Aerating wort in Corny Keg

[andyplank]

Hey guys, sorry if this has been covered in here already, just couldn't find a thread...

I'm looking for a good way to aerate wort once it's in my Corny Keg (used as primary fermenter). Currently I run the cooled wort from my kettle, through a short tube into a double-mesh strainer, and into the keg. Then I shake the crap out of it for a good while.
Is this effective enough, or do you guys have a nice way of getting this done? I also have one of those little aquarium pumps with a carb stone at the end of it. It failed me the first time I tried to use it (it hummed like it was running but didn't push any bubbles into the wort). I'm sure I could clean it up and get it going again though. I'd rather not purchase an O2 tank, just due to the cost of it.

Thanks much for the advice.

 

[brewery_fixer]

Were you venting the keg at all when you were trying to use the aquarium pump? Otherwise, I would imagine you would be building up too much pressure within the keg for the little pump to overcome

 

[andyplank]

Were you venting the keg at all when you were trying to use the aquarium pump? Otherwise, I would imagine you would be building up too much pressure within the keg for the little pump to overcome

The aquarium pump attempt was in a bucket, so it was open. The carb stone produced bubbles when I ran it in sani, but as soon as I got it in the wort, nothing. I'm leaning towards giving it another shot tomorrow. Can't hurt to try.

 

[SanPancho]

using air - and that should be sterile air-- you can get a max DO of like 8ppm as i recall. which is a bit on the low side per alot of literature. but it definitely works. alot of folks do it, both homebrew and pro.

for pure o2 the little brazing/soldering tanks from home depot are like 8-10 bucks. the regulator can be alot more, but you can probly score one on ebay for peanuts. if you're in already in a corny i dont see why you couldnt use o2 to add some pressure to seal the keg, say 2-3psi. then shake the hell out of it as usual. by adding pure o2 you're going to have higher % of o2 than is found in air (~20% i think?) so you should be getting a higher ppm of DO.

in theory. others can chime in on the specifics.

or just buy an oxygenation wand if you really want higher o2 levels.