Fly Sparge Question

[flaminpi3]

Everything that I have read says that I should maintain about an inch of water above the grain bed when I fly sparge. During the last two sparges (which were also my first two), even if I stop the run off I can't get the sparge water to build up over the grain bed. The grains just seems to float at the top of the water line. Did I misunderstand the directions, am I doing something wrong with my mash or the sparge itself? I am using 5-gallon Gott coolers as my MLT and HLT with a stainless braid as my filter. Any advice?

 

[Denny's Evil Concoctions]

Hmm.. While some may float, usually most sink.

Are you recirculating the first few liters(quarts) before you start your run off to help settle the bed and clear your lines?

 

[Bobby_M]

Are you adding a mashout infusion and recirculating at least a gallon before starting the sparge?

 

[flaminpi3]

Usually the runoff stars pretty clear so I don't end up recirculating very much wort. I didn't realize that it also serves to settle the bed. Thanks!

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

EDIT: I just reread and saw the last line. Could you describe the exact process?