I think Im using too much Star-San

[Setesh]

So I have given this a go and each time I go back to the bucket there is mold in it and/or it is super cloudy, any way to get around this? I have wasted two more 5 gal batches

Are you using a sealed bucket?

I store mine in a korny keg and I've never had mold grow in it. In theory the starsan will be neutralized after prolonged contact with oxygen in the air. The PH will raise and you no longer have a starsan solution but a neutralized phosphoric acid solution. This will not sanitize and will not prevent growth of spores. A sealed container should prevent this. Just keep the air/starsan ratio as low as possible. If you are sealing the bucket and it's mostly full I have no idea what the problem is.

 

[2bluewagons]

Step 1: Don't make 5 gallons, make 1 gallon at a time. The fill cup has mL increments on the back side. 30mL ~= 1oz, so for 1 gallon of solution you want just over the 5 mL mark of StarSan. Typically for each batch I top off my spray bottle with whatever I have leftover in my 1 gal jug and then make a new 1 gal batch. As others have said, you need contact time, not full-on soaking. A few oz of solution is fine for a whole carboy, keg, etc.

Step 2: Use distilled water. Using tap water will cause the sanitizing and surfactant additives to precipitate out over time, which results in cloudy solution and eventually a pH higher than 3.

Step 3: Keep the solution covered/sealed and free of debris.

I'm also in the camp of having to replace my 16oz bottle after years of use, so it's certainly possible.

 

[Dylan42]

Step 1: Don't make 5 gallons, make 1 gallon at a time. The fill cup has mL increments on the back side. 30mL ~= 1oz, so for 1 gallon of solution you want just over the 5 mL mark of StarSan. Typically for each batch I top off my spray bottle with whatever I have leftover in my 1 gal jug and then make a new 1 gal batch. As others have said, you need contact time, not full-on soaking. A few oz of solution is fine for a whole carboy, keg, etc.

Step 2: Use distilled water. Using tap water will cause the sanitizing and surfactant additives to precipitate out over time, which results in cloudy solution and eventually a pH higher than 3.

Step 3: Keep the solution covered/sealed and free of debris.

I'm also in the camp of having to replace my 16oz bottle after years of use, so it's certainly possible.

Thanks Ill do this next time, I cant believe I'm letting something so simple kick my ass and take my money! Haha! The bucket I was using from Lowes probably doesnt have a good seal on it, might need to get a new one.

 

[Yooper]

Thanks Ill do this next time, I cant believe I'm letting something so simple kick my ass and take my money! Haha! The bucket I was using from Lowes probably doesnt have a good seal on it, might need to get a new one.

I use a glass gallon jug. It's heavy but it was free (Carlo Rossi jug), it also works as a one gallon fermenter when it's empty of star-san, and the star-san lasts and lasts. I make it up, and fill a squirt bottle as well (a cheap 99 cent spray bottle from the dollar store). You can use any jug, but they seem to be better than a bucket as they stay tightly closed.

 

[b-boy]

I use one of these:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_356492-1152...L=?Ns=p_product_qty_sales_dollar|1&facetInfo=

And one of these:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007KAY4S2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

Forms an airtight seal. I make 5 gallons and use it for about 2 months.

I also keep a spray bottle around at all times.

 

[tnsen]

ok I have to chime in here....I buy 2.5 gallon jug of distilled water at the local grocers (Meijer)...less than 3 bucks....then mix .5 oz in a bucket when I am done I pour into my bottling bucket and refill the jug that the distilled water came in with the bottling spout ,and store my starsan in that and yes also have a spray bottle filled at all times (the only way to go)...been on this batch since march and many brews...Tom

 

[Dylan42]

yeah i definitely got the spray bottle going but will try the distiled water route once I get more star san :smack:

 

[kh54s10]

I use a 5 gallon water bottle. I mix up varying amounts in it and it is rarely full. It never gets cloudy, never any mold and covered with a piece of foil... some of the time. I have had no issues and the PH stays within specs for months.

The stuff is designed to kill molds so I cannot figure out why you would get mold growing on it. Green slime??

