[mikeoldschool]

I have a beneficial tea that I made for my flowering with RO water, myco maximum beneficials, unsulphured molasses for food, and some coco sitting in the bottom of a bucket. I have used this same tea for like 6 months or so, just adding more molasses every week or so...there has been a distinct composty smell since the first month or so, but lately there has been a fermenting smell...Is this bad? Should the coco be in a tea type bag? What is the slimy stuff that collects on the surface of the water? Ever since the fermenting smell it is no longer producing the black slime on top. Do I need to dump and start over? Any ideas?

Who else makes a beneficial tea and how? Thank you for any ideas and feedback.

[Motta-Tokka]

Sounds like it might have possibly went bad. I use the premixed version https://www.nature-technologies.com/ but they also have the DIY versions on here. Some other people on here have started some threads on this as well that are really recent.

[joedub]

yeah it may have went bad, I would dump and start over if it doesn't smell good and earthy anymore. btw have u tried using seaweed in your tea? most recipes I've been told about incorporate some type of sea weed.

[acidophilus]

I've never heard of coco in the bottom of the bucket. u might try ditching the coco if its causing problems. it should work fine with what you have, minus the coco. (whats the coco for anyway, Im kinda curious now)

[statusquo]

I don't grow hydro but I don't see how the coco would contribute to a tea at all. If someone could enlighten me (with an actual explanation rather than "people do it" or "it works") I would greatly appreciate it.

As for your tea - throw it out. Not worth dumping a huge load of anaerobic bacteria into your crop. Tea should never smell bad, this indicates the presence of anaerobic bacteria instead of aerobic.

[statusquo]

Thanks for the quote dextr0 - never heard that before. It seems that as long as you have some material in there - some "home" that is - than you wouldn't need to dangle coco or anything else...Given your solids/w.e goes into the tea bag wouldn't dissolve into the water.

[acidophilus]

It seems that as long as you have some material in there - some "home" that is - than you wouldn't need to dangle coco or anything else...
I would think some hydroton in a stocking would be a whole lot better than coco.

[acidophilus]

it does not start decomposing, but does provide a living space for the BB. isn't the decomposing coco this fellows issue? I guess that might be a wrong assumption. I'm starging to wonder if there is any issue at all? dissapearing black slime sounds good to me. how are the plants doing? have you kept the same bag of coco for 6months?

[Cannasseur]

Someone in here mentioned, seaweed and its role in ACT (Aerobic Compost Tea). Typically molasses or seaweed serve as a food source, stimulating and supporting the growth of specific microbe populations.

Seaweed - Fungal Dominance
Molasses - Bacterial Dominance

Originally Posted by mikeoldschool

I have used this same tea for like 6 months or so.

Sounds like this may be root of your stink issue. I would never brew a tea for longer than a 48 hour period, after this point anaerobes begin to dominate your solution regardless of aeration.

Between every few teas I would also recommend cleaning and removing any build up of biofilm, this can have a negative effect on the success of your next brew.

edit: Didn't realize I was in the "Organic Hydro" section till just now, whoooops.