Recent content by FogHTX

Bobby- I've found your Spike version to be pretty much ideal where the center drain is only used for cleaning with the front pickup tube used for recirc input to the pump. There's almost no clear wort remaining. There's about 1.3L that the pickup doesn't reach between the center of the dish and...

Facebook Marketplace is a good source for used tanks in my area. They will need to be hydro tested every 5 years (costs $35 at the place I use) though some places will do exchanges of expired tanks. Economy of scale applies at filling - a 5lb tank costs me $25 while a 20lb tank is $40. I prefer...

Nothing exotic on the draft setup - just the Komos Double Wide with Nukatap FC faucets and a Taprite secondary regulator for each tap. Beer gas for the stout faucet. Finishing up a draft board to get the regulators better organized and eliminate duotight connections on the gas side.

Just inexpensive liquid chalk markers - works great with the acrylic.

Just wanted to share a picture of a new menu board I did yesterday. Inexpensive and it works great. Just some black acrylic, magnets, and a piece of steel strapping screwed to the wall.

You don't need to be concerned about suck-back on cold crash. Starters are done without an airlock (just a loose covering to keep debris out) as we want to maximize oxygen ingress and aerobic growth as much as possible as this promotes maximum yeast growth and health. The minor oxidation of the...

I find diffusion stone make a huge difference for serving on beer gas. It's the secret to getting the really creamy mouth feel and huge cascade effect. I use these which is also what I use with O2 to oxygenate my wort at pitch time...

I enjoy the convenience of being able to instantly adjust the pour if I've switched to a keg that's over carbed or carbed to a different pressure than my baseline. Not sure why you feel the need to disparage folks who share this view. Peace.

It's really just a matter of rebalancing the lines since even in the full open position there is more restriction in the FC faucet than regular. I just lopped a foot or so off the lines.

You'll likely find that they match if you filter the sample. I generally use either a V60 coffee filter or a syringe filter. Removes suspended particles and also degasses the sample which is helpful as well. I have both the EazyDens and SmartRef and they agree very well on filtered samples.

Make sure that the wort is well stirred before you take your sample as it can stratify significantly as soon as the vigorous boil stops. I had a post boil sample that was 6 points high yesterday when I grabbed it from the unstirred top of the wort. When I did another well stirred sample it was...

Where the silicone tube connects to the inner filter should be outside the gasket rather than inside (i.e. the inner filter will be flush with the outer filter at the other gasket and sticking out on the end where you connect the tube). That lower gasket should be fitting around the inner filter...

You appear to have it fully assembled and ready to go - just pop the metal float into the wire hooks on the end of the filter. The other gaskets are simply spares for the two you can already see holding the filter together. The shorty dip tube is merely provided as an option if you want to...

I think the risk is perhaps being over amplified here as tri-clamps this size and much larger are used in commercial and industrial settings everyday at much higher pressures. Just practice a bit of common sense and do a quick visual check of your work as you go and you're not going to have any...

I've got a couple of X3 and haven't had any issues - but I do tighten the 8" about an additional full turn beyond hand tight. Also worth just looking at the gasket being squeezed in the gap. I build up the X3 during mash and then do a pressure test and leave it pressurized during the rest of the...