Getting started with water

[Yosh]

If someone can idiot proof this water treatment for me that would be great.

So last time I brewed I tested the alkalinity which was really low (less than 30mg/L), should/could I increase this for stouts etc?

I'm adding campdem powder to mash water,

I'm adding gypsum to the mash water to bring it to 120-150mg/L

Adjust mash ph to about 5.2

I'm doing the mash, then adding campdem powder and gypsum to sparge water but not bothering with adjusting the sparge ph.

I am also going to test the water for magnesium and add magnesium sulphate to both mash and sparge if necessary to bring it up to 10-20ppm (before ph adjustment).

So does this all sound about right so far?

[Yosh]

It seems like there is no end of things I could be adding, so where is a good point to draw the line for a beginner?

[Goulders]

No one can comment on your water or advise you properly unless they know what your water profile is. Are you adding gypsum to increase the calcium? Calcium chloride can also be added but it depends on what style of beer you are brewing and how much chloride or sulphate you already have in your water. The salts are normally added 2/3 to the grist (not water [liqour]) and 1/3 to the copper if your calcium is less than 60ppm. You should have enough magnesium in the grist so you shouldn't need to test for that or add Epsom salts.
My water is hard already so is suited to darker beers. You will need to add salts to increase the alkalinity for stouts, but others with soft water are best placed to advise on that

[Fil]

I'm adding campdem powder to mash water,

I hope its just me misunderstanding and you mean your adding to the water BEFORE you mash in.

a single crushed campden tab is sufficient to dechlorinate upto 50l of water,

but if added to the mash will probably react with the grain before the water.

have you checked out the water calculator
http://www.jimsbeerkit.co.uk/water.html

Our water is hard and i brew bitters and ales predominantly, and cheat and buy bottled water for the odd lager etc so cant be much more help im afraid..

hopefuly someone else will be along soon with better info..

[Yosh]

Are you adding gypsum to increase the calcium?

Yes it was quite low when I tested.

I've seen the water caculator but I assumed that I was missing too much data for it to give me any meaningful results. So is everyone testing for Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Carbonate Sulphate and Chloride. Or just getting a report from the water company. If I got a report, how long is it likely to be good for.

I did read in some forum that people were sending samples off to be tested, maybe I should do that.

[Goulders]

Depends where you live and where your water is drawn from. The water in my area barely changes year by year, and that's also from a local brewer who gets his water tested every 6 months. I just test the alkalinity each time I brew