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HarvInSTL · 05-26-2007, 11:29 PM

Ok, I did some searching in the forums but wasn't able to find the anwser I'm looking for.

My tap water has chloramines and I have read that Campden tablets can get rid of that. So off to the LHBS I went, and when I arrived they had two types. (KMS) Potassium metabisuplhite and (SMS) sodium metabisulphite. Since brew day is tomorrow I grabbed both just to make sure I had what I needed.

First question, whats the difference?

Second, both state 1 tablet=150ppm Total SO2/gal. Actual FREE SO2 is pH dependent. So if I want to get rid of chlorimine in my water how many tablets should I used for 10-14gal of water?

Third, does using these remove anything else from the water? I normally only use 5.2 in my strike & sparge water and I want to make sure that if this stuff is removing other beneficial things from my water that I add it back.

Thanks!

HarvInSTL · 05-26-2007, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarvInSTL

Second, both state 1 tablet=150ppm Total SO2/gal. Actual FREE SO2 is pH dependent. So if I want to get rid of chlorimine in my water how many tablets should I used for 10-14gal of water?

Found some helpful posts on the green board, and 1/4 of a tablet per 5 gallons.

http://byo.com/mrwizard/1260.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarvInSTl

Third, does using these remove anything else from the water? I normally only use 5.2 in my strike & sparge water and I want to make sure that if this stuff is removing other beneficial things from my water that I add it back.

Thanks!

They reduce other things like microorganisms and particulate matter in addition to chemicals like chlorine, lead, mercury and others.

Levi

**FlyingHorse** · 05-27-2007, 02:36 AM

Checked the Mr Wizard link, and he says:

In easy to use terms, a 1/2-ounce Campden tablet can be used to dechlorinate 20 gallons of water.

This can't be right, can it? I bought 1 oz of KMS tabs at my LHBS; they're labelled "75 ppm" (so there are apparently multiple sizes available) and there are 50 of them in the package. A half ounce would be 25 tablets.

Mr wizard must mean (and it looks like you interpreted it this way too) that half a tablet (not half an ounce) will treat 20 gallons. But which size tabs is he talking about?

***Yooper*** · 05-27-2007, 02:55 AM

I don't think there are multiple sizes available- just "campden tablets". It's a premeasured amount of sulfite that I use mainly for wine. I can't imagine there were be different amounts- the recipes for wine are always "1 campden tablet per gallon".

boo boo · 05-27-2007, 11:23 AM

Potassium Metabisuplhite is the one commonly described as campton tablet and is the best to use as you don't add as much sodium to your brew using it.
I agree that campton is one size and I use 1 tablet to treat 2 full brews worth of water.

DAAB · 05-27-2007, 12:09 PM

Campden tabs are produced as tablets so you can measure the small quantities involved without having to use scales calibrated for tiny measures.

Here's a good PDF document produced by the Craft Brewers Association addressing the use of Campden Tablets.

http://www.craftbrewing.org.uk/bcpdf/BC0-1_Water.pdf

**FlyingHorse** · 06-01-2007, 03:21 AM

So...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper Chick

I don't think there are multiple sizes available- just "campden tablets". It's a premeasured amount of sulfite that I use mainly for wine.

and...

Quote:

Originally Posted by boo boo

I agree that campton is one size and I use 1 tablet to treat 2 full brews worth of water.

but...

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarvInSTL

both state 1 tablet=150ppm

while...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bike N Brew

I bought 1 oz of KMS tabs at my LHBS; they're labelled "75 ppm"

If there is only one size, what size (ppm) is it?

***Yooper*** · 06-01-2007, 11:25 AM

These are the ones I use:

http://www.eckraus.com/index.php?stocknumber=PS115&deptid=&parentid=&page =1&itemsperpage=10

And to get even stranger, even though the tablets have a preset amount of so2, some is "free so2" and disappates quickly, so only 67 ppm actually is usable according to one website I read. And I also buy it in powdered form instead of tablet form, if I"m making a large quantity of wine:

http://www.eckraus.com/PS150.html

This imparts 55 ppm per 1/16th tsp per gallon. So, there are the ones I use.

delboy · 06-01-2007, 02:49 PM

I read somewhere that because of its oxygen/free radical scavenging ability that adding KMS to the mash water/liquor can prevent downstream problems that can occur with stale tasting compounds like trans 2-nonenal.
Just one more reason to treat your water

fa1321tx · 06-01-2007, 06:24 PM

I use 1/2 a tab for 10 gallons of water. I think the package of 50 tablets is 1 ounce. I have not noticed a stale taste. Not sure what mine are made of they just say Campden tabs on the bag.