Aquarium Heater... Cleanliness...

[screamingcities]

So I'm planning to do the aquarium heater thing to keep my primary warm, but I'm wondering... For those of you that do this method without some sort of water movement- How do you keep the water clean?

It's a warm dark wet environment- seems ripe for mold and other nastiness.

Am I being overly concerned?

I suppose I could mix star san or bleach in with the water, but that seems like it wouldn't be so good for the heater, not to mention I'm not sure what warming that stuff would do to the air in the room...

Again am I being overly concerned? What do you all do?

Help me Homebrewtalk Kenobi... You're my only hope!

 

[BendBrewer]

I think you are being too concerned but you could get a small 50 gph pump for like 10 bucks and just set it in there and leave it on. I think you need to start worrying about chilling though pretty soon.

 

[broadbill]

Add some bleach to the water....it will get nasty if you don't.

 

[screamingcities]

I think you are being too concerned but you could get a small 50 gph pump for like 10 bucks and just set it in there and leave it on. I think you need to start worrying about chilling though pretty soon.

Because of the way my thermostat is set up the area where I can ferment stays pretty much cold all the time.

 

[BendBrewer]

Because of the way my thermostat is set up the area where I can ferment stays pretty much cold all the time.

Lucky you.

You could go with an air pump if you want to have some circulation but I think a small water pump would be quieter.

 

[smokinghole]

Unless you're directing your blow off into the water why would you get mold and or other **** growing in the water? It's not like it's sitting there for 3 months collecting dust and other things. I just set my fermentor in a big party bucket fill it with water and drop in the heater. I have never had a problem and I don't use starsan or bleach.

 

[jar1087]

Alternatively, use the propylene glycol based antifreeze (the non-toxic kind) instead of water.

 

[broadbill]

Unless you're directing your blow off into the water why would you get mold and or other **** growing in the water? It's not like it's sitting there for 3 months collecting dust and other things. I just set my fermentor in a big party bucket fill it with water and drop in the heater. I have never had a problem and I don't use starsan or bleach.

It sits there for a month though....and I don't know what to tell you, but despite what you say my water baths to grow stuff in them, as well as every laboratory water bath I've ever worked with. If it matters, I use well water.

 

[smokinghole]

Maybe the big difference is the well vs treated water. Mine has chlorine or chloramines which I think is probably enough in my case to prevent growth. I would say in the case of well water some bleach would be the way to go since it's a ton cheaper than starsan. Just don't spill it on anything.

 

[Airborneguy]

I leave my primaries in a water bath for three weeks, with a touch of bleach and never have a problem with smells, molds, or the heater. I do use a fan as my cooling method though, so occasionally the water does get some movement when the fan kicks on (temperature controlled).

 

[rcrabb22]

Unless you're directing your blow off into the water why would you get mold and or other **** growing in the water? It's not like it's sitting there for 3 months collecting dust and other things. I just set my fermentor in a big party bucket fill it with water and drop in the heater. I have never had a problem and I don't use starsan or bleach.

In the winter, I do not have a problem but in the summer I do have a problem with slime forming in my water bath and I have a pump continuously circulating it. The slime is not apparent until you shut the pump off and let the water go still.

I tried bleach but it seemed to damage my pumps. My first pump lasted 1 year until I started using bleach. I went through 2 additional pumps in 3 months. The impeller blades would weaken and break off 1 by 1. I didn't measure the bleach, I would dump some in, guessing a cup or so in 15 gal of water. The aquarium heater I use does not seem to be damaged as of yet. I am researching aquarium algaecides from the pet store now.