StillSmart

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-23T19:18:37+00:00

I promised pics and here you are...if a bit later than promised

This is the main setup. Two spare fermenters converted for filter duty.

...the bucket on top has a filter tube connected in the floor, filled with the same carbon I use for refilling my Essencia filter, which allows a flow of water through at a rate of 35lt per hour to the lower chamber....

...as you can see the upper chamber is filled very simply from one of the coolant lines for my still simply stuck through a hole near the top - very technical

When the lower chamber is full I connect the 12v pump to my controller and pump the clean water to the boiler for heating to make new wash.

The trolly has mini castors I got in Lidl supposed to be for moving heavy furniture but great for moving my water filter even when it's full.

Simples!

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Tue Jun 23, 2015 7:18 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-23T00:02:19+00:00

Maybe, but I don't think so. At our last place we had the house roofed with shingle, but the garage had a metal roof. The barrels that caught the water from the house gutters always had more crap in the bottom than the ones that caught the water from the garage gutters, even though the garage gutters needed to be cleaned more often because of the trees next to them. The stuff in the bottom of the barrels for the house gutters was also much grittier.

Statistics: Posted by wormwood — Tue Jun 23, 2015 12:02 am

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-22T19:47:31+00:00

I think the silt is mostly dirt and dust that gets blown up and deposited by the wind or washed down by the falling rain.

Statistics: Posted by ant — Mon Jun 22, 2015 7:47 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-22T16:51:56+00:00

wormwood wrote:
I guess I could get it tested, or buy one of the DIY test kits, but I don't know how good they are.

I used the pond ones all the time - I think it's an 8 in 1 test. I have found them to be very successful. Certainly for comparing. Boiled, tap & well water.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:51 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-22T16:30:26+00:00

I don't know. The roof is about twenty years old, but there is a constant supply of fresh silt in the bottom of the barrels, which seems to be the top surface of the shingles being continually washed off. I guess I could get it tested, or buy one of the DIY test kits, but I don't know how good they are.

Statistics: Posted by wormwood — Mon Jun 22, 2015 4:30 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-22T15:11:19+00:00

I certainly can see your point I suppose the big question is does there come a point when they get washed clean.

A bit like cleaning a new still or breaking in new shoes etc etc

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon Jun 22, 2015 3:11 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-22T14:55:59+00:00

Mashy wrote:
Very true Robert. Fermentation alone is a 'cleaning up' process.

The main reason I don't use the water that runs off the roof, is that it is covered with asphalt shingles, as is typical for houses in this neck of the woods. I have concerns that the various resins, solvents, petroleum compounds and whatever else could carry over during distillation. To be honest, I sometimes wonder if I should even be watering the plants with this stuff, although for the last couple of weeks nature has been taking care of that for me.

Statistics: Posted by wormwood — Mon Jun 22, 2015 2:55 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-22T06:03:13+00:00

Very true Robert. Fermentation alone is a 'cleaning up' process.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Mon Jun 22, 2015 6:03 am

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-22T00:10:39+00:00

Where I am,it seems to rain so often that we could probably win the "cleanest roofs in Scotland " competition.
And if we didn't,so what? If the water is used to brew/mash and then distilled twice,what is there to fear?
No industry for miles,so as long as bugs don't affect the ferment,seems good to me.

Robert.

Statistics: Posted by Easydrinker — Mon Jun 22, 2015 12:10 am

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-21T22:09:15+00:00

Most insects are clever enough not to drown themselves in any kind of puddle or pond. Even they have the occasional Darwin Award winner; despite the fact they are older and have been evolving for much longer than we have. At a species level they are incredibly evolved. Hard to always avoid rain though. Even the insect nation is not impervious to a force of nature. Though the majority do survive. Getting off topic but it is summer solstice so nature is an intrinsic part of the day.

They are also way smart enough to just focus on the easy access food source while a few scouts range around as long range sensors.

Statistics: Posted by ant — Sun Jun 21, 2015 10:09 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-21T15:11:02+00:00

I should have mentioned that I live in a very rural area and I do indeed boil the water before use. It's also not collected from the house gutters. I do collect some from the gutters, but that's only used for watering plants, etc., as I don't like the look of the crap that settles at the bottom of those barrels. I see very few insects in there though, considering how many bugs are chewing away at my plants.

Statistics: Posted by wormwood — Sun Jun 21, 2015 3:11 pm

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-21T11:03:45+00:00

Happy Summer Solatice to all.

Insects are high in protien and a staple in many parts of the world

Bird poop high in ammonia so really not good

Statistics: Posted by ant — Sun Jun 21, 2015 11:03 am

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-21T07:54:38+00:00

I have to say bird poop and dead insects must add a certain something to your brews, I am just not sure its something I have been missing.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Jun 21, 2015 7:54 am

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-21T07:38:58+00:00

I live in a rural part of Ireland surrounded by green fields and forrests. There's no manufacturing industry within 100Km and the air here is sweet and clean. I already have two rainwater butts collecting from the roof gutters at each end of the house but it's only for the garden, washing the car, washing the windows, using with the power washer etc. I've never considered using it for brewing.

All that bird shit and dead insects it washes off my roof would put me off using it without boiling first. And, believe it or not, we've had pitiable amounts of rainfall in these parts since last year. Used to be you could rely on rain at least every second day in Ireland but not where I am

Statistics: Posted by Almanac — Sun Jun 21, 2015 7:38 am

Re: Quest for Cleaner Fermenting Water

2015-06-21T06:37:44+00:00

You have posted what I was thinking.
Been considering a clean collector.

Statistics: Posted by Mash — Sun Jun 21, 2015 6:37 am