Increasing Pressure for Compost Tea

I

Ijustlikegardening

Member
I had a thought the other day based on 2 axioms.
1. Aerobic organisms grow better when there is more oxygen dissolved in the tea.
2. Increased pressure means a higher amount of dissolved oxygen.

I am using 2 crappy aquarium bubblers to make my compost tea. Some places say that they don't output enough oxygen to guarantee the magic 6 ppm number for oxygen in tea. Would increasing the pressure of the system via putting on an airtight top with a relief valve harm the process in any way? I feel like I'm missing something obvious.
 
L

LinguaPeel

Well-Known Member
I'm not convinced its aerobic strains we want to cultivate in the first place. Where is the literature on this?
 
Miyagismokes

Miyagismokes

Well-Known Member
Ijustlikegardening said:
I had a thought the other day based on 2 axioms.
1. Aerobic organisms grow better when there is more oxygen dissolved in the tea.
2. Increased pressure means a higher amount of dissolved oxygen.

I am using 2 crappy aquarium bubblers to make my compost tea. Some places say that they don't output enough oxygen to guarantee the magic 6 ppm number for oxygen in tea. Would increasing the pressure of the system via putting on an airtight top with a relief valve harm the process in any way? I feel like I'm missing something obvious.
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Your pumps will be restricted. They aren't designed to fight positive pressure, so as pressure increases, airflow would decrease, even potentially causing backflow of tea into the pump.
 
Dmannn

Dmannn

Well-Known Member
I ordered a 4 outlet pump a few years ago and works great for a 5 gallon volume. It's been running non stop for about half that time. I have to stir it a couple times a day. I haven't used a microscope, but i can tell you it works.
 
SchmoeJoe

SchmoeJoe

Well-Known Member
Ijustlikegardening said:
I had a thought the other day based on 2 axioms.
1. Aerobic organisms grow better when there is more oxygen dissolved in the tea.
2. Increased pressure means a higher amount of dissolved oxygen.

I am using 2 crappy aquarium bubblers to make my compost tea. Some places say that they don't output enough oxygen to guarantee the magic 6 ppm number for oxygen in tea. Would increasing the pressure of the system via putting on an airtight top with a relief valve harm the process in any way? I feel like I'm missing something obvious.
Click to expand...
Look up the diy videos on how to make a hydro electrolysis unit. It's cheap, easy, and the most effective thing. If I hadn't already spent the 200 or so on my TeaLab Bubblesnake set up I'd have done it a long time ago.
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
I started out using cheap aquarium airstones for bubbling teas but they kept getting clogged up from heavy use. Had to soak & clean them out every so often. Then one day I dropped one and it shattered. Upgraded to a red frog air diffuser; best $14 ever spent. It's got many more and larger diameter air holes than an aquarium airstone. Made from old tires; it never clogs up and I hardly ever clean it. Just run it in a bucket of clean water for a few mins after each use. Still using the same dual line fish tank air pump from Walmart that I've had for years; works great.
https://redfrogcompostteas.com/collections/air-diffusers
 
farmerjoe420

farmerjoe420

Well-Known Member
Ijustlikegardening said:
I had a thought the other day based on 2 axioms.
1. Aerobic organisms grow better when there is more oxygen dissolved in the tea.
2. Increased pressure means a higher amount of dissolved oxygen.

I am using 2 crappy aquarium bubblers to make my compost tea. Some places say that they don't output enough oxygen to guarantee the magic 6 ppm number for oxygen in tea. Would increasing the pressure of the system via putting on an airtight top with a relief valve harm the process in any way? I feel like I'm missing something obvious.
Click to expand...
I would retire the airstones/ bubblers and build yourself a airlift brewer. Problem solved. This is the best resource out there regarding everything relating compost tea IMO.

http://microbeorganics.com/
 
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