glorifiedbusdriver
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- Apr 7, 2007
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Hey guys...I have brewed about 20 successful all grain batches. I normally brew ambers to stout stout with the 5.2 buffer from five star. I am now thinking about brewing a hefe and a pilsner but my water is better for darker beers. Since I use the 5.2 buffer, do I even need to worry about changing my water chemistry? Here is my water report:
pH 7.5
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 326
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.54
Cations / Anions, me/L 5.6 / 5.4
ppm
Sodium, Na 18
Potassium, K 4
Calcium, Ca 51
Magnesium, Mg 26
Total Hardness, CaCO 3 236
Nitrate, NO 3-N 0.3 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO -4S 49
Chloride, Cl 19
Carbonate, CO 3 < 1
Bicarbonate, HCO 3 112
Total Alkalinity, CaCO 3 92
I realize that the bicarbonate should be less than 50 for the lighter beers, so I was thinking about mixing my water with distilled water.
Questions I have:
Should I even bother?
If I mix my water with distilled water, lets say 50/50, does that basically cut in half ALL of the minerals? If that's true I know I need to add more calcium, but is there any other minerals I need to add?
Thanks for your input.
Charlie
pH 7.5
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) Est 326
Electrical Conductivity, mmho/cm 0.54
Cations / Anions, me/L 5.6 / 5.4
ppm
Sodium, Na 18
Potassium, K 4
Calcium, Ca 51
Magnesium, Mg 26
Total Hardness, CaCO 3 236
Nitrate, NO 3-N 0.3 (SAFE)
Sulfate, SO -4S 49
Chloride, Cl 19
Carbonate, CO 3 < 1
Bicarbonate, HCO 3 112
Total Alkalinity, CaCO 3 92
I realize that the bicarbonate should be less than 50 for the lighter beers, so I was thinking about mixing my water with distilled water.
Questions I have:
Should I even bother?
If I mix my water with distilled water, lets say 50/50, does that basically cut in half ALL of the minerals? If that's true I know I need to add more calcium, but is there any other minerals I need to add?
Thanks for your input.
Charlie