Tea Article

[ct guy2]

I'd like to clarify a little. The nutrient cycling which CT guy mentions does actually have an effect like a fertilizer. It takes place primarily in the function of flagellates or naked amoebae consuming bacteria/archaea and in turn releasing nutrients in a form which plant roots can uptake, thereby providing instant nutrient.
This is the main reason why I use ACT.

On the perpetual brewing, it is more likely to end up with a giant population of ciliates and very few bacteria/archaea. The only way to bring this around to a diverse ACT again is to add more food and wait for the cycle to come around again. It is much more practical to start a new batch.

I would say the cut off for a potentially healthy brew time could be as long as 48 hours, depending on variables.

I'll look into re-wording that again based on our conversations. I do agree with what you wrote. My attempt was to convey the mechanisms associated with ACT are very different than when applying seed meals or other organic fertilizers.

 

[anferneybra]

I'd like to clarify a little. The nutrient cycling which CT guy mentions does actually have an effect like a fertilizer. It takes place primarily in the function of flagellates or naked amoebae consuming bacteria/archaea and in turn releasing nutrients in a form which plant roots can uptake, thereby providing instant nutrient.
This is the main reason why I use ACT.

On the perpetual brewing, it is more likely to end up with a giant population of ciliates and very few bacteria/archaea. The only way to bring this around to a diverse ACT again is to add more food and wait for the cycle to come around again. It is much more practical to start a new batch.

I would say the cut off for a potentially healthy brew time could be as long as 48 hours, depending on variables.

I understand the nutrient cycling goal of the ACT. I am trying to also put together some teas to use in veg/early flower/late flower for plants that seem to be bigger eaters than others, or strains that are more finicky.

I am brewing 20 gallons of a test tea. 8 cups EWC 1 cup molasses 20 tbs of 0-12-0 roots organic seabird guano. Going for 24 hour brew. I will scope it tomorrow morning, maybe even try to get some pictures.

Any input with nutrient teas is appreciated! Also, if I am in the wrong thread for this let me know, I can make one in the forum.

T

 

[redclover]

Yea unfortunately they're out for atm, and have the EJ and oatmeal laying around. The EJ label says 'derived from' oat bran, kelp, molasses, yeast, and wheat malt. I do have fish hydrolysate...would I just stick to the recipe %? Thanks.

 

[Microbeman]

Yea unfortunately they're out for atm, and have the EJ and oatmeal laying around. The EJ label says 'derived from' oat bran, kelp, molasses, yeast, and wheat malt. I do have fish hydrolysate...would I just stick to the recipe %? Thanks.

You could use about a teaspoon of FH per gallon I'm guessing.

 

[redclover]

You could use about a teaspoon of FH per gallon I'm guessing.

Sounds good to me. I'd rather have less anyway. Man that stuff smells and seems to burn at even 1/2T. Thanks again. Oh, and I looked up the EJ info and it seems legit. It also has that sweet fermenty smell...

 

[umbralindigo]

Maybe I am failing to see it, but...

I am currently running a 600 gph air pump (with the little brass piece removed.. wow) into as little as ten gallons water in a barrel to make teas. I would like however to build an airlift and am probably going to use a 30 gallon tank. Should I need to buy a new pump to power this? What is the minimum gallons per hour of air needed per gallon or five gallons of water? And if running the machine at 10 gallons in a 30 gallon machine, will I have problems, or just more dissolved oxygen?

 

[Microbeman]

All that is on my webpage.

 

[redclover]

Here's a good conversion site that I used for my notes. Most pumps I've seen are rated in LPM, so I hope this helps...http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/flow-units-converter-d_405.html

 

[rik78]

from Micro web jage

"the minimum flow required from an air pump to make compost tea while maintaining the DO2 at 6 PPM, is 0.05 CFM per gallon while the optimum flow is 0.08 CFM per gallon or greater. (the only exception was when utilizing airlifts)"

online conversor

http://www.onlineconversion.com/flow_rate_volume.htm


I have been testing my brewer today for the first time, and having a 400L/h that is 0.23 CFM (Cubic Feet Minute???) I was expecting a bit more of power in the water vortex. I am sleeping tonite like a kid waiting for the present the next day...

