Adding salts to the mash and boil

[crafty john]

Hi all
I currently follow GW's method for simple water treatment, I boil the night before with the gypsum, rack off and add the epsom salts when cool, now this takes quite a lot of time to do so I was wondering if I could treat the water with campden the morning of my brew day and just add the salts directly to the mash and boil to save time

[InsideEdge]

I do all my treatment on brewday.

Campden tablet in the water, I then treat the mash and the boil seperately.

If you are boiling the night before to get rid of hardness I would look more into treating with the various acids available instead.

[Naich]

Campdon tabs go in the water, but I think the mash salts should be added to the grist rather than the water. I can't remember why - maybe something to do with solubility in water? I'd also recommend using CRS - it's a lot quicker than boiling. The only downside is the need to test the water for alkalinity before (if you can't take a reasonable guess) and after treatment, but that only takes a couple of minutes once you know what you are doing.

[fisherman]

Hello,
I would advise you to buy a Salifert alkilinity test kit from e-bay and test your water. Look at the brupacks site. ( information ) water treatment. Then look at DLS and CRS and have a good read.
Cheers

[EccentricDyslexic]

I add all the salts to the HLT and stir as it heats up to temp and it disolves no prob. (but i do have a VW wiper moter doing my stiring for me...!)

Steve