Chloramine methods to remove (Campden?)

[tim_s]

Hi,

I live in Ottawa, Canada and our water contains Chloramine and I wanted to discussion how to remove the Chloramine without adding lasting chemicals to the brew.

1. Does Campden tablets dissipate or is a residue present in the brew?
2. Is Campden the way to go? Do people use other methods?

 

[Yooper]

Hi,

I live in Ottawa, Canada and our water contains Chloramine and I wanted to discussion how to remove the Chloramine without adding lasting chemicals to the brew.

1. Does Campden tablets dissipate or is a residue present in the brew?
2. Is Campden the way to go? Do people use other methods?

Campden tablets, rather the potassium metabisulfite in the tablet, react quickly. There is not residue, as it's a chemical reaction.

You could probably use a carbon filter at a very very slow rate that is designed to filter out chloramine, but that would be very inefficient.

In general, one campden tablet will treat 20 gallons of water. It's simply crushed, and stirred in well.

For more detail, check out: https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=361073

 

[Homercidal]

I simply take a tablet, break it in half and keep half for brewing my 5 gallons of beer. I break that in half and add each half of the half to the mash and sparge water and stir.

 

[1977Brewer]

A drustore pill cutter/crusher does all the work for me. Half it, crush half, dump it in. I could go quarters but meh.

 

[kombat]

Another Ottawan here - I crush up a Campden tablet and sprinkle roughly 1/4 of it into the 6-gallon bucket in which I'm collecting tap water. If I'm thinking ahead, I'll do it a couple nights before brew day, to give the gas time to dissipate (although I hear the reaction happens almost immediately). It also allows time for the cold tap water to warm up a little to room temperature, saving me a few minutes of heating on brew day. Each bucket of water gets 1/4 the Campden tablet powder.

 

[Homercidal]

A drustore pill cutter/crusher does all the work for me. Half it, crush half, dump it in. I could go quarters but meh.

This is true. I often just break in half and use half in each vessel. A little bit more is nowhere near as much as winemakers put in their wine.

And yeah, as I understand it the chemical reaction happens instantly. I've always just added when I add my salts and then get it stirring while it heats up.

 

[1977Brewer]

This is true. I often just break in half and use half in each vessel. A little bit more is nowhere near as much as winemakers put in their wine.

And yeah, as I understand it the chemical reaction happens instantly. I've always just added when I add my salts and then get it stirring while it heats up.

True. I treat ten gallons and just use any excess to rinse and wash things. One tab per batch...200 tabs per bag, maybe 20 batches a year if I get my lazy arse around to brewing what I drink/gift. I have a decade's worth of campden.

 

[TheHappyHopper]

I crush up a Campden tablet and sprinkle roughly

How does one "sprinkle roughly"?:cross:

 

[Homercidal]

How does one "sprinkle roughly"?:cross:

It's like a regular sprinkle, but with a strong snarl.

 

[1977Brewer]

It's like a regular sprinkle, but with a strong snarl.

Would a BOOM apply here or is that only for hop additions?

 

[dwhite60]

I dissolve them in a cup of water then I can easily measure
out 1/4 cup to treat 5 gallons of water.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[tim_s]

This is awesome - ok perfect! I know this sounds nutty but I would love for my brews to be as chemical free as possible.