Bob- you say 'Extraction is 95% completed in the first 2 to 6 hours'. Do yo=
u have data on this as I beg to differ. I am of the persuasion that provide=
d the movement within the extraction bag/container is suffice, most of the =
extraction of organisms and nutrients will occur well before the hour is up=
and more than likely within the first few minutes. As soon as the greasy h=
umus feel has gone from the compost that went in to the brew, all the critt=
ers are in solution doing their thing and the bag can be removed. Sludge, l=
eft for along period of time is bound to harbor anaerobes. Attached, I have=
two DO curves for two separate brews, both with the same recipe, almost sa=
me temp, the only difference was the bag was left in the brewing vessel for=
at least 10 hrs, the other had the bag taken out at about the 45min mark. =
I know which curve I like!. And no I didnt have each one tested, but both s=
melled good after the brew had finished and after an overnight siesta in a =
jar with the lid on. I'd put money on the one that went to zero just ended =
up with high bacteria and low or no fungi. I still put it on my plants and =
they didnt seems to mind.
If there is enough energy moving thru the chamber, the organisms are going =
to set sail early on in the piece and multiply and continue to multiply and=
grow until all the food has gone. My bag holds inxs of 12kgs of compost an=
d I know even though the solution in the brewer is rolling around like a te=
n foot swell, the center of that bag is seeing very little of it.(when its =
not being agitated). So why not take it out!
It is very hard to draw a conclusion from this info as there is just too ma=
ny variables to deal with. Was the compost the same?was the tank cleaned pr=
operly?does a difference of 3 degrees C mean that much?did moon opp Saturn =
have an effect? Who knows, but it makes you think about it doesnt it!
cheers
AQ
-You have to look at what you see
----- Original Message -----
From: Robert Norsen
To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 2:44 PM
Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Compost Tea Mud/Sludge
Sbould I tell you this on List or off? It applies to all Bob' brewers an=
d 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 b=
asket but much more active, drawing water in, exerting very active extracti=
on and then pumping the water out. It is intended to act as an extractor f=
or part of the cycle. Extraction is 95% completed in the first 2 to 6 hour=
s. Time depends on the "solubility" of the compost. After that the water fl=
owing in thru the screen and out thru the screen, tends to collect fungi fi=
ber both in and out. .For that reason I advise removing the extractor chamb=
er early in the cycle, return the aeration probe to the bottom of the conta=
iner, 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 s=
tay 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 out=
side is more convenien t.
In tests run early in developement, SFI found this sludge was very rich i=
n fungi. By keeping it suspended in rapidly circulationg, well aerated wat=
er, the fungi thrive. Next trick is to not have such course particulates th=
at they plug the application system.
Filter? The ACT? Rather not filter. Filters take out long slender fung=
i that lay across the filter bars even if they would go thru the nozzle. R=
ather let the ACT settle for 5 minutes quietly. The really heavy "rocks" w=
ill fall out rapidly. Then take the ACT off an inch above the bottom of th=
e container. Use course nozzles, apply in rather large droplets. The bott=
om 1" of ACT ? Put it on your favorite plant with a bucket - or let it ino=
culate 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 e=
ach brew.
About your question in your former message, Judi, Would ACT be a good dor=
mant spray? Applied in the fall and on warm winter days, like it will be t=
omorrow in your area, 50+ F , would the bacteria and fungi be effective - e=
ating the mite ( eggs?) and other hazards waiting on your trees? Do any o=
f 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 suppose=
d to be warm this week end. Maybe I will try it here in West Seattle. I r=
emember days in February in Minnesota when it got to 50+F. Would it be eff=
ective instead of the usual oil and sulfur? I would like to think ACT migh=
t 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 reas=
on 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 fr=
om the compost than the placid water action the same air would create in th=
e 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 st=
ands 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 els=
es. 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 - 11:18:34 EST