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Re: [compost_tea] Heating & Maintaining CT water and other subjects.



I have been using a solar system to heat up about 600 gal(3000Litres) of water for CT tank for the last 8 months. It is relatively simple, cheap  and very effective if the sun is shining.
I use about 400metres of 3 quarter poly pipe with irrigation fittings. This is placed on the roof of a shed. the water is pumped around and raises the temp fairly fast say 4 hours from 13 deg C to 30 deg C (inoculation temp).
Obviously you would not need a system as big as this for smaller amounts however the same principles apply. Storage of the heated water prior to use can be useful also.
Also consider that the most energy for heating water is moving it from those first degrees not the last degrees.
You should not run the CT through the pipes though as films will build.
Regards Mike Harvey
www.composttea.com.au
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2003 1:35 AM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Heating & Maintaining CT water and other subjects.

Merla when you take our electric power line out of our lives and CT production you screw up everything.  We flatlanders don't know how to cope.  I was thinking park it in the sun and it will warm up just as I began to read that suggestion from you.  Solar heating may be your best source.  Any chance you could have a green house with water storage in it to warm  water for all your use?  Bath, laundry, and CTEA? 
 
It says in the solar heating science data that High temp. solar heat enters thru glass but that low temp heat source ( the heated water) does not exit thru glass.  So over several days the average heat in the water would increase to where it would be useful for all those purposes. 
Paint the water tanks in the greenhouse black and cover to pevent evaporation cooling. Pump cold water in at bottom, take warm water from the tip. Do that 3 or 5  or more 50 gallon barrels in series. Each cold in at bottom warm out at top into the next barrel at the bottom etc.  Your well water pump drives the flow.  End barrel is rather hot water.  The more barrels the larger the capacity to heat  It is called passive solar heating. It works.
 
If I know anything about you and Herb I know you have already investigated this.  Such a solar system is not a small or simple project.
 
Subject #2  WEEDS
 
I've been working in my yard some of late.  We have some daiseys and a few other wild flowers that grow like weeds only better. They seed and reseed and come up from the roots after a long winter and act just like weeds except they don't spread on the wind or creep underground and they are rather good looking as bright flowers most of the year. They are the first to bloom in spring and keep blooming all summer.  Clover would be another great flower to plant.  Since these plants are all affected by 24D you could rightfully object to the area being sprayed . Patrolling for other noxious weeds on an 8 mile road will still be a BIG project. But if I were a betting man ( I am) I would bet on the daiseys,  
 
Subject #3  PIONEERS
 
 When you feel sorry for yourselves there without the powerline remember how the rugged pioneers survived without .  And how luckey you are that you live in such a beautiful environment.  And how luckey we all are to have people like you defending that beautiful environment. Thanks Merla and Herb!  Bob 
Subject #4 I think I am appearing too dam often on this show. 
Merla Barberie <herbnmerla@supersat2.net> wrote:

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