Re: [compost_tea] Pumps and Aerob-a-jet

From: Thomas Giannou <thomas_at_tandjenterprises.com>
Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 14:16:35 -0700

Hi Jason,

The equipment that generates the fine bubbles for fish tanks does not achie=
ve 20 micron bubble sizes, so the application is not the same. The track r=
ecord of the Aerob-a-jet working with aerobic bacteria in the sewage treatm=
ent industry doesn't remotely suggest a problem with too much air in suspen=
sion in the water. In fact, it shows that there is a significant benefit i=
n the performance of the aerobic bacteria. So, there seems to be a contrad=
iction between what the Aerob-a-jet people are saying and what Elaine is sa=
ying. I believe it is worth some investigation. It seems to me that DO ha=
s a limit no matter how many bubbles are present. I don't know where she c=
ame up with the idea of more air than water because the micro-bubbles are s=
o small one can't easily see them. That sounds and looks like a lot more w=
ater than air. I remain skeptical. It would be interesting to see Elaine'=
s data on her experiments with fine bubbles, but then I'd still wonder abou=
t the micro-bubbles which are different than fine bubbles. On the Aerob-a-=
jet web site, they cite quite a few people doing successful experiments wit=
h the Aerob-a-jet. Perhaps some of those could shed a little more light on=
 the use of micro bubbles? The way I read what Elaine wrote, the aerobic b=
acteria don't like such an environment, but the Aerob-a-jet people claim th=
e aerobic bacteria do well in such a setting.

Thomas Giannou
http://www.tandjenterprises.com




----- Original Message -----
  From: Jason Austin
  To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
  Sent: Monday, May 12, 2003 12:15 PM
  Subject: Re: [compost_tea] Pumps and Aerob-a-jet


  Thomas Giannou wrote:

    Hi Peter,

    I don't remember seeing anything from Elaine on this topic. But who kn=
ows, she sometimes replies but doesn't copy text from the message.
  Sometimes ? <grin>

  Here is Elaines's message from May 6th under the heading of Simple CT mak=
er

    Compost tea brewers are a bit different from fish tanks. Fish don't ge=
t growing quite as fast as bacteria. When you feed bacteria well, they can=
 use up all the oxygen in any amount of water within minutes, and therefore=
 the aeration rate needs to be high enough to offset bacterial and fungal g=
rowth.

    The fine bubbles are not the preferable condition. The fine bubbles ar=
e really hard on the fungi and seem to break them up and shatter them.

    If you suspend fine bubbles in the water, by over-aerating, you end up =
with problems. Too much air, and not enough water (supersaturation?), and =
the organisms will be killed because the environment become too oxidizing. =
 

    Cute, huh? Not too much, not too little..... Goldilocks strikes again.

    We need some additional testing on the fine bubble versus coarse bubble=
 situation. The fine bubble work we've done suggests that fine bubbles are=
 quite detrimental. The bigger bubbles seem to do a better job of extracti=
ng hte organisms from the tea, and keeping things as aerated as possible. =
 

    Always something more to know. So, what is the optimal aeration rate? =
 Depends on how much food you add, the compost you use, the temperature of =
the water.

    Check the www.magicsoil.com web site. Some interesting insights there =
about aeration.

    Elaine Ingham
    President, Soil Foodweb Inc.
    www.soilfoodweb.com
  Jason



Received on Mon May 12 2003 - 17:36:11 EDT

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