dawn_kiebawls
Lawncare and Landscaping enthusiast
- Joined
- Jun 10, 2017
- Messages
- 838
- Reaction score
- 516
Hey guys and gals, I feel like I am drowning after reading about water chemistry! And I apologize for that cheesy pun, I will do my best to keep those at a minimum..
I am looking to make the jump from extract/PM to AG. I realize water is the first building block I need to figure out but I don't even know where to start! As somebody who failed high school chemistry, then quit school all together to pursue a career swinging a hammer (not the smartest thing I've ever done..) this is all VERY overwhelming.
I'm wanting to brew an IPA out of Palmers 'How to Brew' but have no idea how to amend
my local tap water to make it suitable. His water profile calls for
Ca 100-150ppm
Mg 10ppm
Total alk. 0-50ppm
SO4 200-400ppm
Cl 50-100ppm
RA -100-0
Should I use a campden tablet to try and remove the existing chlorine? Or would I be better off doing a 6:1 (RO/Distilled:Tap) blend then simply ad the SO4 and Cl to build it up to the desired levels, which would require me to do math to figure out how much of each to add ! Also, I don't even know where to begin trying to wrap my head around RA...
Up until this point I have only ever used distilled water. Is that a better foundation to build a water profile on than trying to adjust tap water? I should mention I do have access to RO water, but I don't want to drive 30 minutes each way to my parents house every time I want to brew unless that is just what I have to do! Plus, carrying 8 gallons of water up 3 flights of stairs is a huge PITA!!
In the next week or so I'm going to build a MLT from a 10g cooler jug and I also plan on picking up:litmus papers (I can't afford a digital tester at this point, unless it is unanimously recommended. In which case..I'll figure something out), Calcium chloride and Sulfate. Is my shopping list missing any necessities? Is it all garbage? Or have I missed the mark on everything so far and this post has just been a waste of your time? If that's the case I apologize!
Thanks for all your time and expertise helping this rookie who is over his head and possibly out of his mind! Thanks again
I am looking to make the jump from extract/PM to AG. I realize water is the first building block I need to figure out but I don't even know where to start! As somebody who failed high school chemistry, then quit school all together to pursue a career swinging a hammer (not the smartest thing I've ever done..) this is all VERY overwhelming.
I'm wanting to brew an IPA out of Palmers 'How to Brew' but have no idea how to amend
my local tap water to make it suitable. His water profile calls for
Ca 100-150ppm
Mg 10ppm
Total alk. 0-50ppm
SO4 200-400ppm
Cl 50-100ppm
RA -100-0
Should I use a campden tablet to try and remove the existing chlorine? Or would I be better off doing a 6:1 (RO/Distilled:Tap) blend then simply ad the SO4 and Cl to build it up to the desired levels, which would require me to do math to figure out how much of each to add ! Also, I don't even know where to begin trying to wrap my head around RA...
Up until this point I have only ever used distilled water. Is that a better foundation to build a water profile on than trying to adjust tap water? I should mention I do have access to RO water, but I don't want to drive 30 minutes each way to my parents house every time I want to brew unless that is just what I have to do! Plus, carrying 8 gallons of water up 3 flights of stairs is a huge PITA!!
In the next week or so I'm going to build a MLT from a 10g cooler jug and I also plan on picking up:litmus papers (I can't afford a digital tester at this point, unless it is unanimously recommended. In which case..I'll figure something out), Calcium chloride and Sulfate. Is my shopping list missing any necessities? Is it all garbage? Or have I missed the mark on everything so far and this post has just been a waste of your time? If that's the case I apologize!
Thanks for all your time and expertise helping this rookie who is over his head and possibly out of his mind! Thanks again