Setting up 2 tier, why haven't I seen it done this way.

**Snafu** · 01-24-2012, 12:54 PM

I finally got all the new equipment in and did a dry run last night to make sure I have everything. By dry run I mean I used only water.

My old system had 1 keggle, a 10gal round MT, and a 5 gal round HLT. One burner and all gravity fed. A 3 tier. New system has 2 keggle's both sitting on Blichman floor burners, a march pump, and the same 10 gal round cooler as the MLT.
In every picture I've seen the MLT sits on a structure or table and feeds the BK by gravity. Well during my dry run I couldn't find a table or anything so I put my stainless lid on my HLT; placed a heavy duty board on top of the keggle then just sat the MT on top of that.
Heated sparge water pumped out of the HLT into the MT and then I have a 1/2 stainless tube ran over to the BK (about 16"). Other than the hassle of picking up the MT and sitting it on top of the HLT for the fly sparge, wouldn't it work? The stainless lid keeps the HLT's heat in and keeps the condensation contained as well as preventing contaminants from falling in from the MT sitting on top. If for some reason I had to fire up the HLT for more heat the board would protect the plastic MT from damage. I would think the burner run would be minimal.
During my dry run I kept trying to figure out why I haven't seen anyone do this, trying to find a problem with the process I guess. I can't find it, am I missing something? I sure wish I would have taken a few pics, but I think you veterans can picture it.

**Yooper** · 01-24-2012, 01:02 PM

It sounds fine. I"ve seen MLTs above HLTs before, but never sitting right on top!

It wouldn't be an issue, it's just that sometimes people need to open their HLT to add more water I guess or to see how low it is. I have a sight gauge on mine, but I also have the stirring motor sticking out above the top so I couldn't put anything on top of mine. When I make a 10 gallon batch, I have to refill the HLT.

Morebeer.com had a nice sculpture with the MLT set above the HLT to help keep the MLT warm. It was a good 10 inches above it, but if you have heat protection for the MLT I don't think there would be any reason to not do it your way if you like it.

**Snafu** · 01-24-2012, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yooper

Morebeer.com had a nice sculpture with the MLT set above the HLT to help keep the MLT warm. It was a good 10 inches above it, but if you have heat protection for the MLT I don't think there would be any reason to not do it your way if you like it.

I wouldn't say I like it, but for right now, it works until I find a table or structure. Good point on the sight glass to monitor water level, even though I only do 5 gal batches (it lets me brew more often), water level has never really been an issue. But with the added pump, it will be nice to keep an eye on the level. Already have a sight glass on MT to monitor sparge level.