I am going to buy a small fridge to help control my fermentation temps for use in the summer months, but was thinking of an idea for the winter months where my basement is between 55-60*. Has anyone had any luck with simply using a swamp bucket filled to a few inches below the 5 gallon mark on the primary, and then use an aquarium heater to achieve a steady water/wort temp of 65-70*? Seems like it would work and not cost much or be much trouble to set up.
Another question on temps. During primary fermentation, say my ambient air temp is 64* and the wort fermentation temp is 68* the first few days, as the wort temp starts to decrease due to completion of fermentation, should I try to incerease the air temp back to 68* to keep the wort at 68* through the entire fermentation process? or is it better to allow the wort temp to drop down to the ambient air temp?
Another question on temps. During primary fermentation, say my ambient air temp is 64* and the wort fermentation temp is 68* the first few days, as the wort temp starts to decrease due to completion of fermentation, should I try to incerease the air temp back to 68* to keep the wort at 68* through the entire fermentation process? or is it better to allow the wort temp to drop down to the ambient air temp?