Skully's Crash Course Compost Tea Guide - Tips, Tricks And Chicks With Dicks.

[mandalaman]

so say could u make tea next to your bed if u got a ton of air going in the mix?

I feel like there may be a way to turn a water bed into a tea brewer. Let me sleep on it.

 

[tinderthumbs]

would this include making earth juice and its not next to bed but about the same room

 

[sKully]

happy I read all this I was just going to get a reg old put and air stone but I was going to get a strong one and get a spilter and use more then one air stone

EcoPlus 728457 5 to 80W Single Outlet Commercial Air Pump, 1300 GPH - Look this one up on Amazon.

You could get away with going a size lower, although If I can teach you anything, go with bigger. You'll always end up needing it for something else as time goes by.

Look for "Bubble Bubba" air stones on Amazon as well. Get yourself 4-6 (recommend 6) and go to town.

 

[tinderthumbs]

I do not order ever off line but ill have to find them some where nice to know the size to go for and yes I always go BIG I don't like having to buying the same thing of something just big or smaller

 

[tinderthumbs]

why cant u add a lid and a burper like u making alc??

 

[sKully]

I personally have no experience with earth juice, but after a quick google, it looks like its comprised of a multitude of amendments, including bat guano. I would also recommend keeping that out of your personal living area.

 

[tinderthumbs]

how about in a closet els where in the house??

 

[sKully]

how about in a closet els where in the house??

A closet could work, just make sure it's somewhere away from your usual activity my friend.

 

[tinderthumbs]

well looks like to me im fucked lol

 

[tinderthumbs]

and killed the thread

 

[mandalaman]

I've seen conflicting reports on storage. Is there some way to keep the tea alive by feeding additional molasses and keeping DO high, just removing the teabag? Or would one microbe end up just taking over and dominating and it loses its benefit of diversity?

 

[sKully]

I've seen conflicting reports on storage. Is there some way to keep the tea alive by feeding additional molasses and keeping DO high, just removing the teabag? Or would one microbe end up just taking over and dominating and it loses its benefit of diversity?

I would not recommend feeding additional food stock to your teas in an attempt to increase shelf life. It's not the food the microbes need as much as it is the oxygen. Adding additional food will only insure quicker anaerobic development.

At some point you will not be able to supply enough oxygen to prevent the tea from going Anaerobic. A good indication of the tea being "Finished" is that sweet moallasses smell (if you're using that as your food stock) will go earthy, and rich.

Now that's not to say you could use up 3/4 of your tea, use the same tea bag on the remaining 1/4 of tea (if you're only going for the microbial tea's or switch the bag out and add your new amendments if you're going for more specific roll oriented teas) add some fresh water + food stock and expedite the brewing process. This is possible. Unfortunately, throwing more food into it to keep it alive longer will actually do just the opposite.

Now i'm not saying its impossible, and I'm not saying people are not doing it, I'm just saying that I do not allow a tea to brew for any longer than 48 hours (Completely dependent on temperature) and I make sure to use them up within 2-5 hours after the 48 hour mark. I Like I said. I don't do it. The main reasons being, Anaerobic Bacteria and any other harmful bugs that can be quickly come about with an improperly stored tea's, as well as diminishing tea qualities and smell.

cheers

-sK

 

[mandalaman]

I would not recommend feeding additional food stock to your teas in an attempt to increase shelf life. It's not the food the microbes need as much as it is the oxygen. Adding additional food will only insure quicker anaerobic development.

At some point you will not be able to supply enough oxygen to prevent the tea from going Anaerobic. A good indication of the tea being "Finished" is that sweet moallasses smell (if you're using that as your food stock) will go earthy, and rich.

Now that's not to say you could use up 3/4 of your tea, use the same tea bag on the remaining 1/4 of tea (if you're only going for the microbial tea's or switch the bag out and add your new amendments if you're going for more specific roll oriented teas) add some fresh water + food stock and expedite the brewing process. This is possible. Unfortunately, throwing more food into it to keep it alive longer will actually do just the opposite.

Now i'm not saying its impossible, and I'm not saying people are not doing it, I'm just saying that I do not allow a tea to brew for any longer than 48 hours (Completely dependent on temperature) and I make sure to use them up within 2-5 hours after the 48 hour mark. I Like I said. I don't do it. The main reasons being, Anaerobic Bacteria and any other harmful bugs that can be quickly come about with an improperly stored tea's, as well as diminishing tea qualities and smell.

cheers

-sK

Awesome. Makes sense. After only a few batches I notice it's very easy to tell via smell when things turn anaerobic.

