47 replies to this topic

[denny]

I think they send you a sample jar or something like that.

And do a couple extra tests that really don't matter to brewing unless you're certain you have some seriously crappy water.

[Mya]

And do a couple extra tests that really don't matter to brewing unless you're certain you have some seriously crappy water.

and return shipping

[zymot]

Here is a report I wrote (6 years ago!) over at the board of green.

My tap water is sanitized with chloramine. I wanted to experiment and see how I could eliminate chlorine/chloramine from my municipal tap water.I purchased a bottle of 25 test strips intended for home aquarium use. The product used was Lifegard brand Chlorine/Chloramine Test Strips from Pentair Aquatics. $17.99 retail, Part Number R440006Simple to use. Dip a strip in you water sample for 2 seconds, remove and wait ten seconds. Presence of chlorine/chloramine (test does not make a distinction) turns the test strip a progressively darker purple color. Compare test strip to color chart on bottle to determine chlorine or chloramine concentration. The scale on the bottle reads from .1 PPM to 10 PPM with 6 steps between. A zero PPM chlorine/chloramine reading is white or no change of color.Here are the results of my test results:1- Tap water, unfiltered: 3 PPM (I understand this is a typical concentration level)2- Tap water, filtered with PUR faucet mounted carbon filter: ~.5 PPM3- Tap water, filtered with 5 micron carbon water filter: ~.75 PPM4- Tap Water, filtered with 5 micron carbon water filter & 1 campden tablet per 5 gallons: no reading5- Tap water, unfiltered with 1/2 campden tablet per 5 gallons: no reading6- Tap water, unfiltered with 1 campden tablet per 5 gallons: no readingNote: I took readings 5 & 6 very quickly after adding the campden tablets.Conclusion: Campden tablets are very effective at removing chloramine. You will probably use 1/2 a tablet per 5 gallons. Check with the supplier of water and ask about concentration levels of your water. I do not know of any side effect of over using campden tablets some, say 1 tablet per 5 gallons. Use your best judgment.

[MtnBrewer]

And do a couple extra tests that really don't matter to brewing unless you're certain you have some seriously crappy water.

Iron I seem to recall? If you don't know whether or not you have iron in your water, you don't.

[SteveMillerTime]

Here is a report I wrote (6 years ago!) over at the board of green.

Very cool. I forgot about those test strips.

[SteveMillerTime]

So it's brew day. I purchased LD carlson campden tablets last week at my LHBS...there were no directions on the bag and I needed to add it to my HLT...so i said screw it and crushed one tablet and tossed it in...now that i have a little down time i decided to look up their website...it says to put 1 tablet per gallon?! seriously, i was supposed to crush up 9 tablets? what the crap.

[zymot]

So it's brew day. I purchased LD carlson campden tablets last week at my LHBS...there were no directions on the bag and I needed to add it to my HLT...so i said screw it and crushed one tablet and tossed it in...now that i have a little down time i decided to look up their website...it says to put 1 tablet per gallon?! seriously, i was supposed to crush up 9 tablets? what the crap.

1 tablet per gallon is for wine and the killing off yeast IN WINE!For getting rid of chloramine in brewing water, use 1 tablet per 10 - 20 gallons. I use 1 tablet per 10 -15 gallons. See my post about the experiment.I do not crush tablets. I throw on in some water. It will take some time, but it will dissolve. You can hurry the process with a spoon, crush, stir, crush stir. I use a vessel that I can measure with some moderate accuracy. I pour 1/3 or 1/4 of the campden-ized solution into my brewing water and stir.water.

[SteveMillerTime]

1 tablet per gallon is for wine and the killing off yeast IN WINE!For getting rid of chloramine in brewing water, use 1 tablet per 10 - 20 gallons. I use 1 tablet per 10 -15 gallons. See my post about the experiment.I do not crush tablets. I throw on in some water. It will take some time, but it will dissolve. You can hurry the process with a spoon, crush, stir, crush stir. I use a vessel that I can measure with some moderate accuracy. I pour 1/3 or 1/4 of the campden-ized solution into my brewing water and stir.water.

Ah, ok, that makes much more sense now...I didn't realize these things are really for wine. I should be safe then, i just used 1 tablet for 9 gallons...haha, thank god i ignored those directions.