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On top of Brush Mountain, Pa.

I am thinking of using aerated compost tea this next season. I plan on making my own 5 gallon aerator. I have looked at a lot of them online. The air lift would be much easier to build than the vortex. I am wondering how much better one is than the other. Here is an air lift I think anyone could build. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xr-VhOoUC6I

11/12/2018 3:17:14 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

I have made an airlift and 1 using air stones and aquarium pump. Foam means microbes the way a understand it, and my results with the airlift were far superior. Plus, cleanup is a lot easier.

11/12/2018 8:43:26 PM

Norfolk, UK

@Wolf Do you know how much air your pump pushes out? I’ve gone the pond (rather than aquarium) pump as i’ve often heard this can be the limiting factor.

I’ve yet to remove an additional brass restrictor to try an increase it further. I think ot’s 60 litres per min.

@all I think the key with either design is to ensure it positioned in a way to avoid any ‘dead spots’ where the water isn’t moving at all. I think that’s all the vortex aims to do over and above an airlift.

At the end of the day, the water oxygen capacity of freshwater water (at 20 degrees) is about 9 to 10 ppm - even if your pump or brewer is more efficient, it won’t increase water’s max oxygen capacity.

I think both designs (with big enough pumps) can reach that lvl, but i’ve not checked with a prob myself so happy to hear others experience.

11/13/2018 1:46:52 PM

Dillonvale, Ohio

I used 2 dual outlet pumps, 2800cc/ min each. I put 1 1" and 1 5" stone on each.The 1" stones were put in my paint strainer bag w/ the castings. My air lift pump is definitely bigger, but I'm not sure the size

11/13/2018 8:38:00 PM