Bizoune
Well-Known Member
Yesterday, I finally tried out my new rig with March Pump, Camlocks and my diy hopstopper using a 30x30 mesh screen off a Mc-Carr order. The hopstopper didn't work too well and I need tips. (Neither did my first attempt at fly sparging: 64% eff vs the 82% that I consistently get batch sparging, but this will the focus of another thread...)
Essentially, it seems that the screen around the diptube assembly got sucked in too close to the opening as I was pumping my wort off to my fermenter. This significantly slowed my flow rate and I had to finish the job with my auto-siphon. Not fun!
My pickup tube was angled off to one side, about 1/2" off the bottom of the keg. I was hoping to have more wort free flowing in the vicinity of the opening but I guess that didn't happen.
So here are a few questions for the hopstopper users out there.
1. How can I keep the shape of my mesh basket so that it doesn't cave in when comes time to transfer? Build the screen around a cage and hook up the whole outfit to my pickup tube? Hole/slits on the bottom of the tube?
2. Should I be pumping really slowly or does that not make a difference?
3. What else are you doing that works well?
I'm giving it another go this Thursday. If anybody has any ideas to send my way I'd be really happy to try them out in few days.
Essentially, it seems that the screen around the diptube assembly got sucked in too close to the opening as I was pumping my wort off to my fermenter. This significantly slowed my flow rate and I had to finish the job with my auto-siphon. Not fun!
My pickup tube was angled off to one side, about 1/2" off the bottom of the keg. I was hoping to have more wort free flowing in the vicinity of the opening but I guess that didn't happen.
So here are a few questions for the hopstopper users out there.
1. How can I keep the shape of my mesh basket so that it doesn't cave in when comes time to transfer? Build the screen around a cage and hook up the whole outfit to my pickup tube? Hole/slits on the bottom of the tube?
2. Should I be pumping really slowly or does that not make a difference?
3. What else are you doing that works well?
I'm giving it another go this Thursday. If anybody has any ideas to send my way I'd be really happy to try them out in few days.