QTikiBrew
Well-Known Member
I do BIAB (no sparge), mostly 1.5-2 gallon batches, but before the new brewing assistant arrives in late November (and they won't be much use for a number of years), I'm planning on getting a couple of 4 gallon batches (I'm choosing to ferment in cornys) completed.
My state publishes a monthly water report, usually one month behind - here are the latest three months available:
They test for a LOT more than those, but reading a couple of posts here suggests these were the big ones to look at. Yes, they chloraminate the water.
Based on what I have read here, 1/4 of a campden tablet should do me just fine for a 6-7 gallons of water.
Are there other minerals I should be concerned with?
I'm trying to cut costs for building up my brewing gear right now, and I'm not sure I can justify the $120-200 for the LaMotte kits.
I DO have a pH meter, and I'm ordering calibration solutions when I order all my other gear.
Does it look like I have enough info and consistency from these tests to not test on my own? (I'm not willing to buy an RO system)
My state publishes a monthly water report, usually one month behind - here are the latest three months available:
Item Tested for | JANUARY 2020 | FEBRUARY 2020 | MARCH 2020 | ||||
| 4.88 | 4.77 | 5.36 | ||||
| .85 | .93 | .97 | ||||
| 36.5 | 39.8 | 40.7 | ||||
| 6.8 | 6.5 | 7 | ||||
| 32.4 | 31.6 | 34.7 | ||||
| 31.1 | 35.6 | 38.1 | ||||
| 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | ||||
| 2.47 | 2.75 | 2.74 | ||||
| BLANK | BLANK | BLANK | ||||
| 15.7 | 15.7 | 15.7 |
They test for a LOT more than those, but reading a couple of posts here suggests these were the big ones to look at. Yes, they chloraminate the water.
Based on what I have read here, 1/4 of a campden tablet should do me just fine for a 6-7 gallons of water.
Are there other minerals I should be concerned with?
I'm trying to cut costs for building up my brewing gear right now, and I'm not sure I can justify the $120-200 for the LaMotte kits.
I DO have a pH meter, and I'm ordering calibration solutions when I order all my other gear.
Does it look like I have enough info and consistency from these tests to not test on my own? (I'm not willing to buy an RO system)