Conical Fermenter from NTO Tank- Anyone use?

[xrobevansx]

Came across this tank: https://www.ntotank.com/15gallon-acerotomold-white-inductor-cone-bottom-tank-x8504006 and wondered if anyone uses one?

If so- how easy is it to drill and add a spigot to drain off above trub?

Looks great and great price....any comments/thoughts welcomed.

 

[atoughram]

Search is you're friend - there are many of us that use that tank. I'll see if I can find the thread.

 

[augiedoggy]

Do you have any problems with the lid sealing? That's what turned me away from these and the whole oxygen permeable plastic thing. Which seemed like less of an issue in the real world.

 

[xrobevansx]

Search is you're friend - there are many of us that use that tank. I'll see if I can find the thread.

Any luck finding that thread?

 

[Pantherjon]

Looks promising..The stand is almost as much as the tank which brings the price up to $135...still about 65 less then the Catalyst conical..or the fast ferment..

 

[ntotank]

David from NTO here. I personally cannot comment on the lid sealing - because the majority of our tanks aren't designed for air lock or pressurized use in any way.

What I can do is lower the price for the next 24 hours for anyone who wants to buy the tank and / or stand for themselves and share their experience. Dropping the combo from $135 to $100 (normal sale price will resume after 24 hours)

 

[heckels]

Do you have any problems with the lid sealing? That's what turned me away from these and the whole oxygen permeable plastic thing. Which seemed like less of an issue in the real world.

I did have an issue with fruit flies getting in. I bought an O-Ring from McMaster Carr as well as ran a bead of silicone under the removable top ring and that fixed the issue.

The biggest challenge for me was cleaning around the top lip where the screws went through. I couldn't ensure that everything was clean without tearing up my hands and a series of rags.

I've since sold it and got a couple SS conicals.

 

[augiedoggy]

Looks promising..The stand is almost as much as the tank which brings the price up to $135...still about 65 less then the Catalyst conical..or the fast ferment..

but you can just cut a hole in a table or homemade stand which actually works better if you have a couple of these.. and for a 15 gallon conical I dont know of anything close to that range.

 

[augiedoggy]

I just searched "plastic conical" here and found this thread in the first page of results.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=413406&highlight=plastic+conical

 

[atoughram]

Any luck finding that thread?

I'm sorry - I looked and there are so many, I couldnt find the specific one that I used a few years ago. Try searching "Simple Plastic Conical" in the upper right hand search box. There is a thread that has the step-by-step with parts list. If you cant find it, I'll be happy to document mine on this thread.

Russ

 

[atoughram]

I believe it was this thread that I got most of the information from

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=276378

 

[flatlandbrew]

David from NTO here. I personally cannot comment on the lid sealing - because the majority of our tanks aren't designed for air lock or pressurized use in any way.

What I can do is lower the price for the next 24 hours for anyone who wants to buy the tank and / or stand for themselves and share their experience. Dropping the combo from $135 to $100 (normal sale price will resume after 24 hours)

send you a message David (NTO)

 

[atoughram]

Lets start out at the bottom of the tank.

This tank is a full drain version. There is a 1.5" to 1" plastic bushing, 1" Nipple, ball valve, and another nipple at the bottom.

Moving up to the racking port, this is an off the shelf weldless unit from Brewhardware https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/mwl12cooler.htm with the nut replaced with a valve and a camlock added.

Or maybe was this diptube with a valve on it - I dont remember...
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/diptubewl58.htm

Here's a shot of the interior of the diptube.

A little higher yet is the thermowell for my Brewpi.
This one came from Brewers Hardware
https://www.brewershardware.com/6-Weldless-Thermowell.html?category_id=316
Outside Picture

Inside Picture

Moving up to the weldless thermometer from Brewhardware
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/thermot325.htm
I added a washer, rubber washer, and stainless nut to make it weldless - I think he sells them that way too.
Outside Picture

And inside picture

Finally for the lid
I removed the black plastic ring off of the top and sealed between the ring and the tank with clear kitchen silicon sealer. I used a whole tube and need to do it again.