 

[tinderthumbs]

don't think any one said any thing on why I cant have a lid and a burper??

 

[mandalaman]

don't think any one said any thing on why I cant have a lid and a burper??

I don't believe anyone is saying you can't have a lid and burper, I'm not sure how they would enforce that anyways :) That being said, hopefully someone will chime in with why they choose not to use a lid and burper, that would be useful!

 

[sKully]

don't think any one said any thing on why I cant have a lid and a burper??

Can you explain what you mean by a lid and burper? Do you mean a lid on the five gallon with an air vent of some sorts?

The beauty of gardening is coming up with your own ideas and ways of doing things, experimenting and growing. There are only guidelines set in place to help keep you from failing, always feel free to step outside of those guidelines and go a little wild and blaze your own trail.

-sK

 

[tinderthumbs]

skully u saying im putting poo in the air and I can get sick why cant I just put a lid on it so its not spiting poo in to the air

 

[jaydee]

sKully
Great stuff! The simpler explanations save a lot of time.
I have just begun to emerge from a 4 year long nightmare with some kind of root pathogen that started overnight in dwc. (by the way, whatever I have doesn't get eliminated by going to coco or soil-less like I have read, they survive but they don't thrive) I have just gotten through veg in a couple dwc test buckets for the first time in four years by using the Heisenberg tea but I can still smell the 'old dishrag' smell just slightly at times so I feel like I am right on the edge. I am just learning the tea stuff and want to get better. I have a new pump and bubble bubba's coming.
So my questions are...what is the rock dust, and the kelp for? If it is to feed the plants, and not the microbes then maybe not a good idea in dwc as I have been told that no organics should be used because they will feed the bad stuff, no?
And 2....What about storage? You say that you use yours up right away, but with what I am doing I need to add some everyday. Heisenberg enthusiasts say fridge storage for 7 to 10 days is ok, do you disagree?
Thanks for taking the time to post this stuff!

 

[sKully]

So my questions are...what is the rock dust, and the kelp for? If it is to feed the plants, and not the microbes then maybe not a good idea in dwc as I have been told that no organics should be used because they will feed the bad stuff, no?

The rock phosphate/rock dust is used to provide surface area for fungal hyphae to attach and grow. The kelp is used as a fungal microbial food stock as well as for its large list of trace element, growth hormones and other beneficial properties.
Use kelp sparingly as too much kelp can delay the initial bacterial replication and fungal growth.

And 2....What about storage? You say that you use yours up right away, but with what I am doing I need to add some everyday. Heisenberg enthusiasts say fridge storage for 7 to 10 days is ok, do you disagree?
Thanks for taking the time to post this stuff!

I use mine up within the first 4-8 hours, it leaves less room for mistakes. You end up letting it go anaerobic and breed some bad shit, its lights out.

Yes, you can let it sit longer without adverse effects. (Some say up to 24-48 hours)
I don't.

As far as fridge storage goes, I can't comment as I've never experimented myself.
My first thought is the tea is without oxygen, which means anaerobic. No bueno.
7-10 days is suicide imo.

With AACT's you're going to want to brew as needed. As far as running it in a hydroponic system such as a DWC. You're going to want to look into a more "Compost concentrate" where you bag up all your ingredients and let it soak for 8-12 hours. You can store this solution for up to two weeks. This concentrate is a good chunk of the microbial life that was already available to you in the compost without alteration. Only when you begin brewing a massive amount of microbial life do you end up with overpopulation and end up with expedited anaerobic conditions.
So it's got microbial life in it, just not a fuck ton like a AACT would have.

No problem. glad to help.

-sK

 

[Perception]

WASH THE FUCK OUT OF YOUR TEA BREWER AFTER EVERY USE UNLESS YOU PLAN ON BREWING ANOTHER TEA IMMEDIATELY AFTER. YOU FUCKING STONER.

LoL. So true. I highly recommend waiting to smoke until after cleanup. Just like fishing... wait to burn until after you are done tying your knots.

@sKully , could you speak to the Alaskan Forest Humus & Mushroom compost a little? I use my homemade EW castings, and gather compost from my COLD compost pile, but both are very lacking in fungal hyphae (workin' on that).

I can source organic mushroom compost locally, but would need to order the Alaskan Forest Humus. Are you using both, or one or the other depending on balance you are shooting for?

This looks like a good product from General Organics: https://www.planetnatural.com/product/ancient-forest-humus/