burry fermenter under ground
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burry fermenter under ground
I did a search and nothing came up for "burry underground. I was wondering if you could ferment "underground ". The available plave i have to ferment is way too hot in the summer. I was wonderin if I could burry a 50gal drum mostly underground to keep the temp down. Wife said no more 5gal buckets in the house.
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
Re: burry fermenter under ground
Tell me the temperature at the depth you want to ferment at and I will tell you the answer.
Re: burry fermenter under ground
I dont care about the temp as long as it ferments, so i guess ferment temps??? And i can burry the whole thing (50gal) if needed.
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
- still_stirrin
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
More trouble than worth....Mr.Spooky wrote:I dont care about the temp as long as it ferments, so i guess ferment temps??? And i can burry the whole thing (50gal) if needed.
How are you going to get the wash out of a 50 gallon barrel buried below ground level? You won't be able to siphon it out. And cleaning the ferment lees out will be a real headache...as you'll be leaning nearly upside down into the barrel.
Make sure you video this process...'cuz I could use a good laugh.
ss
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- Still Life
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
Why not use high-temperature-loving bakers yeast?
Sure would be easier than burying a drum.
Sure would be easier than burying a drum.
Re: burry fermenter under ground
I would use a pump to pump it. I have a "debris" handling pump. And im man enough to clean the barrel out. That would be one of the easier things in my life.still_stirrin wrote:More trouble than worth....Mr.Spooky wrote:I dont care about the temp as long as it ferments, so i guess ferment temps??? And i can burry the whole thing (50gal) if needed.
How are you going to get the wash out of a 50 gallon barrel buried below ground level? You won't be able to siphon it out. And cleaning the ferment lees out will be a real headache...as you'll be leaning nearly upside down into the barrel.
Make sure you video this process...'cuz I could use a good laugh.
ss
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
Re: burry fermenter under ground
it gets about 120*f in my shop during the day. Can yeast handle that?Still Life wrote:Why not use high-temperature-loving bakers yeast?
Sure would be easier than burying a drum.
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
- Still Life
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
120°F is too high.
Holy mackerel. When I think hot, I think 100°.
Forget not everyone lives in my climate.
Sorry. Now I see why you want to bury & pump.
Holy mackerel. When I think hot, I think 100°.
Forget not everyone lives in my climate.
Sorry. Now I see why you want to bury & pump.
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
Could you set the fermenter in a larger tub full of water. Might be enuf mass to even out the heat swings and buffer the high temp. Prolly still have to use a heat tolerant yeast but it would save diggin a hole
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
Haven't done a search but you miss-spelled bury. I like the other suggestions rather than burying?
- still_stirrin
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
+1.jedneck wrote:Could you set the fermenter in a larger tub full of water. Might be enuf mass to even out the heat swings and buffer the high temp. Prolly still have to use a heat tolerant yeast but it would save diggin a hole
And if need be, you could recirculate the water jacket water through a cooler with ice water in it. Use a temperature controller with a temperature bulb in the fermenter's water jacket. This is how commercial breweries maintain a proper fermenting temperature.
Burying a barrel is just crazy. Many (much better) ways to manage the fermenters.
ss
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
+1 what they said. I buried one and experienced all the problems that they mentioned. My solution was to stop fermenting from mid July thru the end of August. It's way easier to keep one warm than to cool one down.
Jbt
Jbt
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
Sit the barrel in a container of water, with a towel over the top. The towel will soak up the water, which will evaporate and cool the barrel. Just keep the water topped up from time to time and you'll be fine.
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
minus the problems that were mentioned, did it keep temps down? Im guessing under ground is around low 70's?jb-texshine wrote:+1 what they said. I buried one and experienced all the problems that they mentioned. My solution was to stop fermenting from mid July thru the end of August. It's way easier to keep one warm than to cool one down.
Jbt
I could even put it outside of the shop on top of the ground, but we get in the 90's for most of the summer.
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
Re: burry fermenter under ground
I suppose you get your water from a distribution net with pipes under ground? Or you pump up your water yourself from under ground? In both cases you can measure the temperature of your drinking water after you let it run for some time.
Or you dig a small hole to the estimated depth and put a max-min-thermometer in it.
Of course I can not advise you about the burying your fermenter, because I do not know your position or surroundings. But you should be able to gather enough information to help you decide.
In my surroundings there have been some ice-cellars: holes dug about 1 m deep in the ground, than the built a dome over it of about 2 m high and then the earth that was dug put, was throw over the dome. Rich people then in winter stored (made other people store) frozen ice from the river in these cellars and during summer they could harvest the cold.
Or you dig a small hole to the estimated depth and put a max-min-thermometer in it.
Of course I can not advise you about the burying your fermenter, because I do not know your position or surroundings. But you should be able to gather enough information to help you decide.
In my surroundings there have been some ice-cellars: holes dug about 1 m deep in the ground, than the built a dome over it of about 2 m high and then the earth that was dug put, was throw over the dome. Rich people then in winter stored (made other people store) frozen ice from the river in these cellars and during summer they could harvest the cold.
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
It did work. Kept temps in the mid eightys or lower. Beware fire ants also. You could probably rig something from a fridge and a temp co.trolled switch. I bet someone here has done it or can tell you how to. Smart folks around here.Mr.Spooky wrote:minus the problems that were mentioned, did it keep temps down? Im guessing under ground is around low 70's?jb-texshine wrote:+1 what they said. I buried one and experienced all the problems that they mentioned. My solution was to stop fermenting from mid July thru the end of August. It's way easier to keep one warm than to cool one down.
Jbt
I could even put it outside of the shop on top of the ground, but we get in the 90's for most of the summer.
