I've read a few books, and lots of posts here on HBT, but I really just dont get water chem!
Here is my water profile, with Burton in ()'s and the best I can achieve with salts in []:
Ion My Water Burton w/Salts
Ca----44------(270)----[289]
Mg----9-------(24)-----[43]
Na----16------(50)-----[69]
SO4---53------(660)----[655]
CL----33------(35)-----[33]
HCO3-10------(219)----[282]
ALK----8------(238)----[180]
additions:
Chalk 6g
Baking Soda 5g
Gypsum 22g
Epsom 9g
Using the brewer's friend tool, that leaves everything pretty close (green in the difference column), except HCL. Are some minerals more important than others?
Also, even though the CA, MG and SO4 levels are about right, brewer's friend gives me a "Harmful, do not brew at this level!" for Ca and "Above recommended brewing range, but not harmful" for Mg and SO4. Is this a problem?
How can I get the CO3 up without getting the Ca or Mg out of wack?
I guess I really just don't really understand how close this stuff needs to be. I mean, the EZ water tool has 352 for Ca and 820 SO4. So maybe being off 71 on my HCL isn't too bad?
I'd rather not have to shell out another $9 or so to buy distilled water every time I brew, but I will if I have to. Though, I don't really see how that would solve any of these problems since I can still only get about the same results.
Any advice?
Here is my water profile, with Burton in ()'s and the best I can achieve with salts in []:
Ion My Water Burton w/Salts
Ca----44------(270)----[289]
Mg----9-------(24)-----[43]
Na----16------(50)-----[69]
SO4---53------(660)----[655]
CL----33------(35)-----[33]
HCO3-10------(219)----[282]
ALK----8------(238)----[180]
additions:
Chalk 6g
Baking Soda 5g
Gypsum 22g
Epsom 9g
Using the brewer's friend tool, that leaves everything pretty close (green in the difference column), except HCL. Are some minerals more important than others?
Also, even though the CA, MG and SO4 levels are about right, brewer's friend gives me a "Harmful, do not brew at this level!" for Ca and "Above recommended brewing range, but not harmful" for Mg and SO4. Is this a problem?
How can I get the CO3 up without getting the Ca or Mg out of wack?
I guess I really just don't really understand how close this stuff needs to be. I mean, the EZ water tool has 352 for Ca and 820 SO4. So maybe being off 71 on my HCL isn't too bad?
I'd rather not have to shell out another $9 or so to buy distilled water every time I brew, but I will if I have to. Though, I don't really see how that would solve any of these problems since I can still only get about the same results.
Any advice?