hey all I am a bit new to all this so please bear with me, I just brought a 75 Immersion Heater to keep the brew nice and warm. What is the safest way to sterilise it without damaging the rubber bits, cable or electrics? Does anyone else use one or something similar? I usually use VWP to sterilise.
Thanks lots
Cleaning a 75 Immersion Heater
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Aleman
- It's definitely Lock In Time
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- Joined: Sun Jun 03, 2007 11:56 am
- Location: Mashing In Blackpool, Lancashire, UK
Re: Cleaning a 75 Immersion Heater
I don't put it in the beer.
I stand the FV in another container (Under bed storage box) filled with water and put the heater in the outer container as a water bath)
No disinfecting/cleaning needed.
I stand the FV in another container (Under bed storage box) filled with water and put the heater in the outer container as a water bath)
No disinfecting/cleaning needed.
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beery
Re: Cleaning a 75 Immersion Heater
Hi there,
Bleach will rot, corrode and swell up rubber on the aquarium heaters (but i do not own an electrim 75, was thinking of purchasing one, if they are good).
But its the amount of bleach used and the time left in contact with thats going to speed up the damage. So because i would like to know may i please ask the question to the forum:
What is the correct/efficient amount of thin unscented 29p per 2 litre bleach in millilitres + spirit vinegar to use in 23 litre of water, and time needed to most definitely kill the nastys that keep taking up residence in my FV ?.
I use VWP, but i think its a sanitizer(keeps clean things free from infection by coating the object in a layer ?) as opposed to a sterilizer which is a killer. Except the immortals that live in my FV.
edit: After reading through this subforum it seems like 1% thin bleach is enough to sterilize FV and all equipment including heaters for 20_30 mins contact time.
So that would work out at 250mls bleach + say about 50mls of white spirit vinegar to lower PH to make bleach more effective + small dash of washing up liquid for wetting properties in a 25litre FV for about 20_30mins = good enough to kill any beer eating bacteria + short enough time not to damage any rubber.
I am concerned to get this right as the other day i noticed the rubber on one of my newly replaced aqua heaters was swelling up,its been used and cleaned only 2 or 3 times. That and i am now looking at having to replace my 2 FVs as i cannot seem to leave a beer to ferment more than 7 days without a film developing on the surface that if left for say 3 more days starts to resemble a piece of clear plastic/jelly floating just under the surface leaving the FV stongly smelling of vinegar once drained and left to oxidy.I have had to throw away 2 x 5gallon batches as they were totally beyond drinking, with many other brews not quite tasteing right. This has been going on since october now and without sounding like i am throwing toys out of the pram,if it carrys on i may have to give up the brewing.Its like i have been cursed by the gods of beer.
edit no2: doh, scrap the above about bleach concentrations. Answer was steering me in the face every morning i get up in the form of GWs excellent book that was sitting on bedside cabinet.Now off to shops to buy some demestos,white spirit vinegar and make an order for some star san and 2 new 6 gallon FVs.
Bleach will rot, corrode and swell up rubber on the aquarium heaters (but i do not own an electrim 75, was thinking of purchasing one, if they are good).
But its the amount of bleach used and the time left in contact with thats going to speed up the damage. So because i would like to know may i please ask the question to the forum:
What is the correct/efficient amount of thin unscented 29p per 2 litre bleach in millilitres + spirit vinegar to use in 23 litre of water, and time needed to most definitely kill the nastys that keep taking up residence in my FV ?.
I use VWP, but i think its a sanitizer(keeps clean things free from infection by coating the object in a layer ?) as opposed to a sterilizer which is a killer. Except the immortals that live in my FV.
edit: After reading through this subforum it seems like 1% thin bleach is enough to sterilize FV and all equipment including heaters for 20_30 mins contact time.
So that would work out at 250mls bleach + say about 50mls of white spirit vinegar to lower PH to make bleach more effective + small dash of washing up liquid for wetting properties in a 25litre FV for about 20_30mins = good enough to kill any beer eating bacteria + short enough time not to damage any rubber.
I am concerned to get this right as the other day i noticed the rubber on one of my newly replaced aqua heaters was swelling up,its been used and cleaned only 2 or 3 times. That and i am now looking at having to replace my 2 FVs as i cannot seem to leave a beer to ferment more than 7 days without a film developing on the surface that if left for say 3 more days starts to resemble a piece of clear plastic/jelly floating just under the surface leaving the FV stongly smelling of vinegar once drained and left to oxidy.I have had to throw away 2 x 5gallon batches as they were totally beyond drinking, with many other brews not quite tasteing right. This has been going on since october now and without sounding like i am throwing toys out of the pram,if it carrys on i may have to give up the brewing.Its like i have been cursed by the gods of beer.
edit no2: doh, scrap the above about bleach concentrations. Answer was steering me in the face every morning i get up in the form of GWs excellent book that was sitting on bedside cabinet.Now off to shops to buy some demestos,white spirit vinegar and make an order for some star san and 2 new 6 gallon FVs.
Last edited by beery on Wed Feb 03, 2010 11:25 am, edited 2 times in total.
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Jon474
Re: Cleaning a 75 Immersion Heater
Aleman
That is a really good idea. I struggle to keep the fermentation temp at the 20C optimum and your description of the heated water bath sounds like a plan. Off to have a think about that one.
Thanks
J
That is a really good idea. I struggle to keep the fermentation temp at the 20C optimum and your description of the heated water bath sounds like a plan. Off to have a think about that one.
Thanks
J