Sanitation

[Newbrew1]

Been looking at starsan, read on the forum you use 1.6ml per litre is that English measurements or USA because they are different

[oz11]

A litre is the same wherever you are.

[Kev888]

Yep, there may be spelling differences but a litre liter (litri etc) are all the same international standard. Though historical gallons and barrels and things can be very much down to local/regional custom.

Cheers
Kev

[Newbrew1]

Are you sure guys used a convention table and it showed 1 gallon USA is onl .832 uk gallon and 1 fluid ounce USA is 1.04 uk on this evidence surely there must be a slight difference on measurements

[oz11]

Gallons are different between UK/US but a litre is a standardised worldwide measure...so yes, I am sure.

[Newbrew1]

Thanks oz11 for the info

[Kev888]

Yep, your first post is incorrect; litres (and ml) are the same volume both here and in US. But your second post is correct; gallons are different here and in the US. So its what you're converting from (gallons) that is the problem, not what you're converting to (ml).

Cheers
Kev

[themadhippy]

The Litre aint a SI unit,so theoretical it could be different somewhere in the world

[Newbrew1]

Cheers lads can carry on safely will let you know how everything turns out. By the way should I bottle at the end of fermentation as it says in the instructions for my first brew or leave it for longer?

[Kev888]

The Litre aint a SI unit,so theoretical it could be different somewhere in the world

True, its' definition is 0.001 cubic meters (or 100mm cubed) - of course a meter 'is' an international unit, but not the actual definition. Thankfully it doesn't seem to have been abused though.

Cheers lads can carry on safely will let you know how everything turns out. By the way should I bottle at the end of fermentation as it says in the instructions for my first brew or leave it for longer?

Yep, the only downfall I've seen people have is if the water they use to mix with it isn't suitable; if the mixed solution has a higher PH than 3.0 it goes cloudy which is a sign that its ineffective - in a few cases it can go cloudy for other reasons but AFAIK if its clear its safe to use.

You can bottle after fermentation if you wish, but IMHO its best to be cautious, especially if you don't have a (sanitised) hydrometer to check it is finished (i.e. that the specific gravity is as expected and stays stable over a few days). The times given in instructions are at best a guide, and it can take longer if its been cool or for a number of other reasons.

If you bottle too soon you can have the fermentation finishing in the bottles and so get excessive pressure building up in them. Also if you leave it for a little while after the fermentation it gives it a bit longer for at least the larger suspended particles to settle out a bit. Thankfully, its not critical - assuming you have a half-decent lid that stops flies, dust etc getting in, theres no massive hurry; personally I almost never bottle/keg within two weeks and often more.

Cheers
Kev

[Belter]

Strangely I have extremely soft water but Starsan still goes cloudy. I've checked the PH and everything is fine so I carry on using it regardless.

[Kev888]

You aren't alone - its not very common but I've seen posts on a few forums of this and the consensus seems to be that if the PH is good so is it; other things 'can' make it cloudy. Conversely though the reverse doesn't seem to apply, I've never seen anyone saying they have a clear solution thats out of the PH range.

Cheers
kev

[Newbrew1]

planing
dark ale
dark ale
dark ale

coditionin
canadian blonde

[winka]

Anyone know how I can check my waters ph?
I've wanted to use starsan for ages but my water is moderately hard so not sure?
Cheers

[Kev888]

Its the PH of the mixed solution that matters, not really that of your water - although of course they aren't completely independent so yes more alkaline water is less likely to work.

The cloudiness is a good indicator of if you 'may' need to be concerned - its doesn't absolutely mean the PH is wrong, but you'd want to check it out further with PH test strips or something. Conversely though I've never heard of clear solution thats out of range, so if its clear great.

TBH the chances aren't high, but its pretty normal to buy in water of various kinds - people use tesco ashbeck, distilled/de-ionised/reverse-osmosis waters sold for all sorts of things from car batteries to steam irons to fish tanks (the latter probably being the best value if you have a good aquatics supplier near you). Unlike some other sanitisers you can often use small quantities of starsan sprayed onto things with a plant spray bottle or swished around in things, rather than having to (say) fill a whole FV so its not quite such an annoyance as it may appear.

Cheers
kev