Jbt
Remember not to blow yourself up,you only get to forget once!
Deo Vendice
Never eat Mexican food north or east of Dallas tx!
Deo Vendice
Never eat Mexican food north or east of Dallas tx!
Re: burry fermenter under ground
I would use a pump to pump it. I have a "debris" handling pump. And im man enough to clean the barrel out. That would be one of the easier things in my life.
Can you tell me what kind of pump you have and. Post pics if you can and don't mind. Been looking for a pump that can handle ag silage .
Yak
HDNB wrote: The trick here is to learn what leads to a stalled mash....and quit doing that.
Re: burry fermenter under ground
If you can find, a pump with a steel vein instead of a rubber impeller it will chew right through the grains.
Re: burry fermenter under ground
its something like this.... I use it on a koi pond. Its not this exact one but I can tell you the exact one this evening. I don't know if it will work or not but I don't see why not. I have a extra one so Im gonna give it a try.. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Elite-Pumps-360 ... 1668720058" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollowyakattack wrote:I would use a pump to pump it. I have a "debris" handling pump. And im man enough to clean the barrel out. That would be one of the easier things in my life.
Can you tell me what kind of pump you have and. Post pics if you can and don't mind. Been looking for a pump that can handle ag silage .
Yak
They also make them with strainer baskets on them that catches most stuff before the pump... iv found 6" fish in my basket before.. if they can suck a 6" fish through a 2" pvc pipe they can probably handle anythin you can throw at it lol
Last edited by Mr.Spooky on Tue Jun 20, 2017 5:15 am, edited 1 time in total.
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
Re: burry fermenter under ground
yea, I hear ya on the fire ants.. Im sure I could do the frige thing,, but Ill be honest, I aint a wantin to build nothing else, have a nother project or research anything LOL... I have so many projects going on right now. I built my still over 5 years ago and just now getting it all tied up because of other projects I started.. I need to slow down and enjoyjb-texshine wrote:It did work. Kept temps in the mid eightys or lower. Beware fire ants also. You could probably rig something from a fridge and a temp co.trolled switch. I bet someone here has done it or can tell you how to. Smart folks around here.Mr.Spooky wrote:minus the problems that were mentioned, did it keep temps down? Im guessing under ground is around low 70's?jb-texshine wrote:+1 what they said. I buried one and experienced all the problems that they mentioned. My solution was to stop fermenting from mid July thru the end of August. It's way easier to keep one warm than to cool one down.
Jbt
I could even put it outside of the shop on top of the ground, but we get in the 90's for most of the summer.
Jbt
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
- shadylane
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
If there's a garden hose nearby, there's no reason for the fermenter to over heat.
Use 30 gallon fermenter in a 55 gallon water jacket, Also known as barrels
A side benefit for lazy people is, the fermenter will get lighter and float while it's being emptied.
So you ain't gotta bend over as far
Use 30 gallon fermenter in a 55 gallon water jacket, Also known as barrels
A side benefit for lazy people is, the fermenter will get lighter and float while it's being emptied.
So you ain't gotta bend over as far
Re: burry fermenter under ground
what type of temps are you talking about keeping something like this in? Inside my shop honestly gets about 118-120 degrees during the day during the dog days. Outside the shop (outdoor) highs are low 90's .shadylane wrote:If there's a garden hose nearby, there's no reason for the fermenter to over heat.
Use 30 gallon fermenter in a 55 gallon water jacket, Also known as barrels
A side benefit for lazy people is, the fermenter will get lighter and float while it's being emptied.
So you ain't gotta bend over as far
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long
- shadylane
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
Depends on how cool the tap water is and how much water you want to use.Mr.Spooky wrote:what type of temps are you talking about keeping something like this in? Inside my shop honestly gets about 118-120 degrees during the day during the dog days. Outside the shop (outdoor) highs are low 90's .
Bubba, uses less than $1 worth of county water to keep his 30gal plastic fermenter below 90F and water his garden for a couple days.
My water jacked fermenter is smaller, SS and more efficient.
Last edited by shadylane on Tue Jun 20, 2017 3:05 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: burry fermenter under ground
Good idea SL, just make sure the 30 gal container is not able to dump when it starts to get bouyant. I like your idea best. Put a lid over the hole and cover with something to insulate. Used to cover ice cakes with sawdust in "ice houses" around these parts. Ice would last all summer. Maybe something along side that 55 gal drum too. Sheesh, 70 degree ground temp. It's 54 here at best
- shadylane
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
If it's almost empty and buoyant, it's time to refill or dump it.Tapeman wrote:Good idea SL, just make sure the 30 gal container is not able to dump when it starts to get bouyant.
That's 1 of the pro's and con's of a floating, jacked fermenter
Re: burry fermenter under ground
Refill and do it again!
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
It cant be 120 in that shed all of the time , what does the temp drop to on a hot night ?
Re: burry fermenter under ground
I've got an upright freezer and a refrigerator that can both take 25 gallon drums. One cost me nothing, the other, $30. Added STC-1000 controllers and lamps for heaters and I can control the temperature to within 0.3 degrees either way, summer or winter. No building, no digging, just some electrical skills courtesy of my sparky mates at the pub.
- shadylane
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Re: burry fermenter under ground
One way to see, would be to fill a barrel full of water, to see what it's temps average out to, over a couple nights and daysSaltbush Bill wrote:It cant be 120 in that shed all of the time , what does the temp drop to on a hot night ?
Re: burry fermenter under ground
Bout 80*fSaltbush Bill wrote:It cant be 120 in that shed all of the time , what does the temp drop to on a hot night ?
4" plate column >>>[/color] the flame that burns twice as bright only burns half as long