 

[Brewskii]

Do you CLEAN & sterilize?

You can't have sterile without cleaning.

Any vessel where you are using starsan or other sterilizer must be perfectly clean and rinsed and/or dry with something like PBW or unscented Oxy clean or something to clean any pockets or clumps.

 

[cluckk]

Do you CLEAN & sterilize?

You can't have sterile without cleaning.

Any vessel where you are using starsan or other sterilizer must be perfectly clean and rinsed and/or dry with something like PBW or unscented Oxy clean or something to clean any pockets or clumps.

I don't think he was complaining about infections, but about using too much Star San.

I use more than many here--Yooper seems to have it down to a science. Yet, I don't go through it like the OP reports. I usually have two batches in the garage. One is used for sanitizing kegs and goes from one keg to another as needed. It is simply stored in the last keg it was used in until the next time I need it. I read that if mixed to proper strength it won't harm SS and I have never seen a problem from this. Then for brewing I make up a five gallon batch and use that through the whole brew process--which are often double batches. I then refill my spray bottle and put a lid on the remaining. I have never found mold growing in it--even the times I forgot to put a lid on it. Often the batch that has been saved gets used up in other projects.

I may try the way others are doing here. But even without that, by this way you should still get at least 16 batches out of a 16 oz. bottle.

 

[Brewskii]

I don't think he was complaining about infections, but about using too much Star San.

From a few posts back.....

So I have given this a go and each time I go back to the bucket there is mold in it and/or it is super cloudy, any way to get around this? I have wasted two more 5 gal batches

 

[Dylan42]

From a few posts back.....

By bucket I meant the bucket i kept my sanitizer in. Im strictly talking about sanitizer here, but yes I use straight A for all my cleaning purposes. Im just trying to figure out what system works for me to help me from going through too much star San, once again thanks for the help guys and gals

 

[divrguy]

Mine usually turns cloudy within an hour of mixing it up if I use tap water. The cloudiness doesn't matter as long as your PH is still good. As mentioned earlier get some PH test strips (you don't even need to use a full strip, I tear them into 3rds) and make sure that it's still under 3 you are good to go. The spray bottle approach saves not only starsan but a ton of effort too!

I'm on my second bottle of star-san. I've only been using it for about 7 years, though. I used to use one step when I did mostly wine.

I mix up one gallon at a time, with 1/4 ounce of star san to one gallon of water. I use, reuse, etc, and end up spilling it before it loses effectiveness as I pour it back and forth. I use it for my kegs, my fermenters, my siphon, tubing, bottling bucket, etc and I brew ten gallon batches about 2 times per month. I make wine about once per month, and use star-san for the bottles and all of the carboys and things associated with winemaking.

I bought a bottle about 5 years ago and I have 1/3 of it left. I brew every other weekend. I store it in a 5 gallon bucket with one of the really good gasket ed lids. Turned cloudy in minutes. Check it with a PH test strip every month and top off if necessary. When I pour it into a FERMENTOR, I pour off the bottom that may have a little debris. Top off when necessary.

 

[benzy4010]

You can store used starsan in a tub? I didn't know that! Awesome!

 

[MyNameIsPaul]

Ok you math whizzes, what's the proper amount of Starsan for a 32oz spray bottle?

 

[kh54s10]

The biggest wastes of Starsan:

1) Using more than necessary, then dumping it. It is still good, save and reuse it. You just need to wet the surface well, a spray bottle works well
2) Dumping it when cloudy without checking the PH.
3) Using and then discarding a gallon or more when using in a blow off container. Get a margarine or cottage cheese container put about 1 inch or Starsan in it. Put this in a bucket or something in case the tub overflows. Keep it low so you won't create a reverse siphon. So you are only using a cup or two of Starsan. There is no need to use a gallon of Starsan here.
4) Mixing the solution too strong. It only has to be at a strength that keeps the PH below 3

When I sanitize my equipment, which is clean, I wet all the surfaces. Then, when done I pour the Starsan back into my storage container for the next time.
I have used just 8 ounces for 30+ five gallon batches. I am sure I used it more freely in the beginning.