 

[Team.Lift]

umbralindigo here, had to switch up the name. Thank you MM, it was on your site, and of course I should have checked there first!

rik and redclover, thanks guys, for anyone else just moving into these forums I'm sure this info is repeated much in the thread, but helpful even so. Those conversion sites are great, I do need a new pump for a 30 gallon airlift.

rik, i bet everyone here can relate to that sentiment, compost tea truly is a present.

MM, or anyone, I have started adding 1/2 tablespoon of stone flour/rock dust to ten gallons of brew at the start, is this the prefered method? I do see a difference. Also, I have been consistently applying my tea at 40-42 hours, for my compost it is better than 36 and also better than 48.

 

[redclover]

umbralindigo here, had to switch up the name. Thank you MM, it was on your site, and of course I should have checked there first!

rik and redclover, thanks guys, for anyone else just moving into these forums I'm sure this info is repeated much in the thread, but helpful even so. Those conversion sites are great, I do need a new pump for a 30 gallon airlift.

rik, i bet everyone here can relate to that sentiment, compost tea truly is a present.

MM, or anyone, I have started adding 1/2 tablespoon of stone flour/rock dust to ten gallons of brew at the start, is this the prefered method? I do see a difference. Also, I have been consistently applying my tea at 40-42 hours, for my compost it is better than 36 and also better than 48.

Just curious...how do you know it's better? Do you use a microscope?

 

[Team.Lift]

I'd love to get a microscope, funds are low at the moment though. I know from visual appearance and vibrance. To me, when I apply the normal brew, it is great, noticeable differences overnight (larger buds, hiegth/width growth, regreening of plants with lacking nitro or general nutrition, pungentcy, etc.).

Now when I add the rock dust in minute amounts I see all this even more. Which would make sense as the food for the microbes has now been mineralized itself, or that's how understand it. I have used basalt, and azomite also. I believe in my use of the stone flour it has proven itself most.

This all largely depends on the compost. I am currently using my own home made started on cow and horse manures.

 

[Team.Lift]

Edit: pungency

 

[Microbeman]

Some brief comments:

When one uses an air lift the capacity of the pump output (CFM) (cubic feet per minute) is increased allowing one to use a smaller size pump to acheive the same CFM as a larger pump in a bubble blowing design. This is the reason for employing an airlift. Airlifts are used all over the world in laboratories for production of microorganisms and microbial products. (drugs, mycorrhizal spores, etc.)

The vortex has no great significance outside of the slight increase in air/water interface created and the slight increase in a homogenous mix. The blatherings about changed water structure and energy are congecture (and should be stated as such. Shame on those who state this as fact).

When building an airlift bioreactor (ACT maker) do not presume that a reduction in the diameter of the riser pipe will increase the velocity of the flow. We ran experiments using Eco #1 & #5 pumps in 5 to 10 gallon applications with 0.75" and 1" riser pipe and found the velocity and flow was reduced compared to using 1.25" diameter. Upon using 2" pipe the flow was reduced, so we concluded that 1.25" thin walled PVC is optimal for this application.

The use of rock powders can produce various microbes as I found by researching the use of soft rock phosphate and pyrophyllite, however the downside is that one must be observant that the heavier particles do not just plug up the pipe. Less is more.

 

[Team.Lift]

Thanks again MM, did not know that about the airlift. Really cool to use something like this when it is being used professionally elsewhere. Hell yeah.

Gotcha on the vortex. Years ago I was almost sold one of the various systems out there.

Would my assertion that the rock dust is actually mineralizing the microbes food, i.e. molasses be correct? Fuzzy on that. I see a difference with my eyes, not with my knowledge. Microscopy will be the next phase after airlift built.

 

[anferneybra]

Hey fellas,

So I ran two teas, two days ago.

