BIOLAN 500 Instrucciones De Uso página 25

7.2 Ammonia odour
If the composter smells like pungent ammonia, the compost
mass is releasing nitrogen. If there is too much of nitrogen in re-
lation to carbon, the micro-organisms will not be able to utilise it.
• Make sure that you have not added too much materials con-
taining nitrogen, such as urine or chicken manure, in the com-
poster. Stop adding too much nitrogen into the composter.
• Do not put any ash or lime in the composter.
• Check that you are using Biolan bulking material.
• Check that you have used enough Biolan bulking material.
• Temporarily increase the amount of bulking material you use
when filling the composter until the unpleasant odour disap-
pears.
• Stir with the compost mixer.
7.3 Temperature does not increase
• The thermometer provides indicative information on the
phases of composting and the temperatures of the high-tem-
perature phase. The hottest area is in the centre of the com-
poster, which the temperature gauge does not reach.
• Mix the top of the compost mass and look through the empty-
ing hatch to check that the mass is suitably moist. Testing the
humidity of the compost: When squeezing the compost mass
in a fist, a few drops of water should come out of it. If there
is a lot of water dripping through your fingers, the compost
is too wet. If there is no liquid coming out of the mass at all,
it is too dry.
The moisture content of the mass is suitable:
• The composting process has not started yet (see Chapter
4.1). Continue filling the composter normally.
• The volume of waste is so low that the compost mass does
not reach high temperatures. It will take longer for the waste
to become compost. Continue using the composter normally.
Whether there is enough time for the waste to decompose be-
fore you empty the composter is more important than a high
temperature. If you want to speed up the composting process,
add nitrogen to the compost, such as Biolan Composting ac-
celerator, designed for composters, or Biolan Natural Ferti-
liser.
• The compost mass has decomposed to a stage where the
high-temperature phase has ended. Empty some of the com-
post mass and continue using the composter.
The compost mass is too wet:
• Check that you are using Biolan bulking material.
• Check that you have used enough Biolan bulking material.
• Temporarily increase the amount of bulking material until the
compost mass is no longer too wet.
• Remove the wettest part of the compost mass from the bot-
tom of the composter. Place a couple of centimetres of the
mass around your ornamental plants. The unpleasant odour
will dissipate in a few days.
• Add a couple of shovelfuls of Biolan bulking material to the
bottom of the composter through the emptying hatch.
• Compact the mass from the top and mix plenty of Biolan bulk-
ing material in it.
• In future, make sure that the compost mass does not get too
wet.
The compost mass is too dry:
• It is normal that the temperature increases more in the centre
of the unit than on the sides. This may result in the mass in
the centre becoming dry. The mass can be moistened carefully
with warm water.
• After emptying the composter, you can also drop the dry mass
to the bottom of the composter and the existing mass will
make it moist as well.
• In future, make sure that the compost mass remains moist
enough.
7.4 Compost mass freezes over
• Act before the compost mass completely freezes over. Even
if the composter's temperature gauge shows zero degrees for
a few days, there might still be unfrozen mass inside the com-
poster. If the composter is full, empty some of the mass in the
wintertime as well.
• Prevent freezing by using the composter (= filling and empty-
ing it) to keep the micro-organisms active. See Chapters 5
and 5.1–5.5. Make sure that the composter is always fairly
full in the wintertime and empty it often.
• Pay attention to how moist the compost mass is: wet compost
mass will freeze up more easily (see Chapter 7.3).
• Use plenty of Biolan bulking material in the wintertime.
• Make a loose mix of Biolan Composting Accelerator or Biolan
Natural Fertiliser and water and pour it on the surface layer of
the compost. Cover it with a layer of bulking material.
• Pile some snow around the composter to keep it warmer.
• Warm the compost mass by, for example, placing a ten-litre
canister filled with hot water inside the top layer and replac-
ing the water sufficiently often.
7.5 Compost mass is too dense
• Add plenty of Biolan bulking material. Mix the bulking material
into the compost mass.
• In future, use more of the bulking material and make sure not
to create dense layers of grass, root vegetable peels, bio-
waste bags or leaves when filling the composter.
7.6 Flies or fly larvae in the composter
If the mass is too wet, there is a chance that the compost con-
tains flies. Fly larvae are white worms with a black head. Also see
Chapter 7.3.
• Add plenty of Biolan bulking material, mix it into the compost
mass and use more of the bulking material in future.
• Mix the topmost part of the compost mass into the rest of
the mass. Fly larvae will die when the temperature reaches ap-
proximately +43°C.
• Add a layer of approximately 2 cm of the bulking material on
top. In future, make sure that any meat and fish scraps, in par-
ticular, are properly covered.
• Carefully flush the inner walls and lid of the composter with
hot water to destroy any eggs and larvae.
• You can also spray pesticide containing pyrethrin as the ac-
tive ingredient in the compost to prevent flies. Contact your
garden supply store for advice on how to select a suitable
product.
7.7 Ants in the composter
The composter includes food and a good environment for ants,
which means that it is difficult to keep them away. Ants usually
like to make their home in the compost mass at the bottom of
the composter that is cooling down. The ants will not harm the
composting process.
• Make sure that the compost mass is not too dry.
• Emptying small amounts of the compost mass regularly will
stop the ants from becoming too comfortable in their sur-
roundings.
7.8 Mould in the composter
Mould is one of the decomposers in a composter, and the pres-
ence of mould in a composter is normal.
• Do not remove the mould.
• Continue using the composter normally.
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