strainers on a mash tun

I used a 1/2" stainless braide hose as my mash tun strainer. It clogged in no time at all. I ended scooping the wort out and straining it. I have 3 inches of sediment on the bottom of my fermenter. Also I did a rolling boil for an hour for a 5 gallon batch that started with 5-1/2 gallons and I only finished with 3-1/2 to 4 gallons in the fermenter. I did not have the brew kettle lid on during the boil as well. T

without knowing exactly how you constructed the braid, it's hard to tell what the problem is. did you reinforce the inside with anything? it could be that it's collapsing and not allowing anything to flow through it.

i almost always boil off 1.5 gallons during a one hour boil. so, that matches up with your boil off rate pretty close, which i think it fairly common for a lot of brewers. i know you didn't, but you don't want the lid on the pot at all during boiling. it will affect the flavor because it is a more concentrated wort now. it will have a higher alcohol percentage also, but of course, there will be less of it.

the sediment in your fermenter is called 'trub' and is a combination of proteins, hop debris and other stuff. don't worry about it, it will compact itself into 1 inch or less in no time, you will just need to leave it all behind when you go to bottle or keg or whatever your next step is after fermentation.

I left the lid off during boil. I reinforced the strainer but collapsed at one of joints. I hit my sg dead on and have begun fermintation, so I think it will turn good. Do u recommend one fermenter.

If you hit the OG, then you boiled off enough. Pick up a better braid, mine doesn't collapse without any reinforcement. Yes, only primary fermentation, no secondary.