Salt additions in Brewfather

[Mack]

Couple of questions about salt additions and using the Brewfather app... Using RO water as the source, and selecting a target profile, the additions the app gives are minute compared to what most seem to recommend. We're talking .2 grams of CaCl2, which I've seen people recommend at 1 Tsp (which is close to 5 grams). Is the app that far off with its calculations, or am I missing something obvious? I've entered the target profiles into the brewers friend calculator, and it usually shows the Ca+2 additions as being low (not bad). Should I just trust the app? I've made a handful of batches and they've tasted good, but am I missing GREAT?

I also have the bru'n water XL sheet, but I havent figured it out. I'll keep messing with it.

One more thing, I know RO water isn't going to be all "0" across the board, and without getting it tested (that's not an option), should I just use the default values in Brewfather for RO water source profile?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I use the Brewfather water treatment app and it works fine. Ensue you select what salts you wish to add. I use
Gypsum
CaCl
Epsom salts
NaCl
BiCarb
CRS/AMS
Phosphoric Acid

 

[jdauria]

There are two types of Calcium Chloride, well three really...there is Dihydrate, Anhydrous and the third is a liquid CaCl2 solution that you can make for easier dosing. Anhydrous means that it is pure or near pure CaCl2 with no moisture in it. Dehydrate, means it has moisture in it. In BrewFather, there is a setting to select which you are using. In a recipe screen, click the calculate pH button, in the box that opens, scroll down to you see the little gear box near Reset and Auto. Click the gear box and the water settings box opens. Here you can pick when minerals you are using, but if you scroll down, under advanced, there is an option to choose what version of Calcium Chloride you are using.

Water mineral addition software will call for more CaCL2 if dehydrate is selected because 2 grams for dehydrate CaCL2 is really not two grams due to the moisture it has picked up. Pretty much all Calcium Chloride we buy, is picking up moisture once we open it. I did a test one, put 4 grams of CaCl2 in an oven safe dish, and put in the oven at 200F for an hour...after the hour, I only had 2.9 grams of pure anhydrous CaCl2 left.

Martin Brungard, who created the Bru'n Water spreadsheet which is a fantastic tool, recommends selecting anhydrous as your type of CaCl2 in brewing software, to prevent overdosing due to the larger quantity needed if you use dihydrate. His spreadsheet also has a tool for calculation the OG of liquid CaCl2 and using that for more accurate dosing. Side note: Long time BeerSmith user, though I am using Brewfather more now...and the one pet peeve with BeerSmith is that they use dihydrate, so their water calculations never match what I was getting in Bru'n Water.

Here's a great video on how to make liquid...Calcium Chloride Solution

 

[DuncB]

@Mack
So you have set source as RO water.
Target set for your intended style.
All grains entered.
Volume of water correct.
In settings make sure you select auto and select the salts you have for mash.
Sparge just adjust pH.
Press auto and depending on style I'd expect several grammes.
However if it's a pilsner the additions could be small.