Sbould I tell you this on List or off? It applies to all Bob' brewers and from what I gather it may apply to many others and some home builts. So I will let all who don't want to read it hit Delete, NOW!!
The "Chamber" is really and extraction chamber. It is somewnat like a basket but much more active, drawing water in, exerting very active extraction and then pumping the water out. It is intended to act as an extractor for part of the cycle. Extraction is 95% completed in the first 2 to 6 hours. Time depends on the "solubility" of the compost. After that the water flowing in thru the screen and out thru the screen, tends to collect fungi fiber both in and out. .For that reason I advise removing the extractor chamber early in the cycle, return the aeration probe to the bottom of the container, off to one side so the rising bubbles will create circulation across the bottom, up and around and down. .The aeration prob needs a weight to stay at the bottom. I have begun to add a weight in the form of a 8" x 3/8" iron rod inside the aeration tube. Some find clamping a weight to the outside is more convenient.
In tests run early in developement, SFI found this sludge was very rich in fungi. By keeping it suspended in rapidly circulationg, well aerated water, the fungi thrive. Next trick is to not have such course particulates that they plug the application system.
Filter? The ACT? Rather not filter. Filters take out long slender fungi that lay across the filter bars even if they would go thru the nozzle. Rather let the ACT settle for 5 minutes quietly. The really heavy "rocks" will fall out rapidly. Then take the ACT off an inch above the bottom of the container. Use course nozzles, apply in rather large droplets. The bottom 1" of ACT ? Put it on your favorite plant with a bucket - or let it inoculate the next brew if you are going to go again. ( Don't dump chlorinated water on it.) or mix it into your compost. It may be the best part of each brew.
About your question in your former message, Judi, Would ACT be a good dormant spray? Applied in the fall and on warm winter days, like it will be tomorrow in your area, 50+ F , would the bacteria and fungi be effective - eating the mite ( eggs?) and other hazards waiting on your trees? Do any of your members have the "spirit" to apply ACT this time of the year to find out? Maybe on just some fo their trees? Both Sat. and Sunday are supposed to be warm this week end. Maybe I will try it here in West Seattle. I remember days in February in Minnesota when it got to 50+F. Would it be effective instead of the usual oil and sulfur? I would like to think ACT might be the universal magic !! Bob
Judi Stewart <js_at_olympus.net> wrote: ( Note below)
How do you all deal with the mud/sludge on the bottom
of the brewers? Do you keep it moving in
the brewer?
Why don't I leave the compost in solution without the
chamber and direct all the air to the bottom of the
brewer, always keeping the compost in motion and in solution? The reason you don't do this, Judy is that the much more active extraction chamber is more effective to extract the bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes from the compost than the placid water action the same air would create in the larger container. And then even if the extraction was good enough in the chamber, now you have to filter the ACT as it leaves the container. so you lose fungi whose fibers are most suseptable too being caught by any filter. Just think about it. Fine invisible fiber that would go thru any nozzle stands a good chance of being hung up over the bars of a filter.
Coming next from Bob will be a screen that will not hang up the fibers. This will be availabe to retrofit your BobO & Bitti, Judi. And anyone elses. Probably most home builts and most other commercial brewers too.
Can we test for effectivity at SFI.Elaine? Bob
Thank you,
Judi
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Received on Sat Jan 10 2004 - 11:18:28 EST