Some random questions (tap water, cleaning/sanitizing, thermometers, etc.)

[njohnsoncs]

I finished my second brew day last weekend and I have a number of questions. If someone could give me advice on these I'd appreciate it.

1. I used a scotch brite sponge to clean my plastic bucker fermenter, paddle, and some other stuff immediately after my first brew day. However, I used the rough (green) side since I didn't know any better. Do I have to worry that I scratched and damaged the equipment?

2. Putting together the auto siphon and hose was a little tricky - the hose didn't fit well inside the siphon. Is it OK if I just leave them connected when I clean and sanitize or will bacteria collect at the connection point? It's a pain to disconnect the hose and reattached it each time so I won't if I don't need to.

3. I've been adding tap water straight from the faucet into my fermenter after I've poured the cooled wort to top it off at 5 gallons and get the desired OG. Do I risk contamination doing this? Should I somehow sanitize the water before adding it?

4. I have a couple fermometers on the outside of my bucket fermenter. When I cleaned/sanitized it last, I soaked it in a plastic bin of PBW and IOStar and the fermometer fell off. What do you guys do to keep them on?

5. I had a liquid thermometer break so I bought a cheap digital thermometer. I soaked it in cleaner/sanitizer and this seemed to really mess it up - it was hard to get it to turn on and flip from C to F. What is a good way to clean/sanitize digital thermometers so they don't break? Also, could you recommend a good digital thermometer? I would prefer that it can remain in the wort so I don't have to keep checking it manually. I don't like the cheap one I have even when it does work.

6. On my first brew day, I filled my primary fermenter to 5 gallons. I have since racked it to my secondary 5 gallon carboy. However, there is a lot of head space, maybe a gallon? I was expected it to fill up to the neck. What could have happened and do I have to worry about oxidation? I've only seen the airlock bubbled a few times since then which was about 4 days ago.

Thanks!
Nick

 

[Sammy86]

I finished my second brew day last weekend and I have a number of questions. If someone could give me advice on these I'd appreciate it.



1. I used a scotch brite sponge to clean my plastic bucker fermenter, paddle, and some other stuff immediately after my first brew day. However, I used the rough (green) side since I didn't know any better. Do I have to worry that I scratched and damaged the equipment?



2. Putting together the auto siphon and hose was a little tricky - the hose didn't fit well inside the siphon. Is it OK if I just leave them connected when I clean and sanitize or will bacteria collect at the connection point? It's a pain to disconnect the hose and reattached it each time so I won't if I don't need to.



3. I've been adding tap water straight from the faucet into my fermenter after I've poured the cooled wort to top it off at 5 gallons and get the desired OG. Do I risk contamination doing this? Should I somehow sanitize the water before adding it?



4. I have a couple fermometers on the outside of my bucket fermenter. When I cleaned/sanitized it last, I soaked it in a plastic bin of PBW and IOStar and the fermometer fell off. What do you guys do to keep them on?



5. I had a liquid thermometer break so I bought a cheap digital thermometer. I soaked it in cleaner/sanitizer and this seemed to really mess it up - it was hard to get it to turn on and flip from C to F. What is a good way to clean/sanitize digital thermometers so they don't break? Also, could you recommend a good digital thermometer? I would prefer that it can remain in the wort so I don't have to keep checking it manually. I don't like the cheap one I have even when it does work.



6. On my first brew day, I filled my primary fermenter to 5 gallons. I have since racked it to my secondary 5 gallon carboy. However, there is a lot of head space, maybe a gallon? I was expected it to fill up to the neck. What could have happened and do I have to worry about oxidation? I've only seen the airlock bubbled a few times since then which was about 4 days ago.



Thanks!

Nick

1. Personally I wouldn't worry as long as you don't do it again and make sure you sanitize it before adding wort to again...damage I don't think so.

2. Yes, leave them together just make sure you run some cleaner (PBW) through it and let it soak in there when cleaning and you should be good to go!

3. You can boil the water but again personally I wouldn't worry about it...I've dumped in tap water before and haven't had any issues. If you're using it to drink and mash why do anything different?

4. I've never had a problem with them falling off so unfortunately I can't comment...

5. I use an OXO digital thermometer that works great! Many will mention the Thermapen but it can be a little pricey...there are a ton on Amazon and the like so I'll let others chime in but I love my OXO

6. Secondaries are a thing of the past...unless you are adding fruit or other adjuncts you really don't need to do a secondary. I leave all my beers in primary for 14 days then dry hop (if needed) cold crash, add gelatin to clear and move to my kegs. No need to risk moving the beer when not necessary.

Hope this help!

 

[njohnsoncs]

Thanks for the response!

 

[woo_pig]

#3 you can use the before it cools. To help with that. Or even use ice. Just speeds up the brew day.