Water or Star San change?

[rcrabb22]

I'm confused. From the information you've given, 1) your current SS is clouding up in solution with your tap water. 2) It doesn't cloud when placed in solution with distilled water. These facts indicate that a change in your tap water is the culprit. Therefore, how is Five Star going to be able to answer the question of why it's clouding up? They have no access to your local tap water to conduct tests, even if they were so inclined. The local water utility might be a better source of information.

I have spoke with the water dept. and they have told me nothing has changed as far as their processing or mix ratio of river to well water. A river is constantly changing given runoff volumes and such, so one would expect that over the 4 years I have been using Starsan this behavior would have happened before.

An alternative explanation *COULD BE* something in Starsan has changed that reacts differently and becomes more cloudy when mixed with tap water with minerals. I am not saying that is the culprit but is a possibility.

I open the closed 2 gal bucket of Starsan I mixed this weekend. It was fairly clear but I could see several white "strands" suspended in the mix each about 1/4 to 1/2" long.

I took a PH reading and it came in at 2.1. It started at 1.9 as I mixed it a little strong at 1/2 oz to 2 gallons of cold water. I then stirred the solution and it became more cloudy and the PH dropped to 2.0. At first thought it looks like the Starsan didn't completely mix with the water and it was separating.

I am not sure this test reveals anything earth shattering and as long as the PH stays below 3.5 for a reasonable period of time I am not really complaining. I am experiencing a different behavior then I have before and would like to understand it.

 

[rico567]

I have spoke with the water dept. and they have told me nothing has changed as far as their processing or mix ratio of river to well water. A river is constantly changing given runoff volumes and such, so one would expect that over the 4 years I have been using Starsan this behavior would have happened before.

An alternative explanation *COULD BE* something in Starsan has changed that reacts differently and becomes more cloudy when mixed with tap water with minerals. I am not saying that is the culprit but is a possibility.

I open the closed 2 gal bucket of Starsan I mixed this weekend. It was fairly clear but I could see several white "strands" suspended in the mix each about 1/4 to 1/2" long.

I took a PH reading and it came in at 2.1. It started at 1.9 as I mixed it a little strong at 1/2 oz to 2 gallons of cold water. I then stirred the solution and it became more cloudy and the PH dropped to 2.0. At first thought it looks like the Starsan didn't completely mix with the water and it was separating.

I am not sure this test reveals anything earth shattering and as long as the PH stays below 3.5 for a reasonable period of time I am not really complaining. I am experiencing a different behavior then I have before and would like to understand it.

OK, I think I understand now. As long as the pH stays <3, I suppose it'll all be OK in the final issue.

 

[Landshark67]

We are aware that starsan will remain clear in RO or distilled water.
The other message here is that Starsan has changed. I have been mixing batches in tap water for years that stayed clear for about a week to 10 days. The new bottle of StarSan clouds in less than an hour. My water report has not changed. Others have posted similar results.

I have well water and a water softening system. I've noticed no difference in my Starsan mixes and I've gone through two bottles since April. Water stays clear for about 3 days if open to air. In a corney keg, it lasts months. Same for spray bottles.

I use Starsan for all sorts of cleaning/sanitizing around the house. It's great for mtn bike water bottles, camelbacks and granite counter top cleaning.

 

[rollinred]

I battled this issue for a while after finding out that cloudy Star San means there was high mineral content in the water. I bought PH strips just to be sure but also some distilled water so I could store it. Well, 2 days later the Star San was cloudy even with distilled water.

The worst part, I had a lot of infected batches.

I have since switched to Iodophor and not had one infection. I mix up 1.5 gallons each time and use minimal amounts of Iodophor and have no problem saying that I will probably never use Star San again. I know a lot of people like it and I won't knock it because it obviously works for most but I can not get the stuff to work right.

 

[Mayday99]

I battled this issue for a while after finding out that cloudy Star San means there was high mineral content in the water. I bought PH strips just to be sure but also some distilled water so I could store it. Well, 2 days later the Star San was cloudy even with distilled water.

The worst part, I had a lot of infected batches.

I have since switched to Iodophor and not had one infection. I mix up 1.5 gallons each time and use minimal amounts of Iodophor and have no problem saying that I will probably never use Star San again. I know a lot of people like it and I won't knock it because it obviously works for most but I can not get the stuff to work right.

Do you remember around the time you bought the StarSan in question?

I think I bought mine around March of this year. Based on some of the descriptions here it sounds POSSIBLE a bad batch went out. Like I said earlier, out of 30 or so batches of starsan made over the years, all with tap, only 2 clouded, and they were at different times and both from the same bottle, so it seems more likely than not that it is not a water issue in my case.

 

[rollinred]

Do you remember around the time you bought the StarSan in question?

I think I bought mine around March of this year. Based on some of the descriptions here it sounds POSSIBLE a bad batch went out. Like I said earlier, out of 30 or so batches of starsan made over the years, all with tap, only 2 clouded, and they were at different times and both from the same bottle, so it seems more likely than not that it is not a water issue in my case.

Sorry, Mine was purchased 3 years ago because it was for the third batch I ever brewed. From the 3rd batch to the 18th batch I had 3 good batches and the rest were terrible and at least 3/4 were infected.

I nearly gave up brewing because of how pissed off and frustrated I was. I started watching my process more and then my wife's uncle was up and brewed with me one day. He mentioned that the star-san turned cloudy right away and was surprised. I had no idea at all that star san would react with hard water like that. My PH level was fine according to strips but still got a bad batch after that.

Switched to Iodophor and every batch since has been great.

 

[gingerdawg]

Do you remember around the time you bought the StarSan in question?

I think I bought mine around March of this year. Based on some of the descriptions here it sounds POSSIBLE a bad batch went out. Like I said earlier, out of 30 or so batches of starsan made over the years, all with tap, only 2 clouded, and they were at different times and both from the same bottle, so it seems more likely than not that it is not a water issue in my case.

I don't remember exactly when I got my bottle of 'insty-cloud" Star-san, but it was sometime around January or February.

 

[rcrabb22]

I don't remember exactly when I got my bottle of 'insty-cloud" Star-san, but it was sometime around January or February.

+1 I used a Christmas gift certificate to place an order and the Starsan was part was included in that purchase