 

[unionrdr]

I make it easy on myself & mix 1 gallon at a time. Fill the lil measure on the Starsan bottle 3/4's of the way up to the 1/4oz mark. I use 1 gallon SunnyD jugs of water to mix that amount in. Then fill spray bottles,etc. I use 1/2G plastic vodka jugs 1/3 full of water & a good splash of starsan.

 

[kh54s10]

128 ounces in a gallon. You need one ounce for 5 gallons so, 1/5 of an ounce for the gallon. 4 x 32 ounces = 1 gallon so you need 1/4 of the 1/5th of the ounce of Starsan. It is much easier to make a larger amount and store it in a larger container then use that to fill the spray bottle.

 

[MyNameIsPaul]

128 ounces in a gallon. You need one ounce for 5 gallons so, 1/5 of an ounce for the gallon. 4 x 32 ounces = 1 gallon so you need 1/4 of the 1/5th of the ounce of Starsan. It is much easier to make a larger amount and store it in a larger container then use that to fill the spray bottle.

I did the same math you did and my head started to hurt trying to convert how much 1/4 of 1/5th of an ounce is.

 

[dyqik]

The biggest wastes of Starsan:

1) Using more than necessary, then dumping it. It is still good, save and reuse it. You just need to wet the surface well, a spray bottle works well
2) Dumping it when cloudy without checking the PH.
3) Using and then discarding a gallon or more when using in a blow off container. Get a margarine or cottage cheese container put about 1 inch or Starsan in it. Put this in a bucket or something in case the tub overflows. Keep it low so you won't create a reverse siphon. So you are only using a cup or two of Starsan. There is no need to use a gallon of Starsan here.
4) Mixing the solution too strong. It only has to be at a strength that keeps the PH below 3

When I sanitize my equipment, which is clean, I wet all the surfaces. Then, when done I pour the Starsan back into my storage container for the next time.
I have used just 8 ounces for 30+ five gallon batches. I am sure I used it more freely in the beginning.

and (one that I've seen mentioned in a couple of threads)
5) Sanitizing things that don't need to be sterile. e.g. mash tun, boil kettle, HLT, transfer lines used before the boil, immersion chiller, outside of the fermenter, etc. Things that don't contact the wort after 15 minutes before the end of the boil don't need to be sterilized, and boiling the chiller with the wort will sterilize it.

 

[kh54s10]

and (one that I've seen mentioned in a couple of threads)
5) Sanitizing things that don't need to be sterile. e.g. mash tun, boil kettle, HLT, transfer lines used before the boil, immersion chiller, outside of the fermenter, etc. Things that don't contact the wort after 15 minutes before the end of the boil don't need to be sterilized, and boiling the chiller with the wort will sterilize it.

Good addition!

 

[JLem]

I make up 3 gallons and store it in a glass carboy...my racking canes and aeration wand then get stored in it. I siphon off a spray bottle worth whenever I need to and use that to sanitize my fermenters, bottling buckets, and any beer-collecting vessels I use for taking samples...and the rim of the bucket lid whenever I open up the fermenter. I have never had anything grow in the stored star san - i have to imagine that if something is growing in/on he star san, you are diluting it too much, or otherwise doing something that renders it ineffective.

 

[justkev52]

From a few posts back.....

I use Idophor- Iodine to sanitize kegs and glass and use Star San for plastic.
The big bottle of Idophor will last about 50 years. I just keep my Starsan in a water cooler bottle with the lid on. 1 OZ TO 5 GALLONS. Don't let your siphon hose (or anything) sit in it for more than a few minutes or it will get slimey.

 

[Dylan42]

I use Idophor- Iodine to sanitize kegs and glass and use Star San for plastic.
The big bottle of Idophor will last about 50 years. I just keep my Starsan in a water cooler bottle with the lid on. 1 OZ TO 5 GALLONS. Don't let your siphon hose (or anything) sit in it for more than a few minutes or it will get slimey.

I know I noticed that he hope was super slimy, still usable though. Im thinking of switching to idophor