Infection - Contamination in DIY Conicals

[tjmustard]

So we went all out on brewing and are paying for it now i think. We got an infection/contamination on our 3rd brew. And the culprit seems straight forward. Here are our fermenters:

We made them out of chemical hoppers and are made of MDPE and this might be the killer. So to start things off we had a spill, A HUGE SPILL! Around 4 gallons spilled out of one of the fermenters when it fell out of the hanging webbing contraption. (we have since fixed this problem) To get the fermenter off the floor and stop spilling I had to put my hand in the beer. And we got this!

BUT we got the sour taste in both! My other thought is oxidation of EtOH to Acetic Acid. (vinegar) But we only had a 3 week fermentation and I pull/drop the trub after 1 week. That is where the other idea is a possibility

So the other slight issue is that I being the smartest man alive forgot to clean the fermenters the last time we used them. I did clean them with a strong iodophor solution but didn't soak them.

Now for the rest of the setup:
We do have some other plastic in our Brutus 20 but it gets pumped full of boiling wort for the whole boil. (60 min) So the only thing that touches the wort is the plastic fermenters.


My next step is to use an iodophor soak for 15 min then a starsan spray for 15 min befor the wort is added. Anything is helpful at this point.

Thanks,
TJ Mustard

 

[Bokonon]

Iodophor and star san are sanitizers, you need to clean before you can sanitize.

Also if you mix a too strong solution of them they are no longer no-rinse and require rinsing.

I'd recommend soaking with PBW or oxyclean, rinse, then sanitize.

 

[tjmustard]

Ok will do! We are brewing this week and would love to have good beer asap!

 

[BargainFittings]

Be sure not to overlook the treads on the cap and hole when you are cleaning.

 

[tjmustard]

Thanks again guys. And thank you for inexpensive fittings I always buy from you!

 

[tjmustard]

Just saw this on minibrew.com:

"Easy to Clean and Sterilize All popular cleaning and/or sterilizing agents can be used on our plastic (HDPE) fermenters. They will not harm the inert plastic material. Water at 180 degrees is an excellent sterilizing agent; pour it down the sides of the fermenter. The heat will sink into the plastic and all the parts, killing bacteria. This procedure works with stainless also. The large top makes it easy to get inside and scrub dried trub with a Teflon scouring pad. The melting point of plastic is 250 degrees. "

 

[tjmustard]

One cleaned up well and had no contamination but the other got contaminated again so I will be cleaning again!

 

[samc]

Take the bottom dump valve off and clean & soak it as well. That is a prime area for things to grow. I have the other brand of 15+ gallon inductor tank an so far have not had an infection (knock on plastic).