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Distilled or Drinking or Tap Water for Mash?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:20 am
by DistillIT
Which water are you using and what are your results compared to each?

Re: Distilled or Drinking or Tap Water for Mash?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:29 am
by heartcut
I use tap water, dechlorinated with a gram of vit c per 5 gal. Works well. I've used Ozarka spring water, not better or worse. I did get a water test from my local muni-free and useful. Stay away from distilled unless you're desperate.

Re: Distilled or Drinking or Tap Water for Mash?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 7:43 am
by Mud Mechanik
I use well water, no problems thus far. As Heartcut mentioned, distilled water has been stripped of lots of minerals and oxygen that a wash needs.

Re: Distilled or Drinking or Tap Water for Mash?

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2012 8:04 am
by DistillIT
heartcut wrote:I use tap water, dechlorinated with a gram of vit c per 5 gal. Works well. I've used Ozarka spring water, not better or worse. I did get a water test from my local muni-free and useful. Stay away from distilled unless you're desperate.

Do you think you could use vit C pills? Do you just heat the water up and mix in the vitamin?

Re: Distilled or Drinking or Tap Water for Mash?

Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2012 6:12 pm
by DistillIT
Well I tried a vitamin C pill and it does remove the chlorine. It was pretty fast, maybe 5 to 10 seconds.

Re: Distilled or Drinking or Tap Water for Mash?

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 12:09 am
by Shovlryder
How about filtered water like thrrough a Brita? Brita claims to only partially demineralize the water while removing impurities that would affect the look and taste.

Also, just out of curiosity, i did a ph test before and after of Brita filtered water with my swimming pool ph tester and it did change the ph levels of the water but it was so long ago that i dont remember the results.

Re: Distilled or Drinking or Tap Water for Mash?

Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:39 am
by Rachiu
Don't use distilled water, it is devoid of mineral salts and mashing requires some ions for enzymatic activity.
On the other hand, yeasts live happier of they have trace minerals. The tap water has enough trace minerals for yeast.
Even the makers of nutrients assume you are using tap water.