The only thing I will add is we tend to focus on the hot side of brewing. To make great beer fermentation temps are the key to the kingdom. Make sure you keep your fermenting beer at a stable and appropriate temp through the initial fermentation stages. If you do that more times than not your...
This would be if you wanted to do it more than once. I use a in line Hop Rocket. Whole leaf hops that the beer goes through when you pour your beer out of the kegs. It imparts wonderful hop notes.
Let's reset a little. The idea is to keep the mash at 152 for an hour. If you do not have a way to keep it consistent then yes, use some of the methods mentioned above and you will not see much difference. But to answer your question the goal is to keep at the 152 degrees for an hour.
It is hard to imagine you have much fermentation left since it has been in there for four weeks. I would use the dump valve and take out all you can then bottle or keg the beer. I don't think it is anything of note. If you liked to take another gravity reading to ensure you are at your FG then...
No real treatment needed. I have had two of the SS fermenters with the covers on since I bought them. I use them non-stop and have had zero issues with any surface damage. It dries quickly.
Got a starter spinning for a Cascade SMaSH. Need to keg a bock I haver lagering and have a cider that is just about done. I need to can the remainder of an IPA that the keg is almost kicked and can a few gallons of a Saison and Stout. Busy weekend in the brewery this weekend. Looking forward to...