My new fermint setup

[OlympicMtDoo]

Finally got my setup like I want it, #1 down in the shop instead of in the house. #2 got it insulated real good so I can control the temp to a degree. #3 enough volume so I can make a good sized batch. There is an aquarium heater in each and I have low heat in the shop, the weather in my area has been pretty cold this winter, not out of the ordinary but it makes it tough to keep the wash warm if it's not in the house and it is just a bit messy for the house so this new setup is perfect. This batch is birdwatchers on the left and more birdwatchers on the right

[Slow & Steady]

Are those 30 gallon fermentors?

S&S

[OlympicMtDoo]

24 gallon

[Slow & Steady]

Wow... you can do some serious fermenting with those!

S&S

[NcHooch]

Cold there? .....why the insulation?

[rtalbigr]

Cold there? .....why the insulation?

Ya same question. I have found that the larger the fermenter there is less surface area for cooling. The yeast generate a lot of heat. Sometimes enough to stall the ferment if the heat doesn't have someplace to go.

Big R

[OlympicMtDoo]

Well I've been fighting cold all winter and having month long fermints because of it, now I can keep the temp at 85F, hell I had snow every morning 2 weeks ago. The blankets will come off in the summer of coarse but for winter around here it's the only solution. When the weather forecast says snow in the higher elevations, that means me. OMD

[Bushman]

Let us know what the differences are in your fermentation with the same recipe, my birdwatchers takes anywhere from 3 weeks to a month and I do them in 6 gallon containers with a controlled temp in a downstairs bathroom at 28 C.

[OlympicMtDoo]

Will do Bushman, I heat the house with wood ONLY, so in the winter at night with the stove closed down on low to keep a fire all night it can get a little cold at times, makes it hard to keep a good constant temp in my wash even in the house. I have these two barrels at 85F steady, started them together Monday the 26th, we'll see how long it takes.

[rtalbigr]

I live in the South OMD, what's snow?

Big R

[OlympicMtDoo]

I live in the South OMD, what's snow?

Big R

It's that white cold stuff that belongs up in the mountains but often times likes to come down a bit lower just to make my life miserable, the "S" word as my oldest daughter calls it. Our 6 weeks of summer is on it's way though

[rtalbigr]

LOL!

Big R

[bentstick]

I hear you OMD, we are getting snow right now, it is cold,cold,cold! We were at 75 a week ago! If you don't like the weather here wait 1hr it will change.
We call our summer 3 weeks of bad ice fishing.

[OlympicMtDoo]

Oh Damn!! bentstick, I'll stop whining

[acfixer69]

Nice ferment setup OMD but fiberglass insulation is making me itch just looking at it.
AC

[Elroy303030]

Nice ferment setup OMD but fiberglass insulation is making me itch just looking at it.
AC

I was thinking the same thing. I hate that stuff!

[OlympicMtDoo]

I do avoid putting any fiberglass in the wash.

[Poitín Paddy]

We're nearly neighbors...had some snow this morning. I was wondering if you could submit a post or show how you set up your fermenters with your heaters. I've got the same problem with cold fall/winter/spring weather and the "natural" temp in the ideal ferment location in my house is about 68F (20C). I use 6 gal plastic for primary ferment and then rack off into glass for secondary/clearing. Rather than recreate the wheel I thought I would ask what others are doing (have recently purchased aq heaters). How do you set up your heaters to keep your wash up to temp? Envious of your large fermenters, by the way!

My original plan was to cut a hole in the top of the lids large enough to pass a heater through, split a rubber stopper and pass the power cord through and seal around the stopper with silicone (with no contact with the wash of course). Dangle the heaters into the wash? Stick them to the wall of the fermenters?

If there are any links to threads that have already discussed this in detail, I would greatly appreciate the links....pics are a bonus.

[heartcut]

In Colorado, I would put a light bulb between 2 fermenters and wrap both in an insulation blanket- simple and worked great. Always meant to add a thermostat, but never did, just lowered the watts during spring and fall. In Texas, it's a struggle to keep things cool.

[OlympicMtDoo]

We're nearly neighbors...had some snow this morning. I was wondering if you could submit a post or show how you set up your fermenters with your heaters. I've got the same problem with cold fall/winter/spring weather and the "natural" temp in the ideal ferment location in my house is about 68F (20C). I use 6 gal plastic for primary ferment and then rack off into glass for secondary/clearing. Rather than recreate the wheel I thought I would ask what others are doing (have recently purchased aq heaters). How do you set up your heaters to keep your wash up to temp? Envious of your large fermenters, by the way!

My original plan was to cut a hole in the top of the lids large enough to pass a heater through, split a rubber stopper and pass the power cord through and seal around the stopper with silicone (with no contact with the wash of course). Dangle the heaters into the wash? Stick them to the wall of the fermenters?

If there are any links to threads that have already discussed this in detail, I would greatly appreciate the links....pics are a bonus.

I've been stuck doing the "W" word, it's a begining of the month thing, so I have'nt been around much. I just slip the cord under the lid because I don't airlock so it's no problem, then the heater just dangles at the right depth. The thermostat on the heaters works well for controling the temp.

[Coyote]

The "Man Cave" has a 3' by 8' room in the back for fermentation and storage of well mostly junk.
Heated by a small 1500 watt milk barn heater - very easy to keep at 75 - 78 degrees.
With the rolling racks it makes it a snap to move things around, and avoids lifting heavy tanks.

[mechanic]

Yeah, I was going to comment on the fiberglass insulation. I'm not sure that's such a good thing to have around anything you might be drinking/distilling later.

[Poitín Paddy]

Thanks for the replies on keeping fermenting temps up. Initially, I was surprised that some don't airlock. But, after some thought, I figure that a minor infection would have significantly less disastrous effects if the wash is run in a timely fashion and, if using backset, the run would cure the infection (provided a new/clean fermenter is used). A little different than the rules I've lived by in the school of homebrew, not that cleanliness is any less important here. Having recently read through some posts pertaining to dunderpits, some infections appear to even be desirable. Of course, I suppose you could argue that fermentation is just a controlled "infection" using your desired yeast. This has been and continues to be a thought provoking and rewarding hobby; and, I can't yet seem to keep the fermenters going as fast as my desire to distill them!