Compost Tea Brewer using Air Lift Pumps

Using one aquarium pump to make compost tea. The air lift pumps are just 2 pieces of 1/2" PVC pipe that run down to the bottom of the drum. All you have to do is run the end of the air tubing inside the bottom and the air bubbles the water out the top. I also have an air bubbling stone in the bag of compost to keep it moving.

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[darren107]

can u add yeast



[TubeFrankM]

@darren107 no need to add yeast as your trying to produce bacteria and the likes...

[bcdrummer]

whats compost tea for? watering plants?

[TubeFrankM]

@bcdrummer Compost Tea is a way to add good bacteria and other nutrients to your soil or directly on your plants. Most soils have lots of nutrients but the plants can't access them so the bacteria live in a symbiotic relationship with the roots of your plants breaking down and assisting the roots to take in nutrients from the soil. You can also use it a spray on your plants for things like mold.. that the bacteria will eat plus plants will take the nutrients in the tea directly in threw leafs.

[bobporn11]

my fist making worm tea rigth now i used 1 oz of molasses & worm castings i pour in 3 litter bottle the castings inside and 1 oz of molasses air pump flat airstone in the 3 litter bottle i used tap water brew for 1 hour or 1/2 hour in the airstone then add worm castings in it brew for 10 minites i putted in a 1 gallon of milk it was juice becouse the airstones ther went bubling fully only in the top giving air i empty the 3 litter bottle to a 1 gallon of milk it was juice hope it cames good

[TubeFrankM]

I've never used milk, where did you get that idea or what does it add? just wondering...

[JohnnySoprano87]

I bout that SAME exact pump you have. I was actually a little worried that it's not strong enough. Have you found that yours works well enough?

[TheShineybutt]

@tubefrankm- i've been doing compost/worm teas for a while, and i had a couple of comments about your setup. 1. there's just not enough compost in there to = the ammount of water. for a 55gal drum, there should be 3x as much compost, or 2x as much worm castings. 2. there's nowhere near enough oxygen to keep 55 gal's of bacteria alive. i think if you broke out a microscope, you'd find out you have not much more than brown water there. there's nothing wrong with that, it's just not compost tea.

[bcdrummer]

@TubeFrankM Wow thats really cool!

[TubeFrankM]

@jaylc005 Not All Wrong, I've changed it some to now I have a center 4" tube to make the air-lift pump and use air stones to release the air at the bottom of it. I've increased the air flow using an air line from my shops air compressor. It circulates the water making sure there isn't any anaerobic areas in the barrel and the airlift pump super oxygenates the water column. In my experience makes a much faster and better tea than just bubbling in a bucket. Give it a try and see if you agree...

[greenkeepersvictoria]

bad ass