Re: [compost_tea] non-aerated teas?

From: David Anderson <squtch_at_gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 3 Jan 2005 18:29:37 -0800
What size air compressor are you talking about?

Since you mention the "car tire"part, I'm thinking that you are
talking about one of those little $25 portable units. My biggest
concern with one of those is that you would probably burn one of those
out before finishing one batch. They are not built for constant duty.

If you have a larger unit with a tank, you don't need to operate on
much pressure at all. For the size brewing operation you are talking
about. You only need 1 PSI to pump your air out a hose 25" under
water. A bit more if you are forcing it out an air stone, but not much
more.

Some compressors can also put lubrication oil into the airstream. This
is not a problem in the workshop, but it could be a problem with the
tea.

Then again, it may work just fine. I've never tried running one long term.

Instead of worrying about the pressure, you should worry about the
volume of the air you are putting into the brew. My current homemade
in the bucket model creates what appears to be the equivalent of a
good rolling boil in 5 gallons of tea using 3 cheapo aquarium pumps.
What I like about them is that it is easy to add to the air volume if
I need more. Just head down to walmart for another $10 air pump.

Also at the suggestion of many here, I have ditched using airstones
and have now gone with melting holes in tubing with some wire that is
slightly smaller guage than hanger wire. In addition to giving bigger
bubbles to help knock the critters from the compost, it makes the
pumps more efficient by reducing the backpressure, or so the theory
goes.

I am also taking it slow when it comes to adding nutrients with the
homemade brewer. I don't have a need to push the envelope the way the
commercial brewer manufacturers do. Why risk having the tea go
anaerobic just to get that last little little increase in the biology.

If I needed tea of the quality turned out by the commercial brewers, I
would buy a commercial brewer. They have spent the time and the money
to do the necessary testing to push the limits.

Dave

On Mon, 03 Jan 2005 16:49:18 -0500, jallan6977_at_earthlink.net
<jallan6977_at_earthlink.net> wrote:
> carboy I can put ito the loop, but never fill.  Unless some one tells me it is wrong, my air supply
> will come from a car tire compressor through a cotton filter and finally the air stones.  I can
> reulate the pressure down and only have a low pressure.  Or I can leave it up and just create a
> small leak into my air line. Why didn't I try this before.  I don't know.  I am your average eigth
> grade drop out.
>    It is so nice here so far I would amost say it was May not January..


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Received on Tue Jan 04 2005 - 00:07:00 EST

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