I think the bacteria treatments for both septic systems and compost are a gimic and totally unnecessary.

And actually the septic treatments can actually damage a septic system.

God has managed compost pretty well without modern science, the only thing we manage is time, turning, etc. If we are off on browns v greens compost will still happen sooner or later.

And actually the septic treatments can actually damage a septic system.

I had never heard it damaged the system. Please tell me the source of that info so I can get more details.

The source is my head, which contains years of book learning and may more years of work experience in wastewater treatment systems.

I will direct you to the guidelines for maintaining septic systems in Illinois, published by the Illinois EPA. Though this is not MY source, it is a source. I htink most states have septic system maintenance guides. Feel free to look for more.

Here is a link that might be useful: Septic System Maintenance Guide by Illinois EPA

Joe have you applied waste cake as organic matter. I took some potted plants and applied about 1-2 inches on the surface. The roots of some hosta actually turned up to get to the waste cake?

I haven't used any waste cake from a septic tank, too stinky for my personal preferences....however I don't doubt that your plants roots were loving it...

I have grown tomatoes in sludge cake from an aerobic wastewater treatment plant. Tomatoes really like it.

That is what I was talking about, we used to haul from a facility to the sanitary landfill.

Just remembered, we worked with a septic tank cleaning company who had a small treatment plant and we used his product at the compost facility.

I would think that septic tank product would be somewhat less dangerous.

How much Nitrogen is in that "septic tank activator"? All of the so called compost activators are simply an expensive Nitrogen source.

Most state health departments do not recommend the use of any kind of additive to a septic system. The use of something like Rid X in a compost pile or tumbler might introduce unknown problems and do more harm than good. (Here's a link to the EPA's opinion on the additives.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Septic tank additives

>Can one of the commercial septic treatment bacterias,
>such as "RID-X" be used to treat compost?

I see no reason not to try it, even though I personally don't think it would do any good. What you could do is split your compost into two roughly even piles, add it to one pile, and race them. If you do, please post pics, so we can bet on them. Flags, colored stripes, or numbers would be a nice touch.

>My theory is that "RID-X", etc. would be cheaper
>than a brand that has been packaged for horticulture.

I have a somewhat dim view of packaged super compost products. Decay is an almost inevidable natural process. In the wild you will find decay organisms already in place and waiting pretty much everywhere. All you have to do is put out a nice place for them to work, and work they will.

I bet bread yeast is effective, particularly if you eat the bread and then let your body and plumbing do the rest :-)

What you want your compost pile to do is aerobically (in the presence of air) digest and what is going to fuel the bacteria that will do that is Nitrogen. If the septic tank activator has large amounts of Nitrogen it may be something to consider, unless other, less expensive forms of N are more readily available. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that septic systems are anaerobic (in the abscence of air) and the septic tank activators are meant to feed anaerobic bacteria and unless your compost pile is into anaerobic digestion that activator most likely will do little.

Hey everybody; Thanks for the advice. I've decided not to bother; except to put some high N fertilizer on my compost. Thanks again. Einar

I'm with Kimmsr on this one too...

All homemade backyard composting methods and "on-the-spot", or "in-bed" style composting methods are performed by 100% aerobic microbes and other larger aerobic organisms.

Most normal septic tank systems use smelling, pathogenic, anaerobic microbes for decomposition.

Composting toilet treatment

I have a well and a septic tank. I recently had to replace the well pressure tank and flashed the well with Clorox to clean the entire plumbing system. In that case you may well have killed all the bacteria in the septic tank and the drain field so adding a large load of bacteria to the septic system is in my opinion warranted. After the chlorine has dissipated. This statement is from Rid-X:

"RID-X® also contains cellulase, the only enzyme that will digest paper waste."; but I don't know what chlorine will do to "cellulase".

I once pulled the lid off my septic tank myself as I had a backhoe here for another project. What I found was a tank of what looked like clear water and floating paper. No sludge and not enough paper to worry about. There are two of us here using the system.

RID-X says:

RID-X® Septic Tank System Treatment contains billions of 100% natural active septic tank bacteria and enzymes that have been scientifically proven to digest household waste.

Each box of RID-X® contains the following ingredients, scientifically proven to break down household waste:

• Cellulase breaks down toilet paper, vegetable matter and some foods
• Lipase breaks down fats, oils and grease
• Protease breaks down proteins
• Amylase breaks down starches

https://www.rid-x.com/why-rid-x/septic-system-maintenance-with-rid-x/

So it first mentioned billions of active bacteria, then lists specific enzymes but no further info about the bacteria. As kimmsr said earlier, I would expect them to be the type that functions best in anaerobic environments.

Add it to compost? Nah, I'd let nature do its thing in the compost. If it's not cooking fast enough you either need to work on your C:N ratio, pile size etc., or just chill out and wait. :-]

@John - I think the line I heard about septic bacteria (possibly here) was roughly "if you need to add a large load of bacteria to your septic, add a large load." I hope I don't have to spell that out. ))

Using a septic will add the bacteria that's needed. While it's possible that the chlorine treatment shocked your septic, that would only be a temporary effect; I think the chemists would confirm that chlorine would react and/or dissipate pretty quickly and become neutral before long, and the bacteria would repopulate pretty quickly.

I'm not a purist on the various septic tank additives but the language of "billions of bacteria" sets my radar off; there are billions of organisms and bacteria in a handful of soil, too. (I suspect the cellulase claim is slightly misleading too - because it is not that uncommon, a handful of cow manure would have billions of bacteria with cellulase enzymes, too).

As for most compost pile 'starters' or additives or using septic starters in a compost pile: I suspect the primary function is that they serve as food for the organisms that are already there, and adding some spent brewer's grains or porridge or sugar or juice pressings would be about as effective. If anyone really believes their compost pile is not working because "not enough organisms", sprinkle a bit of soil.

Personally when I add a lot of stuff and I want to move things along - esp a lot of cardboard - I'll take a bit of compost from the bottom of my pile and add to the top, or maybe sprinkle some already-rotting leaves around.

But I think the main benefit of doing so is that it lets me feel like I'm doing something (with a tiny amount of 'work') and not any real effect on the pile.

Oh, and I've tried a bit of the compost starter things - they cost a buck or so and I was curious. No noticeable effect of any kind.