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Nicholls Georgia

what would be the right amount of air for compost teas
25 gal of water = how much air
30.gal of water = how much air

50.gal of water = how much air
what is the right amout because we dont wont to use to less or to much so how much is best to get the best tea ?

2/1/2009 2:19:54 PM

Seattle, WA

check out www.microbeorganics.com, Tim has posted a cfm/gal. ratio, but I can't remember off the top of my head what it is.

2/1/2009 4:52:33 PM

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

I am no expert, but what I have seen and use is 1/2L of air/ minute for every L of water. 45 gal drum is 205L, we use a 110 L/ minute air pump. seems to work well.
John

2/1/2009 10:50:35 PM

southwest MO

Thanks for the link Tad12.

2/2/2009 12:53:19 PM

Seattle, WA

We use a minimum of 51 liters/min in our 5 gal. unit.

2/2/2009 12:59:32 PM

Seattle, WA

Oh, and forgot to mention, most of you only need 5 gallons per application, unless you have a HUGE patch and property. 5 gallons of good tea will cover a 1/4 acre for a soil drench and foliar application.

~Tad

2/2/2009 1:01:25 PM

Okla

Here is a question to help clarify some of what I have read. The homemade 5 gallon brewers that you see say use an aquarium pump that you can get from walmart. The biggest pump I have found is rated at 2800cc per minute for 20-60 gallon aquariums. How is that rated in liters/minute? I know that it is under what is needed and I am not planning on using one, but was just wondering for future reference.
Thanks
Thomas

2/2/2009 3:23:29 PM

http://www.greengoldhydro.com/product_info.php?products_id=925

2/2/2009 3:49:43 PM

1000 cc=1 litre -so 2800cc would be 2.8 litre thomas.
i use the 110 litre pump as well and if making bigger batch i use another aerator to. im glad milk is sold in gallons metric is differnt to me

2/2/2009 4:02:36 PM

Okla

Thanks Don. Thats shows that with Tad saying for a 5 gallon bucket you should use the 51 liters/minute and the small pump only does 2.8 why do they say you can make your own 5 gallon brewer. LOL This is good to know that the aquarium pumps fall way short on what is really needed.

2/2/2009 8:20:28 PM

Seattle, WA

Thomas,I can't state that these are definitive minimums for making good AACT, just that it's the minimum that we use and test with. Additional variables to consider are the quality of your compost and also how much foods you're adding for the little buggers. We're trying to get the quantities and diversity possible. That's not to say that an aquarium pump or two couldn't still make something that could be beneficial to your plants.

If you do decide to use aquarium pumps, try to get your hands on 2 or 3, brew in less water with less inputs, and extend your brew cycle to 24-36 hours. And I always recommend microscope or lab testing when possible, so as to ensure you're getting what you think you are in your tea.

~Tad

2/3/2009 4:14:37 AM

Okla

Tad thanks for the reply. I would still rather go with your recommenations and have a better chance of producing something that is what it should be and not take a chance on it might work just not as good. I have NO plans on making a 5 gallon brewer, especially after your first email discussing brewers. That was a lot of help. I will make the brewer that has the air pump that is big enough to do the job that is needed. I was just comparing the small amount of air that the aquarium pump puts out to what you say is a better quanity for doing what is needed. I never realized until I saw the numbers converted to liters to how lacking the aquarium pumps are. Thank You to those who replied because it has helped me understand a little more about the air supply needed to make GOOD tea compost.

2/3/2009 8:27:10 AM

Seattle, WA

Thomas,

Good luck, keep us updated with info. and photos! There's some recipes that have been posted a few threads back.

~Tad

2/3/2009 5:30:31 PM