
Compost Troubleshooting
Symptom Cause Remedial Action Prevention
Compost
Too Wet
Waste not
Breaking Down at
all
If this is the case,
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 emp-
tied into finishing
drawer in a timely
fashion
Kitchen/Garden
Waste added
-compost too dry
-compost anaerobic
-kitchen/garden
waste added
-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 drum is only half full or less.
Rotate compost 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 composter 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 ½ microbe pack-
et 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 a dry compost,
due to the fungus which
begins to form on the surface
when it dries out. A 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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