I am in Canada, I am finding a little difficulty getting a proper pump at an afforable price. I have found this supplier:http://www.bustan.ca/product_detail.asp?menuID=3&SID=104&PID=617

These ecoplus pumps seem to be real good units.
My question is: Is the 38l/m unit large enough to provide enough oxygen in a 30 gal brewer or do I need the larger 70l/m unit?

2/6/2008 9:16:26 AM

http://www.greengoldhydro.com/index.php?cName=hydro-components-active-aqua-commercial-air-pumps&osCsid=9092b405af2d3e224e0c04cdd4625bfd

2/6/2008 9:33:21 AM

southwest MO

Otter creek has a good link... Get the biggest one.

2/6/2008 10:13:26 AM

Pleasant Hill, Or

Hey John, I'd go with the biggest you can afford. I have a few brewers, on one of them I had the 35 watt (60l/m) and was not happy with the results. It seemed to take longer to get the same biomass "head" or brown foam on top of the brewer. I purchased the 80 watt and am much happier with it. Since I don't test my oxygen levels in the tea, I'm going with the theory that more air is better.
I purchased here:

http://www.rockymountainpond.com/store/index.php?page=1&act=viewCat&catId=26

It's not water/weather proof like the one in the OSU plans, and is noisier, so it is not used as much.

Thad

2/6/2008 12:38:12 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

Hey ottercreek. Great link. These guys have about the best pricing I have seen on these types of pumps. Unfortunatly, the duty and customs brokerage at the border can be expensive. I'm going to call them and get an exact quote on shipping to Canada.

For those Canadians reading the post, I did find out that these pumps are subject to a 7% import duty and the cheapest customs brokerage is to have it shipped by regular expidited post.

2/7/2008 8:19:22 AM

Seattle, WA

What's the rating on those pumps in terms of hours.

What I've found is you want as much air as possible, you really can't go overboard in that respect. You're also better off brewing fewer gallons at higher aeration and then diluting, than going the other way around.

In our 5 gallon unit, we're brewing for 24-36 hours with our extended life motor and it's pushing 51 liters/min @1.5 psi. Our regular motor pushes even more air than that. In our 28 gallon brewer, we're raising the water column more than 4 inches with aeration alone and using an Ametek regenerative blower.

~Tad

2/7/2008 4:53:52 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

County kid, goin to niagara? maybe I can help ya out. Would be willing to get ya one, and bring it with me!!! Hope this helps. wsmpeace@aol.com send details if this will help. Peace, Wayne

2/7/2008 8:26:21 PM

Seattle, WA

What about taking that motor and brewing in a smaller container? Have you considered that for an option?

2/7/2008 9:09:50 PM

Santa Rosa, CA.

I just built a 35 gal. brewer. I found the pump on eBay http://cgi.ebay.com/Hailea-Diaphragm-Air-Pump-60-Watt-80L-Min-115-Volt_W0QQitemZ270177524809QQihZ017QQcategoryZ46547QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQcmdZViewItem

The one I bought was 80 watts (100L/m). I hooked it up to a 25' soaker hose and was amazed at the amount of air generated.
I have not tested it yet because of the cold weather.
Thank you for your help Thad.

2/7/2008 9:30:52 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

In chatting with Thad Starr, he seems to have been very successful using the 25 gallon brewer and applying lots of product, once a week. I think I have settled on the 112W (110 l/m) unit from Green Gold Hydro. This should allow to make a real good 20 gal batch of tea! I'm planning to modify the plans with the 25' soaker hose.

Tad12, I'm note sure of the hour rating of these pumps (Duty Cycle), I will ask that question.

Wayne, I am going to Niagara but I think I have found another fellow grower to be my "Mule". Thanks for the offer

2/8/2008 9:00:23 AM

southwest MO

http://www.aquaticeco.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/product.detail/iid/6299/cid/4420

Here is a link to a similar looking pump... Click on psi info and they have some ratings. There prices look way high.
Tad is right The blowers are the mack daddys of the low pressure aerators.

2/8/2008 10:24:09 AM

Seattle, WA

http://www.hailea.com/E-hailea/product-3/HAP-60.htm

http://www.hailea.com/E-hailea/product-3/ACO-9730.htm

I know some testing has been done on Hailea pumps. Here's links to a couple of their pumps.

~Tad

2/8/2008 12:31:24 PM

Owensboro, Ky.

So, how many litres per minute(is that what l/m stands for) per gallon are needed to produce a quality CT? Peace, Wayne

2/8/2008 5:30:38 PM

Seattle, WA

I don't know, I can only base it off what we've tested (as posted above). I don't think it's something that has a linear relationship (gal. of water to l/m).

Those pumps may work fine for that size, it's hard to know for sure without a DO meter. I just wanted to share what specs. we had to help out.

Here's a link to our 28 gal. motor specs. It's a 1/2 hp regenerative blower. We use the same blower on our 28-100 gal. brewers and bleed off the extra O2 on the smaller units.

~Tad

2/8/2008 5:38:36 PM

Denver, CO

Let me just add this warning to this post: Previous to this post the first mention of any pump from Greengoldhydro.com was by myslef about two post earlier. This then got repeated here. I point this out only to say I dont have even the slightest clue if these pumps are solid and reliable or total pieces of crap and I would hate for somone to buy one and be disappointed. Do the homework that Tad12 has suggested before buying any pump and everthing should be fine. Hope I did not mislead anyone.
Thanks
ghopson427@yahoo.com

2/8/2008 11:10:42 PM

Picton,ON (j.vincent@xplornet.ca)

I decided to purchase one of these pumps green gold pumps so we will find out. They are made in China and you can't get parts so if they die, they are scrap. The only assurance the guy would give me is that they had had no problems so far and that they had one that had been in continuous service for about 9 months with out any problems

Oh well, there is nothing sure in this world.

For Canadian readers, I posted the costs to import, on the GVGO message board

John

2/8/2008 11:26:20 PM

Seattle, WA

Hey, keep us all posted on how the pump works out. I'd be curious and would love to know DO levels or at the very least see a photo of the aeration!

Thanks,
Tad

2/9/2008 8:42:14 PM

Danville, CA (petman2@yahoo.com)

Is my math right... that 1 cubic foot/m = about 27 liters/m? I understand a cubic foot to be a about 7.5 gallons and about 3.8 liters to the gallon. Wanted to be sure I am comparing apples to apples

2/9/2008 10:50:14 PM

Seattle, WA

1 (cubic feet) per meter = 28.3168466 liters per meter
1 US gallon per meter = 3.7854118 liters per meter

Pulled this off google.

Looks like your math adds up.

~Tad

2/10/2008 1:54:09 PM

Nicholls Georgia

im gitting the 60 watt one from green gold hope it works well

2/17/2008 12:15:29 PM

Santa Rosa, CA.

I found fittings at Home Depot.
http://bigpumpkins.com/Diary/DiaryViewOne.asp?eid=78437

4/7/2008 9:53:00 PM