Starting & Maintaining a Tank
Each scoop of BACTIFEED ST Soil Treatment is a combination of biologicals and food supply designed to keep tanks fresh and active. To start a tank pour appropriate amount of BACTIFEED ST Soil Treatment into tank and fill with water and let the culture grow for 24 to 72 hours. If ample water is not available when starting a tank, a culture solution may be started in the bottom of the tank with 50 or so gallons of water nursed into the tank or culture started elsewhere and brought in. If possible circulate or aerate tank solution in tank to keep aerobic environment for maximum benefit.
When tank is down to 10% to 20% remaining, add the appropriate amount of BACTIFEED ST Soil Treatment to tank and fill back up with water and continue applying to the field until irrigation is complete.
Once a tank is active, 90% of the tanks capacity can be harvested a day. If a 2,000 gallon tank is being used, 1,800 gallons of solution can be applied a day or 75 gallons per hour. This can be dripped directly into the irrigation water.
EXAMPLE: If you are using a 2,000 gallon tank to apply BACTIFEED ST Soil Treatment Mix on 100 acres and it takes 24 hours to irrigate 40 acres, you would start the tank with 4 cups of product and after letting it grow for 24 to 72 hours you would set drip hose to put approximately 75 gallons of solution an hour. At the end of 24 hours you would add 4 more cups and top off with water and continue application, repeating every 24 hours until irrigation is complete.
Tanks, Set up and Operation
The Standard Tank used is a 500 to 1500 gallon tank. Once the tank has started generating Bactifeed The tank can produce approximately, up to the same volume as the size of the tank on a daily basis.
Tank size should not exceed a 1550 gallon tank. Larger tanks reduce the amount of oxygen in the lower section of the tank, which will affect the quality of the product going onto your field.
Aeration in the tank is important for several reasons:
• Aids in maximizing Aerobic biological production in the generating tank.
• Creates a gentle circulation system within the generating tank keeping biological food and nutrients in suspension.
• Keeps tank from getting a septic odor to it.
P r i c e :
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BACTIFEED 2010 © Southwest BioAg 2010 480-772-2425
As the tank generates its biological product there are several things to watch for:
• A Biological Membrane (Bio Film) will form on the inside of the tank. This is a protective film produced by the Bacteria as it multiplies. As the season goes on you may see this film increase or decrease in thickness. This film is desired in our system.
• The color of the liquid as the biological activity increases in the generating tank may vary from a caramel to dark brown. At times you may experience a green, red, pink or purplish color in the solution, these colors, though not as common, do not effect the quality of the end product.
• You may experience algae floating in the top of your tank. This algae is difficult to control as it usually comes in with the fresh water into the tank. The algae, though unsightly to look at, does not effect the quality of the product coming out of the bottom of the tank
• Most tanks have every little odor in them. If a septic odor does occur make sure the tank is getting aeration and the flow of liquid in and out is working. Check the odor coming off the bottom of the tank by draining some from the outlet hose into a small container. If you have checked all of these and odor continues you may need to completely drain and clean the tank and start the tank over.
• At the end of the season continue to use the tank as long as you are watering. On the last irrigation, turn off the fresh water supply to the tank and apply the rest of the solution onto the field. After tank is empty clean residue out of tank and spray insides down with bleach. Either store tank or add a little bleach and water to the bottom of the tank to winterize it and add weight to hold it in place. This cleaning in the fall will make setup in the spring quicker and easier.