One, standard nutrient cycle tea, 40 gallons RO water 16 cups EWC and 2 cups molasses. Aerated with 9.5PPM for 24 hours, notice lots of fungal hypha, some hyphae. Lots of small bacteria and some ciliates.

However on the tea with 20 gallons RO water, 8 cups EWC, 1 cup molasses and 20 TBS of 0-12-0 roots organic seabird guano I came up with a .6 EC 7.0 pH tea at 24 hours. There were some hypha, but almost no bacteria.

At 48 hours the basic recipe was TEAMING with buggers, hypae and bacteria all over. Hemocytometer was giving me equivalent to 6 to the 6th power of 2mL sample. If i was doing math right that like 50k bacteria to 2mL.

At 48 hours on the guano tea, more bacteria but maybe 4 to the 6th power. Fungal hypha present but somewhat busted up it seemed. The 24 hour ones were very strung out and connected.

I also top dressed the 1tbs per 10 gallon plant. The topdressing seemed to work better, almost saw a 2 day bulking in a couple strains in the room. I think the nutrient cycling tea wins all day, just add your amendments to the top dress if you want to apply is my conclusion.

Just my 2 cents

T

 

[redclover]

Some brief comments:

When one uses an air lift the capacity of the pump output (CFM) (cubic feet per minute) is increased allowing one to use a smaller size pump to acheive the same CFM as a larger pump in a bubble blowing design. This is the reason for employing an airlift. Airlifts are used all over the world in laboratories for production of microorganisms and microbial products. (drugs, mycorrhizal spores, etc.)

The vortex has no great significance outside of the slight increase in air/water interface created and the slight increase in a homogenous mix. The blatherings about changed water structure and energy are congecture (and should be stated as such. Shame on those who state this as fact).

When building an airlift bioreactor (ACT maker) do not presume that a reduction in the diameter of the riser pipe will increase the velocity of the flow. We ran experiments using Eco #1 & #5 pumps in 5 to 10 gallon applications with 0.75" and 1" riser pipe and found the velocity and flow was reduced compared to using 1.25" diameter. Upon using 2" pipe the flow was reduced, so we concluded that 1.25" thin walled PVC is optimal for this application.

The use of rock powders can produce various microbes as I found by researching the use of soft rock phosphate and pyrophyllite, however the downside is that one must be observant that the heavier particles do not just plug up the pipe. Less is more.

Golden! Great info. I'm current playing with diff diameter PVC for a 5 gal and you just made life easier!

 

[Team.Lift]

anferneybra, I am in the same boat, kinda. I don't have a scope, but I used seabird and bat guanos for years before using straight compost teas.

Huge difference. And I would say as a result I was directly feeding my plants and/or not at all with the guanos. They seem to be pointless in my book. The compost teas that i now use are in all regards "working". I see no mildews, bugs and or serious nutrient deficiencies. I can literally see bulking of nuggets in one-two days. I am rather shocked by this, it is really amazing to watch. Cant wait to get a scope though. One day .. soon.

Again, guanos=straight booty. I'm stickin' to it, why buy products from countries away when we have such an amazing product in the garden at home. Common sense.

Yay for compost! Nay for over-priced flown in amendments.

 

[redclover]

Okay, here's another brain buster lol. Is Lacto Bacillus a good substitute or quick replacement for a CT? Thanks again.

 

[Team.Lift]

Baaaam. Lacto. I have a series of pics I made during a make of. Didn't end well. I'll just say from me, which may not mean much, that ain't no substitute. You can clean your drains with it, not sure it will perk your plants to the extent of compost.

A substitute for CT is not lacto I say... Nothing is a substitute for homemade life building material. Lacto seems like a cleansing material, and then a enzyme-like building block. Compost is the life force. There is nothing like that.

However to use like a CT or enzyme seed tea in order to "bulk" is a good idea and something I plan on doing shortly.. I'd like to post pics. Maybe you redclover?

Gil Carandang is da bomb, I really enjoy his methods and the egg shell Cal/Phos has done no harm, but rather a bit of the ol' one up on some recent gardens I have seen.