Does anyone use aquarium heaters or airstones???

[wirdip]

Hi guys, I am trying to produce the cleanest tasteless neutral from sugar washes, have read somewhere that aquarium heaters can be used to maintain wash temperature (this is in the primary fermenting stage) and that airstones can be used to aerate wash when fermenting. has anyone used either of these items. If so does it make any difference to strenght - clarity or taste????

[Prairiepiss]

Lower temp ferments would produce a cleaner ferment. Depending on many factors. Just adding a heater is not always the correct answer. Depending on the situation. Other practices could be utilized. Even a simple blanket could be all that's needed.

Airating should happen before yeast is pitched. Not after. And will aid the yeast to multiply properly before actual fermentation starts. Giving you a slower lag time. And a healthier yeast colony.

[wirdip]

Thanks PP, I am based in UK, my man cave is in a shed in my garden, at the moment temp in shed is minus 2 celsius, rarely gets above 15 celsius so need some additional heat. At present am using very old heating mat but that is not man enough to get 25 ltrs up to anything like fermenting temp even though fermenter is covered in bubble wrap.

[maheel]

build a insulated box that fits over the entire fermenter and the heat mat
even styrofoam "fruit boxes" can be cut up and glued to ply to make it

find a old broken fridge and use that as a "insulated cupboard" that fits the fermeter

i use a fish tank heater, it's one that you adjust on the top of the heater the top and drop in

i would not bother using a airstone, give it a good stir when you make it and then leave it alone

[jholmz]

i ferment in 6 gallon containers and use an aquarium heater on a double boiler system i have a 10 gallon tub half full of water and sit the fermenter in it then drop the heater in the water around the fermenter. works good for me and when i take my fermenter out i add water to the tub and use it to cool my liebig so double duty

[oliver90owner]

even though fermenter is covered in bubble wrap

It will certainly help, but a box inverted over the FV is the way to go. 50mm kingspan/reticel/EPS is what I use.

Early vigorous fermentation (if you are using alcotec 48 and 8 kg) will easily produce around 15W which will maintain the temperature, with ambient at around 12 degrees, so at -2 you would need at least a further 15W.

Aquaria heaters generally only control around 24, which is too high for wine, but OK for this application. I use a brew belt controlled by a vivarium controlling 'thermostat' (actually a 'dimming' controller). The pulse proportional versions are very good, too. On-off thermostats are OK if you can put up with temperature oscillations.

The fermenting cupboard in my kitchen (for about 8 or 9 demijohns of wine must) is simply insulated above and around with 25mm reticel and under with 10mm correx (needed the head-space). Heated with a 25W solder iron fixed securely in a mug and controlled by a microclimate dimmerstat.

I'm in the UK, too

[Gaztops]

I use a 50 watt aquarium heater to keep my 25 litre/6.6 gallon sugar washes to around 30 degrees celcius and all my washes ferment dry in under 7 days except for one which stalled because of too much sugar

[Bushman]

This is my set-up in a downstairs small bathroom.

http://homedistiller.org/forum/viewtopi ... =2&t=25475

[Grappa-Gringo]

Yup... I've used one... it was washed off and cleaned prior to using of course even though it was brand new.
I spoke with the pet store clerk about it using it , (not for this purpose of course)....
I've also used a heat belt. In my opinion, the submersible tank heater worked better.

[wirdip]

Thanks for sharing your experience and info. Have ordered 100 watt heater to go into my 25ltr fermenter and will leave airstone until I see something positive about them.

[Doogie]

I ferment in the garage - and it can get a bit nippy

I use a heater - set the temp - if it hits it, it will kick in. The ferment process will produce heat, to be efficent, we need to trap it. I take 3 garbage bags, cut some R12 insulation and put it in the bags, then surround the fermenter with the bags. Works awesome. Point the bag openings down incase if it barfs, then just replace the bag, keeping the insulation.