Easy AACT Vortex Brewer

Aolelon

Aolelon

Well-Known Member
So I am sure there are plenty of threads, I just figured I would share one for the newer people.
It was very easy to make, took all of 20 minutes. Cost me about 50$ with the air pump.
Materials list:
Home Depot
5 Gallon Bucket
Bucket Lid
2 - 1" x 2' PVC Pipe
3 - 1" Slip 90* Elbow
1 - 1" Slip 45* Elbow
Vinyl Tubing
Amazon
1" Slip Bulkhead
Eco Plus Commercial Air Plus 1 793 GPH

I build a small box to set it on, Ive seen milk cartons used.
*** Sorry for the sideways Images**


First I cut 1 of the 2' PVC into sections.
3", 4", 4.5", 5.5"
The second 2' Piece of PVC is cut to 20 1/2".


Next I took one of the 90* Elbows and drilled a hole in the corner aiming down one of the openings for the Vinyl tube to stick through. I had to epoxy the tube in place as I drilled the whole a little too big.


Next, Cut out a whole in the bottom of the bucket so that the drain will fit in it. I found that cutting out the circle part in the bottom of the bucket was a perfect fit.



After tightening the drain down, it was just a matter of assembling the PVC pieces.
I stuck the 4" slip into the drain, then a 90* elbow


Then the 5 1/2" piece and the elbow with the vinyl hose, you want the vinyl hose on the inside to be pointing up towards the top of the bucket.


The 20 1/2" piece went next, then the last 90* Elbow, The 4 1/2" Piece , The 45* Elbow, and last the 3" piece.
I cut a hole in the lid to fit the 3" piece down into so it won't splash back.


And the finished Product.



Any questions let me know.
 
Aolelon

Aolelon

Well-Known Member
meangreengrowinmachine said:
can you just throw EWC, kelp meal etc right in there or do you think a bag is needed?
Click to expand...
I've actually been throwing in the ingredients. I noticed when I put in the bag, that it stops the vortex. When removing the water, I can just pump it out into another bucket and filter it out that way.
One thing I have noticed, is make sure you add the ingredients slow while it's running, or they will sink into the pipe and clog it up, especially the ewc or thicker types, like Alaskan humus.
 
Greenthumbs256

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
Does it really work better than a few airstones no offense I just don't really think it would, seems like less air getting into the water in my opinion
 
Mary's Confidant

Mary's Confidant

Well-Known Member
Greenthumbs256 said:
Does it really work better than a few airstones no offense I just don't really think it would, seems like less air getting into the water in my opinion
Click to expand...
There have been published reports that documented amount of dissolved oxygen in the water. The stones don't hold a candle to the basic airlift style.

People think because they can see bubbles in the water, all of that oxygen is dissolving in the water. That's not true. The oxygenation occurs at the surface when the bubbles break the surface of the water. Do some research, this has been documented.
 
Aolelon

Aolelon

Well-Known Member
vostok said:
my concern is the pump will shred the bacteria before it hits the soil?

what have you to prevent that.????

nice diy tho
Click to expand...
I really dont think a simple pump is going to shred the bacteria, all the pump does is produce air bubbles to force the water to rise. And so far I have seen great results using it.
 
Aolelon

Aolelon

Well-Known Member
Greenthumbs256 said:
Does it really work better than a few airstones no offense I just don't really think it would, seems like less air getting into the water in my opinion
Click to expand...
I've read airstones create anaerobic areas in a tea as well. There are a couple videos of people testing the dissolved oxygen levels of various tea brewers, and the airlift vortex style has been shown to be the best.
 
Miyagismokes

Miyagismokes

Well-Known Member
Mary's Confidant said:
oxygenation occurs at the surface when the bubbles break the surface of the water.
Click to expand...
I had heard falls were the oxygenators of rivers and creeks, but the specific mechanic was not known to me.
A few park ponds had fountains installed in my hometown because they were having low oxygen problems in the water...
So, if instead of a vortex, one let the return flow fall into the water, you'd have better function?
 
Aolelon

Aolelon

Well-Known Member
Miyagismokes said:
I had heard falls were the oxygenators of rivers and creeks, but the specific mechanic was not known to me.
A few park ponds had fountains installed in my hometown because they were having low oxygen problems in the water...
So, if instead of a vortex, one let the return flow fall into the water, you'd have better function?
Click to expand...
The return flow does fall into the water on mine, you can essentially do the same thing by just making a pipe like mine, and not cutting a hole in the bottom of the bucket, and sticking it in there. It would essentially just be an airlift style brewer with no vortex. I find the vortex to be better, as it keeps everything moving and there is no chance of any of the mixture becoming stagnant.
 
Miyagismokes

Miyagismokes

Well-Known Member
Aolelon said:
The return flow does fall into the water on mine, you can essentially do the same thing by just making a pipe like mine, and not cutting a hole in the bottom of the bucket, and sticking it in there. It would essentially just be an airlift style brewer with no vortex. I find the vortex to be better, as it keeps everything moving and there is no chance of any of the mixture becoming stagnant.
Click to expand...
My tank is 500 gal.... I can't generate a vortex in a container this large without a pretty gutsy pump.
I also hate the added accoutrement of air pump, so I thought I might be able to just waterfall it and generate a mixing motion and aerate at the same time...
 
Aolelon

Aolelon

Well-Known Member
Miyagismokes said:
My tank is 500 gal.... I can't generate a vortex in a container this large without a pretty gutsy pump.
I also hate the added accoutrement of air pump, so I thought I might be able to just waterfall it and generate a mixing motion and aerate at the same time...
Click to expand...
Yea you would need a pretty big pump.
I think that should work for you. I havent seen one 500g so I really dont know.
 
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