On the lid, I put foam rubber window seal with adhesive on one side.

For the blow off system, I took a plastic FPT 1/2 Union, a 1/2 short nipple, rubber washer, 1/2" FPT elbow, and a camlock and made this.

Inside

Outside

And my latest addition is a CIP system (Looks like the beer stone is getting a bit thick - I need to acid wash it...)

Cip Ball

CIP in action.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVnLNKz4Clg[/ame]

My inaugural Conical Brew three years ago.
[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhJiKAJYOL8[/ame]

I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

Russ

 

[augiedoggy]

Lets start out at the bottom of the tank.

This tank is a full drain version. There is a 1.5" to 1" plastic bushing, 1" Nipple, ball valve, and another nipple at the bottom.

Moving up to the racking port, this is an off the shelf weldless unit from Brewhardware https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/mwl12cooler.htm with the nut replaced with a valve and a camlock added.

Or maybe was this diptube with a valve on it - I dont remember...
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/diptubewl58.htm

Here's a shot of the interior of the diptube.

A little higher yet is the thermowell for my Brewpi.
This one came from Brewers Hardware
https://www.brewershardware.com/6-Weldless-Thermowell.html?category_id=316
Outside Picture

Inside Picture

Moving up to the weldless thermometer from Brewhardware
https://www.brewhardware.com/product_p/thermot325.htm
I added a washer, rubber washer, and stainless nut to make it weldless - I think he sells them that way too.
Outside Picture

And inside picture

Finally for the lid
I removed the black plastic ring off of the top and sealed between the ring and the tank with clear kitchen silicon sealer. I used a whole tube and need to do it again.

On the lid, I put foam rubber window seal with adhesive on one side.

For the blow off system, I took a plastic FPT 1/2 Union, a 1/2 short nipple, rubber washer, 1/2" FPT elbow, and a camlock and made this.

Inside

Outside

And my latest addition is a CIP system (Looks like the beer stone is getting a bit thick - I need to acid wash it...)

Cip Ball

CIP in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oVnLNKz4Clg

My inaugural Conical Brew three years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhJiKAJYOL8

I'm happy to answer any questions you have.

Russ

Kinda wish you would have posted yesterday while they were on sale I was on the fence since I need one more conical.... the research I did showed a lot of owners with mixed emotions and owners who sold them due to sealing issues. oh well maybe you did me a favor... kinda broke this time of year anyway.

 

[atoughram]

Kinda wish you would have posted yesterday while they were on sale I was on the fence since I need one more conical.... the research I did showed a lot of owners with mixed emotions and owners who sold them due to sealing issues. oh well maybe you did me a favor... kinda broke this time of year anyway.

DUDE - Ya should have called. me....

Mine has sealing issues now - I wont lie

But it hasnt been an issue - I can see when high krausen is happening

Never had an infection in 29 batches of a total of 300 gallons.

http://www.plastic-mart.com/product/5813/15-gallon-cone-inductor-tank-fully-draining-infd15-19

 

[tdiowa]

I bought a large o-ring from Grainger for 8 bucks and placed it on the threads of the lid. I have never had a sealing issue. I have used these tanks for 5 years. My base I made out of Plywood so I didn't buy the manufacturers.

Works like a charm

TD

 

[atoughram]

I bought a large o-ring from Grainger for 8 bucks and placed it on the threads of the lid. I have never had a sealing issue. I have used these tanks for 5 years. My base I made out of Plywood so I didn't buy the manufacturers.

Works like a charm

TD

On mine the silicon underneath the black plastic ring has delamed with the polyethylene and it leaks there. Do you remember what size of o-ring it was?

 

[tdiowa]

8 inch, I took the collar off and put one there and put one on the lid

 

[ntotank]

David from NTO here

I'd be happy to place the tank on sale one more time. I apologize for missing the comment - just getting back into the swing of things after New Years. We would love some feedback on what we can do to work with the community more (specialty parts, better information, etc)