Fishies to Fermenting; aquarium chiller fermenter

[EarthBound]

Meh. As long it stays mostly on topic, and the active participants, and especially the OP, don't care, no worries.

The issue had been completely played out, and mostly resolved, with plenty of good info in the first 50 or so posts for the person stumbling upon the thread seeking tech info about aq chillers.

I was just trying to finally steer it to a point that I could make fun of lawyers to get even for the OP wisecrackin' about engineers. I am still disappointed the modified Socratic teaching method and Chewbacca Defense comments didn't generate anything.

That cracked me up.

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

forgot to watch the chewbacca video... probably a good one. I assume bashing some ambulance chaser or the like.

I appreciate distasteful slandering of world's most repulsive profession as much as the next guy. I've heard most all of it though, and I find so many of my colleagues so utterly deserving of that slander--it isn't all that funny to me anymore.

Lots of my family are engineers--and they are good people. The same cannot be said for so many attorneys--that the jokes and stereotypes are well deserved.

The socratic joke, I don't think I got.

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

Pics from racking wit. I love the kettle as a fermenter. More burly than than the conical when moving around, easier to clean, no tri-clamp fittings, way less to take apart and put back together, easy yeast collection, better sanitation--> can put on burner to steam sanitize.

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

Conical set up with a pale ale--> looks like something from a Frankenstein film... At 60F. Chiller running about an hour a day.

Yeast collect from kettle fermenter:

 

[EarthBound]

Wow, good job!

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

Okay so the two ale batches have been successful. Got a lager in the kettle fermenter (kermenter?) at 50F. No problems.

I would like to insulate it. The wife likes lagers and I got okay for some added expenses.

Purchased this for insulation: (It got here quick!)

Gymnastic Rubber - Rubber flooring, closed-cell foam exercise mat

And here (ignore the lawyer in the background screeching on my computer in the background...)

Insulation - YouTube

I think the stuff is pretty good. Say "high R" rating and is very flexible--but has good form as well.

My thought was to cut the insulation nicely to fit around the conical. Maybe end up with a couple pieces that wrap around and velcro together.

Anyone have any idea how to go about this? I have time, and I would like a nice looking fit. The conical is an odd shape to work with.

 

[Shockerengr]

use multiple pieces, and for the conical portion, use newsprint or similar paper to play with patterns. it'll look pie shaped, and I think there are calculators online that can help with the cone shape to flat material patterns

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

think there are calculators online that can help with the cone shape to flat material patterns

Thanks again! Found this: [ame=http://download.cnet.com/Cone-Layout/3000-6677_4-10551691.html]Cone Layout - Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com[/ame]

The program even prints the pattern in standard printer paper--> multiple pages that are marked to line up and create the larger pattern = slick.

Edit: Picture of the printout for insulation pattern--> anyone who wants to insulate a conical--> this free software (for 21 days) appears to be a must..

Like being a little kid again!

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

conical insulation just about done... pretty happy with it.

 

[Shockerengr]

what's the black material in the third pic (with the red tile background) a backing material?

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

1/8" thick of the same material... A whole roll was only $10. It has a textured front and gives a nice finished look.

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

Do you think insulating the top is necessary?

 

[Shockerengr]

Probably not, there'll be an airgap below the lid that will supply some insulation.

It looks like you put velcro on the edges of all the foam too, Was that 1" for the main body?

I just looked and the 1/8" was $15 for a 48x48 or 24x96 sheet. was there another option that i'm not seeing?

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

Probably not, there'll be an airgap below the lid that will supply some insulation.

It looks like you put velcro on the edges of all the foam too, Was that 1" for the main body?

3/4 inch on the body. 1" would have been more expensive and harder to fit around the tri-clamps

I just looked and the 1/8" was $15 for a 48x48 or 24x96 sheet. was there another option that i'm not seeing?

Edit: it's the "high quality" 1/16" but the actual measurement is no less than 1/8" thick... Receipt says $13

Note: anyone using the "cone software"--> height is the actual height of the cone--> not the length along the angle of the cone (had to make a second pattern)

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

Had enough insulating material for the kettle fermenter--and compared to the conical--it was super simple to insulate. One piece with a couple holes for the handles and the 1/8" textured piece of the top for looks and little extra insulation.

Edit: Finished up. About day's worth of worth doing both fermenters--minus a run at the beach with the dog and a few beers (of course). All and all pretty enjoyable project. The wife didn't think I could do it. But she helped a bit too.

 

[DrewBrewTheGreat]

Lagering with the insulated kettle fermenter 49-51F:

Even with the the conical fermenting a pale and now an IPA at 60-62F and the room temperature from 65 to 75F, the chiller is running once in the morning and once in the evening, each for little over an hour--give or take. That's to keep about 24 gallons of beer at two seperate temperatures (one ale and one lager).

The bath water, which the the chiller maintains, is set a 40F. When it hits 50F the chiller kicks back on to bring back down to 40F. This takes about 12 hours--give or take.

Interestingly, even bath water, a single degree below the set temperature on the lager--will cool the lager down to the same degree as the bath water. It just takes a bit longer than when the differential is greater.

 

[weirdboy]

Hey this thread inspired me to look on craigslist, and wouldn't you know it, I picked up a 1/4 HP aquarium chiller for a song. I plan to set up a similar system, as I really like the independent temperature controls for each fermentation.

Even if I end up just getting rid of the stuff, I can resell that chiller and recoup all my costs, so thanks!

 

[pagrider]

using an aquarium chiller and cooler with ss brew bucket and it works great. much better than the fridge method IMO.

 

[brew-in]

subscribed

 

[pagrider]

I use the cool zone jacket on two ported big mouth bubblers and a glass carboy. Everything can be kept at seperate temperatures. Works terrific. Similar results except my garage is 85 degrees and my chiller still only runs about 2-3 hours total a day once the fermentation temp is reached. This weekend took 5 gallons of wort from 82 degrees to 65 in less than an hour.

 

[Woodbrews]

I use the cool zone jacket on two ported big mouth bubblers and a glass carboy. Everything can be kept at seperate temperatures. Works terrific. Similar results except my garage is 85 degrees and my chiller still only runs about 2-3 hours total a day once the fermentation temp is reached. This weekend took 5 gallons of wort from 82 degrees to 65 in less than an hour.

I'm looking to do something very similar -- I also have a CoolZone jacket, although I'm thinking of upgrading to a SS conical of some sort, preferably one where I can continue using the CoolZone jacket.

Question for the OP and other thread folks -- which is likely to work best -- modifying a window air conditioner unit to cool a reservoir full of glycol, or using an aquarium chiller to cool a reservoir full of glycol?

Is one capable of chilling the reservoir better than the other? The aquarium chiller seems more plug-and-play, but window AC units can be obtained for much less money than aquarium chillers. Anyone weigh the pros & cons?

 

[Woodbrews]

One more questions for the OP: What are the pros/cons to fermenting in a kettle vs. a conical? Do you prefer one over the other? Thanks!

 

[Scoobytj]

I have a 50 gal plástic conical fermenter, in your experience, do you think works in my fermenter.

 

[Shockerengr]

Depends on which part you're asking about? The insulation should work just fine. The aquarium chiller probably isn't big enough.