Compost tea PUMP?

Greenthumbs256

Well-Known Member
Someone recently told me that the pump I had more than likely wasn't enough to make a good 3g compost tea. Here the pics and specs can someone tell me if I wasted 30 bucks on this crap? It has 2 separate hoses each with their own air stone and can be adjusted to how many bubbles CM171201-203425001.jpg CM171201-203451002.jpg
 

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kratos015

Well-Known Member
Don't quite understand why he'd say that personally, possibly because he has a 4 outlet one instead of the 2 outlet one? 4 outlet just means you can get away with using smaller airstones is all I really noticed. Just grab yourself larger sized airstones and clean/replace them as necessary and I really don't see what the issue is. As long as it can keep things oxygenated then you're good as far as I can tell. Back when I brewed teas I used a cheapo pump similar to that, paid $20 for it at Petsmart so it certainly wasn't anything fancy.
 

SchmoeJoe

Well-Known Member
Don't quite understand why he'd say that personally, possibly because he has a 4 outlet one instead of the 2 outlet one? 4 outlet just means you can get away with using smaller airstones is all I really noticed. Just grab yourself larger sized airstones and clean/replace them as necessary and I really don't see what the issue is. As long as it can keep things oxygenated then you're good as far as I can tell. Back when I brewed teas I used a cheapo pump similar to that, paid $20 for it at Petsmart so it certainly wasn't anything fancy.
It might aerate it fine but it won't agitate it enough to keep things from settling to the bottom.
 

OzCocoLoco

Well-Known Member
Someone recently told me that the pump I had more than likely wasn't enough to make a good 3g compost tea. Here the pics and specs can someone tell me if I wasted 30 bucks on this crap? It has 2 separate hoses each with their own air stone and can be adjusted to how many bubbles View attachment 4051541 View attachment 4051542
It’s not big enough to the 5 gallons that you said you were brewing with it,at a bare minimum 128 gph or 2.1 gpm won’t provide enough aeration let inside your brew.
Don't quite understand why he'd say that personally, possibly because he has a 4 outlet one instead of the 2 outlet one? 4 outlet just means you can get away with using smaller airstones is all I really noticed. Just grab yourself larger sized airstones and clean/replace them as necessary and I really don't see what the issue is. As long as it can keep things oxygenated then you're good as far as I can tell. Back when I brewed teas I used a cheapo pump similar to that, paid $20 for it at Petsmart so it certainly wasn't anything fancy.
It’s not about the amount of outlets but the volume needed to get dissolved oxygen content to around 11 ppm. The issue is creating the right environment for aerobic microbes to flourish and outcompete anaerobic ones. A few years ago people did say that a pump of that size would be ok but as more research has been done on different systems it was found that they just don’t do the job.
A set up like this is would cost me around $50 in Australia so probably less in the U.S or U.K . Not only does it provide the right amount of dissolved oxygen but it is drawing water from the bottom and pumping it up to the top agitating the brew which helps release the microbes from the compost and prevents any dead spots forming. It can be pulled apart in a minute so can be cleaned properly unlike an airstone
 
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SchmoeJoe

Well-Known Member
It’s not big enough to the 5 gallons that you said you were brewing with it,at a bare minimum 128 gph or 2.1 gpm won’t provide enough aeration let inside your brew.

It’s not about the amount of outlets but the volume needed to get dissolved oxygen content to around 11 ppm. The issue is creating the right environment for aerobic microbes to flourish and outcompete anaerobic ones. A few years ago people did say that a pump of that size would be ok but as more research has been done on different systems it was found that they just don’t do the job.
A set up like this is would cost me around $50 in Australia so probably less in the U.S or U.K . Not only does it provide the right amount of dissolved oxygen but it is drawing water from the bottom and pumping it up to the top agitating the brew which helps release the microbes from the compost and prevents any dead spots forming. It can be pulled apart in a minute so can be cleaned properly unlike an airstone
That's a great design. I've been using the Tea Lab aact aerator.
 

Canadain Closet Gardener

Well-Known Member
Someone recently told me that the pump I had more than likely wasn't enough to make a good 3g compost tea. Here the pics and specs can someone tell me if I wasted 30 bucks on this crap? It has 2 separate hoses each with their own air stone and can be adjusted to how many bubbles
Not strong enough to do 3 Gal , I have the same one. I can still make tea but only 2L at a time. That's enough for my small grow at the moment.
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I would suggest this one or something similar as that's my plan.
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Cheers
CCG
 

Gumdrawp

Well-Known Member
I use a smaller commercial pump I got used for 25 bucks, it's a bit loud but it works great. I need to build one of those tealab things though.
 
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