Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.

From: Will Buck <willbuck76_at_yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 26 May 2011 10:16:57 -0700 (PDT)

Agreed that we are only trying to grow bugs. If the vortex does not work, i=
t is
an easy conversion to the more conventional systems you have pioneered. I =
have
spent lots of time researching this and truthfully I have not seen any real=
 data
showing the efficacy of brewing AACT in a vortex brewer. Especially a larg=
er
brewer which has its own set of problems. So at this point I can't show yo=
u the
data. But if I can get it too work.....






________________________________
From: "soilfoodweb_at_aol.com" <soilfoodweb_at_aol.com>
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thu, May 26, 2011 5:10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.

   
the only thing important, ultimately, is the sets of microorganisms you pul=
l
from the compost into the water, and then how they grow in that water once=
 
released. the water needs to stay aerobic to grow the beneficials. Anaero=
bic
organisms take the inorganic, soluble N, S, and P and turn them into gases =
that
you lose from the tea if anaerobic conditions occur. In addition some comp=
ounds
can be made .... only in anaerobic conditions..... that kill microorganisms=
 and
harm the plant, or plant roots, if those compounds come in contact with the=
 
plant.


The point of all this talk about aeration to to GROW MICROORGANISMS.

Where's your data showing what you high tech machines do to the microorgani=
sms?


That is always my basis for making decisions about what to do in a brewer. =
 

You all have lost sight of why you are doing this work.

If you don't measure the organisms, and report what effect the changes in w=
here
you put the vortex have on the organisms, then I am wasting my time to try =
to
teach you anything.


Good luck with the physics, because you have forgotten biology, once again.=
  
 

Elaine R. Ingham
President, Soil Foodweb Inc.


-----Original Message-----
From: Will Buck <willbuck76_at_yahoo.com>
To: compost_tea <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wed, May 25, 2011 10:32 am
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.


  
Thank Bobbie for your input. I have seen most of your videos and I will re=
view
the link you have posted. Your work is largely what motivated me to go Vor=
tex.
Not so much that I am into biodynamics but I like the elegance of the machi=
ne.
And who doesn't like staring into the vortex, it is like watching fire.

While I have spent a fair amount of time researching this by reviewing your=
 
videos and reading Tim Wilson's page among others. But I approached this
knowing that constructing Vortex brewer on a larger scale had its risks bec=
ause
there is not much info relating to DO during the brew cycle. And yes I am=
 
trying to brew AACT.

Back to the design. I can move the stones up and down the up feed tubes ve=
ry
easily. If I understand you correctly you are suggesting putting the ston=
es
near the bottom. I have about 8 feet of upfeed to play with. It also appe=
ars
that I am getting slow flow and I want a better vortex. So any advise in t=
erms
of increasing flow would be appreciated.

The pump I purchased is called the ecoplus 7 and it produces about 7 CFM ho=
wever
it is very hard to find any performance curve on this pump. I suspect it lo=
oses
preformance with any back pressure. I think the sweetwater SL 170 or 190
produce considerably more air at depth but they are expensive. If I go wit=
h Tim
Wilson's suggestion of .05 CFM of air per gallon of water I am looking at
needing at least 12 CFM

thanks






________________________________
From: Bobby Grimes <biodynamichawaii_at_gmail.com>
To: "compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com" <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, May 24, 2011 10:25:42 AM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.

  
Bobby here. Imagine you cut your upfeed tube in half, while the tank and tu=
bes
are full of water. The water will flow out very aggressively until it equal=
izes.
Stones at the bottom slow the surface exchange. There can be no stagnant wa=
ter
in this tank. Please watch my brewer, 350 gallons, 10 min run time.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjXFh_ICxic&feature=youtube_gdata_player=
 

Mahalo Bobby G

Sent from my iPhone

On May 24, 2011, at 6:41 AM, "Stephen Steyn" <ssteyn_at_wcaccess.co.za> wrote:


  
>Wrong again. Bobby is right on the money. Don’t go to deep with th=
e air source
>as all your doing is heating up your pump and reducing the amount of air i=
t can
>put out due to backpressure. Convection will oxygenate all the fluid. No r=
eal
>point in going down more than a metre, just let the vortex tubes draw from=
 near
>the bottom.
>Also be sure to keep your pump above the liquid level so that it doesnâ=
€™t fill
>with water when you switch off.
>SS
>
>From:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com [mailto:compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com] On B=
ehalf
>Of soilfoodweb_at_aol.com
>Sent: 24 May 2011 16:40
>To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
>Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.
>
>
>Putting the air at the bottom of the tank is critical to get the water at =
the
>bottom of the tank to mix and not be stagnant.
>
>
>Sent via DROID on Verizon Wireless
>
>
>-----Original message-----
>From: Bobby Grimes <biodynamichawaii_at_gmail.com>
>To: "compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com" <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
>Sent: Tue, May 24, 2011 02:47:03 GMT+00:00
>Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Vortex Brewer.
>
>Will, I would put the stones in the upfeed tubes right where the tank goes=
from
>90 deg to your 45 or 60 deg angle. At the bottom the water flows of it own=
 
>accord and then you just pick up where that slows down and stones/air lift=
 it
>from there.
>I would use the Sweetwater SL170 or the next smaller linear air pump.
>Bobby
>
>
>
>Sent from my iPhone
>
>On May 23, 2011, at 12:20 PM, "Will Buck" <willbuck76_at_yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi, I am in the process of building a 240 gallon Vortex brewer.
>>
>>My first brew went anaerobic almost immediately. Clearly I have undersize=
d the
>>air supply and while I would appreciate advise on which pump I should pur=
chase
>>(I used an Eco7 that allegedly provides7 cfm, it appears that I need to a=
t least
>>double that rate), my question is more about the properties of an air lif=
t pumps
>>so I can maximize the amount of DO.
>>
>>My design is similar to Bobby Grimes. I purchased a cone bottom tank that=
 I
>>mounted on a stand so the tank is about 4 feet off the ground (ideal for=
 
>>gravity filling the spray rig). The manifold is attached to the base of t=
he
>>stand and there are three 2 inch pipes that return water over the top of =
the
>>tank via air lift from a 17 inch air stones.
>>
>>
>>My question is at what depth should I put the air stones in the pipes? If=
 I put
>>the stones near the bottom of the pipe I thought this would be ideal beca=
use the
>>air bubbles would be in contact with the water for a longer period of tim=
e as
>>they rose up the pipe thus increasing DO. But of course the deeper the ai=
r stone
>>the lower the performance of the air pump because the resistance pressure=
 is
>>greater. In other words, is there any rule of thumb regarding the depth o=
f the
>>air stone?
>>
>>This question becomes very important as I look at purchasing a new pump a=
s
>>regenerative blowers loose performance very quickly the more pressure the=
y are
>>working under.
>>
>>
>>I would really appreciate any help or ideas, thanks in advance.
 

Received on Thu May 26 2011 - 16:09:20 EDT

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