Oyster shell pH hack
Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2021 8:31 am
As a novice, pH hasn't reared it's ugly head yet (I'm still getting active fermentation, so no need to worry, yet). I don't even have the check strips. However, I see that enough people have concerns, so I did some research.
The science is pretty straight-forward. Low pH can be countered with crushed egg shells. It doesn't appear you can really put too much in, or for too long, since the chemical reaction really slows to a trickle as the pH gets toward 7 (neutral). Since oyster shells are cheap (and I'm all about hacking), I decided to pick up a bag. 50# for about $11, cheap insurance.
So I'm going to throw in a few handfuls. But not 'pitch' it, I want to be able to pull it out if I need to. I'm currently in gen2 of a UJSSM, so here's my hack:
- I took a Ziplock sandwich bag (the sealable kind) and poked about 100 holes in it (a 10x10 grid - since the holes go thru both sides, that's 200 holes). I threw a large handful of shells in it, then submerged it in my sugarhead.
OK, I know it's plastic, and we hate plastic. But it is food grade, and heck, my bucket is food grade. Am I crazy?
The science is pretty straight-forward. Low pH can be countered with crushed egg shells. It doesn't appear you can really put too much in, or for too long, since the chemical reaction really slows to a trickle as the pH gets toward 7 (neutral). Since oyster shells are cheap (and I'm all about hacking), I decided to pick up a bag. 50# for about $11, cheap insurance.
So I'm going to throw in a few handfuls. But not 'pitch' it, I want to be able to pull it out if I need to. I'm currently in gen2 of a UJSSM, so here's my hack:
- I took a Ziplock sandwich bag (the sealable kind) and poked about 100 holes in it (a 10x10 grid - since the holes go thru both sides, that's 200 holes). I threw a large handful of shells in it, then submerged it in my sugarhead.
OK, I know it's plastic, and we hate plastic. But it is food grade, and heck, my bucket is food grade. Am I crazy?