Compost Troubleshooting
- 14 –
- 14 –
Symptom Cause Remedial Action Prevention
Compost
Too Wet
Waste not
Breaking
Down at all
(the drum
will fill up
quickly)
Large
Lumps
in
Compost
Drum Too
Full
Flies
Present
Compost porosity
is poor.
Drum screen
clogged
Insufficient
moisture in
compost
Insufficient
Microbes
Room
Temperature
Under 55 °
F
/13
°C
Compost Too Dry
Compost not
emptied into
finishing drawer
in a timely fashion
Kitchen/Garden
Waste added
-compost too
dry
-compost
anaerobic
-foreign material
added
Change bulking material to Compost Sure
Blue.
Spray the drum screen with Compost
Quick. Scrub the drum screen with wire
brush.
A moisture content of 40-60% is ideal for
aerobic microbes to thrive.
Add Sun-Mar Microbe Mix.
Install heat source to increase temperature.
Temperature should be kept above 55 °
F
/13
°C
constantly to ensure the composting
action does not stop completely.
Add 1/2 to 1 gallon of warm water to
compost in order to bring it up to
appropriate moisture level.
Remove lumps or break them apart.
Remove compost until bio-drum is only half
full or less. Rotate the compost bio-drum
thoroughly to aerate, and add compost
accelerant, (Compost Quick and Microbe
Mix) if available.
We do not recommend adding kitchen or
garden scraps.
1.To eliminate flies, you can use any
pesticide that is used on your garden.
Pesticides used for garden use are not
anti-bacterial so are safe to use on your
compost.
2. The alternative to using pesticides is to
completely clean the toilet out, wash the
inside with soap and water
IMPORTANT:
Application of a pesticide in a SUN-MAR
toilet is not a health concern because all
SUN-MAR units are vented.
If using pesticides, avoid spilling on the
outer shell of the composter
Use Sun-Mar Compost Sure
Blue
Add water to patented bio-
drum
Be sure to add microbe packet
at start up.
Install unit in warm area. The
warmer the area, the better
your compost will be!
Use proper bulking material
and add warm water if
necessary.
When drum is 1/2 full, remove
some compost to the finishing
drawer. Do NOT let drum get
above 1/2 full. This will lead to
lack of aeration, and anaerobic
compost.
Do Not add kitchen or garden
waste.
1. Keep compost moist. In
order to determine a good
level of moisture, shine a
flashlight into the drum. The
compost should have a slight
gloss or shine. If it does not,
add warm water to it until it
reaches this consistency.
Fungus gnats tend to be
attracted to dry compost, due
to the fungus which begins to
form on the surface when it
dries out. Good, moist
compost will not be attractive
to flies.
2. Do not add topsoil from the
ground, composted matter, or
kitchen scraps to the toilet.
Flies may be present in, or
attracted to these items.
3. Use “Compost Sure Blue”.
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