EM

[Chandara Khan]

Hi! Is there anyone using Effective micro-organisms called EM in AP? If so what is the result?

[TCLynx]

Can you post some links to more info about it?  I don't think I've heard of people using it in AP yet but that doesn't mean they aren't.

[Chandara Khan]

Hi TCLynx! Thank you so much that you always answer my questions ! Well, EM is effective micro-organisms which is used in organic agricultural practice. EM is used in different purposes such as dispelling various kind of pests attacking your veggies, speeding up decomposing process, purifying fish pond, returning soil from unfertile to fertile , boost up veggie growth...etc. But I just wanna know who has ever used it in their AP. Here are the links

http://www.effectivemicro-organisms.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Effective_microorganism

http://www.teraganix.com/

[TCLynx]

Ok so this is pasted from wiki

Effective Microorganisms, aka EM Technology, is a trademarked term now commonly used to describe a proprietary blend of 3 or more types of predominantly anaerobic organisms that was originally marketed as EM-1 Microbial Inoculant but is now marketed by a plethora of companies under various names, each with their own proprietary blend. "EM Technology" uses a laboratory cultured mixture of microorganisms consisting mainly of lactic acid bacteria, purple bacteria, and yeast which co-exist for the benefit of whichever environment they are introduced, as has been claimed by the various em-like culture purveyors. It is reported[1] to include:

Lactic acid bacteria: Lactobacillus casei
Photosynthetic bacteria: Rhodopseudomonas palustris
Yeast: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Others:Benefical Microorganisms that exist naturally in the environment survive in the mixture of EM-1.

 

 

[Chandara Khan]

Yeah, now it is popular in my country! I'm thinking about using in my system too!

 

[TCLynx]

I haven't used any sort of "bottled bacteria culture" and I do know that in aquaponics we generally try to avoid anaerobic ones.

 

Anyway, lets see if anyone answers that they have tried them and what their results or thoughts are.

 

Aquaponics tends to be a very good soup of microorganisms naturally all on it's own and especially so in an outdoor environment and when worms are added (since worms are so great at expanding the populations of good microbes.)  So in my opinion I kinda doubt adding a bottle of anything is likely to be all that beneficial since the natural process tends to provide very well for what is needed on it's own in aquaponics.

[Ricky Flickenger]

Just a thought that this part might be key, " 3 or more types of predominantly anaerobic organisms" Everything in aquaponics uses O2 and would kill these microbes you are adding, rendering them useless.  

 

I'm only taking from the snippet I read that TClynx posted, but I can't think of a place in my system where they would go.

[Ebba Engström]

Hi there,

Was wondering if you ever got an answer to this question? Am very interested in the us of EMs in aquaponics as well.

[Averan]

I've used em1 from teraganix. Didn't notice anything. Doesn't mean it didn't help digest a bunch of sludge in my filter, I just wasn't able to detect any impact on plant or fish health.

Viridis farms and Jon Parr swear by it though.

Trust me, there are plenty of little anaerobic pockets in any media system.

[Paul Smith]

Here is a company I use.  I use their EM1 to treat my worm compost.  Then I use the worm compost in my wicking boxes which I use in my aquaponic system.
http://www.teraganix.com/Effective-Microorganisms-and-Aquaculture-s...