Moving water for Mash and Sparge

**drez77** · 08-01-2008, 12:33 PM

I am just curious to see how others are moving their liquid from the HLT to the MLT for mashing and sparging. I have a single level brewing structure and I pump from my HLT into a bucket that has gallons marked on it. I then pour that into my HLT. I do this for both mashing and spraging (batch). I do not have a sight glass on either my HLT or MLT. Just want to see how everyone else handles this.

Mike

jds · 08-01-2008, 02:08 PM

Same here. Bucket transfer seems to be working pretty well for now, although I have been casting an eye at the march pumps on Ebay and labx.

Alamo_Beer · 08-01-2008, 03:57 PM

If you've got a pump why not clock it to see how long it takes to deliver a known amount of water? Then you could hook up from your HLT to your MT and just wait like 1.5min or whatever.....

**IrregularPulse** · 08-01-2008, 04:01 PM

I drain from my HLT into marked buckets like you then dump, Then after sparking into another bucket and collecting bull boil volume, My HLT magically turns into a boil kettle

**GilaMinumBeer** · 08-01-2008, 04:05 PM

I use gravity from HLT to MLT and pump from MLT to kettle to chiller to fermenter.

Moving water by bucket got old quick.

**ShortSnoutBrewing** · 08-01-2008, 04:09 PM

Wow, I feel so low tech...I use a 2qt measuring cup and scoop 1/2 gallon at a time. WOO HOO!

flyangler18 · 08-01-2008, 04:12 PM

Bucket transfer works for me. I batch sparge, so no need for a fancy system

My old brew kettle serves as my HLT, heated to temp on a single burner. Measure out my strike water, heat and dump into my MLT, then filled in preparation for the sparge water. I split my sparge into two equal volumes, so I use a 2 qt Pyrex measuring cup to add my water for the first sparge. Lift and dump for the second.

killian · 08-01-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drez77

I am just curious to see how others are moving their liquid from the HLT to the MLT for mashing and sparging. I have a single level brewing structure and I pump from my HLT into a bucket that has gallons marked on it. I then pour that into my HLT. I do this for both mashing and spraging (batch). I do not have a sight glass on either my HLT or MLT. Just want to see how everyone else handles this.

Mike

couldnt you measure the amount of water you are adding to the HLT and subtract the amount of loss form the hoses during the transfer to the MLT to reach your strike volume?

**drez77** · 08-01-2008, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by killian

couldnt you measure the amount of water you are adding to the HLT and subtract the amount of loss form the hoses during the transfer to the MLT to reach your strike volume?

I have a conveted keg for a HLT and I usualy just fill it up to the second rib. I am guessing I could put a sight glass on the HLT and then just use that and then figure out how much left I woudl ahve in teh hoses and pump.

Mike

**Bobby_M** · 08-01-2008, 04:27 PM

Man, you owe it to yourself to put a sight glass on that HLT. It's so much easier to pump and then shut down when the level hits X mark. It's almost a waste to have a pump and still bucket transfer.

You drain into your tubing, into the pump housing and just about up into your next vessel. Stop. Note the level on the HLT and subtract how much you want to move. Note the new spot (rolling an Oring down your sight glass is a nice way to mark it). Open the pump valve and wait to hit your mark. You don't have to account for tubing/pump volume because when you stop, it's still in there.