Re: Re: [compost_tea] D O Meter

From: Mark Garrett <mark.garrett_at_rogers.com>
Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2004 16:18:40 -0500

Thanks Ted,

Is this what you are talking about?

http://pulseinstrument.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=PI&Product_Code=WD-35632-02&Category_Code=do-mtr

Thanks,
Mark

>
> From: "Ted Peterson" <ted.peterson_at_tcsn.net>
> Date: 2004/03/02 Tue PM 03:51:24 EST
> To: <compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: Re: [compost_tea] D O Meter
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Mark Garrett
> To: compost_tea_at_yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2004 12:13 PM
> Subject: Re: [compost_tea] D O Meter
>
>
> What is a D O Meter and what is it use for?
> Thanks,
>
> A DO meter is a Dissolved Oxygen meter. It shows the amount of O2 dissolved in your water. Standing water contains a certain amount of dissolved O2. If you start with a tank of water and the DO indicates 7 say it will lower when you add compost and air and start brewing. This is because the microbes you are wrangling (Feeding and giving O2 to.) in the tea are using the dissolved 02. It might lower to 4 - 5. Now, if you unplug your air, you will see the DO drop to zero in most cases. This is because the bacteria/fungi are using up all the O2 during the process of eating. Reconnect air and the DO will rise.
>
> So, you use the DO meter to determine if something is using the O2 in your water. If you are providing an environment for bacteria to grow and fungi to extract from compost, you can make a safe assumption that this growth will be reflected in O2 use.
>
> It is a valuable tool to determine that you are getting some kind of biological activity in your tea. However, while it tells you that your bacteria are growing, it doesn't tell you the diversity of that bacteria. So it is a crude measure but one that works to show something is happening.
>
> Now, if you are using a reputable brewer with some recipes, you shouldn't need a DO meter if you are just brewing for your lawn and garden. If however, you want to experiment with foods and different strategies for aeration, a DO meter is a very handy and necessary tool.
>
> Ted Peterson
> Earth-Wise/Spirit of the Earth
>
>
>


_____________
Mark Garrett



 
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Received on Wed Mar 03 2004 - 02:00:09 EST

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