Purified water and aeration question

[Joerg]

Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
the boil pot I've got two questions:

After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.

When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?

My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

[D Ash]

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

AutoSiphon

Google it and save yourself the worry and hassle. Not an expensive gadget
to have and ever so handy. I have used one now for 4 batches, siphoning
from both primary and secondary. Easy to use, picks up very little trub,
even from primary!, cleans/sanitizes easily, very worth it.

[Joerg]

Post by D Ash

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

AutoSiphon
Google it and save yourself the worry and hassle. Not an expensive gadget
to have and ever so handy. I have used one now for 4 batches, siphoning
from both primary and secondary. Easy to use, picks up very little trub,
even from primary!, cleans/sanitizes easily, very worth it.

I think the brewing suppliers have those for 3/8" hose. I always thought
they'd become contaminated in the surfaces the glide over each other but
from what you wrote it seems like that's not an issue.

https://www.amazon.com/Learn-To-Brew-B000E60JF6-Auto-Siphon/dp/B000E60JF6

[D Ash]

Post by Joerg

Post by D Ash

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use
purified water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to
always mix up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load
to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary
fermenter bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket.
That causes the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply
sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from
lifting. Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted
sludge. Neither the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot
have spigots.

AutoSiphon
Google it and save yourself the worry and hassle. Not an expensive
gadget to have and ever so handy. I have used one now for 4 batches,
siphoning from both primary and secondary. Easy to use, picks up very
little trub, even from primary!, cleans/sanitizes easily, very worth
it.

I think the brewing suppliers have those for 3/8" hose. I always
thought they'd become contaminated in the surfaces the glide over each
other but from what you wrote it seems like that's not an issue.
https://www.amazon.com/Learn-To-Brew-B000E60JF6-Auto-

Siphon/dp/B000E60J

Post by Joerg
F6

Haven't had a problem with it. Extremely easy to use. I have a plain
racking cane with long hose, but now that I have this siphon starter, I
wouldn't want to use anything else.

[Tom Biasi]

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

You can use clean water in the hose with no problems.

[Joerg]

Post by Tom Biasi

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

You can use clean water in the hose with no problems.

Thanks, will do on the Autumn Amber that's going to be brewed early next
week or maybe even on Friday afternoon. I always keep a few 16.9oz
bottles at hand downstairs in case I misjudge the boil-off volume.

[Bob F]

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

I just sanitize my racking cane/hose, place the cane into the carboy
using a clothes pin on the cane for height adjustment, and a pack strap
to stabilize the hose to the side of the carboy so it doesn't wiggle
around. Then I start the siphon with a sanitized squeeze bulb which has
a glass tube coming out of each end. Stick it into the racking tube end,
hold the end slightly above the liquid level in the carboy, then squeeze
the bulb, cover the open end with my finger, and release the squeeze on
the bulb the draw the liquid into the tube. If one squeeze doesn't get
enough liquid, I release my finger on the end, squeeze the bulb, cover
the end and repeat. As the tube fills, raise it to avoid the liquid
going into the squeeze bulb, remove the squeeze bulb, and quickly put
the tube end into the secondary. You could use a kitchen baster to do
the same job, just pulling it out of the tube while the end is above
the carboy liquid level to exhaust air for the repeat phase. This works
very well, with a minimum of extra hard to clean hardware.

[Joerg]

Post by Bob F

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

I just sanitize my racking cane/hose, place the cane into the carboy
using a clothes pin on the cane for height adjustment, and a pack strap
to stabilize the hose to the side of the carboy so it doesn't wiggle
around. Then I start the siphon with a sanitized squeeze bulb which has
a glass tube coming out of each end. Stick it into the racking tube end,
hold the end slightly above the liquid level in the carboy, then squeeze
the bulb, cover the open end with my finger, and release the squeeze on
the bulb the draw the liquid into the tube. If one squeeze doesn't get
enough liquid, I release my finger on the end, squeeze the bulb, cover
the end and repeat. As the tube fills, raise it to avoid the liquid
going into the squeeze bulb, remove the squeeze bulb, and quickly put
the tube end into the secondary. You could use a kitchen baster to do
the same job, just pulling it out of the tube while the end is above
the carboy liquid level to exhaust air for the repeat phase. This works
very well, with a minimum of extra hard to clean hardware.

Ah, a squeeze blub, good idea. I should be able to find that in a local
store. It would also save the little dump bucket for the frist spritz
until wort shows.

[Bob F]

Post by Joerg

Post by Bob F

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

I just sanitize my racking cane/hose, place the cane into the carboy
using a clothes pin on the cane for height adjustment, and a pack strap
to stabilize the hose to the side of the carboy so it doesn't wiggle
around. Then I start the siphon with a sanitized squeeze bulb which has
a glass tube coming out of each end. Stick it into the racking tube end,
hold the end slightly above the liquid level in the carboy, then squeeze
the bulb, cover the open end with my finger, and release the squeeze on
the bulb the draw the liquid into the tube. If one squeeze doesn't get
enough liquid, I release my finger on the end, squeeze the bulb, cover
the end and repeat. As the tube fills, raise it to avoid the liquid
going into the squeeze bulb, remove the squeeze bulb, and quickly put
the tube end into the secondary. You could use a kitchen baster to do
the same job, just pulling it out of the tube while the end is above
the carboy liquid level to exhaust air for the repeat phase. This works
very well, with a minimum of extra hard to clean hardware.

Ah, a squeeze blub, good idea. I should be able to find that in a local
store. It would also save the little dump bucket for the frist spritz
until wort shows.

I raise and lower the tube end at the appropriate time to minimize the
chance of any brew getting into the squeeze bulb. You could also just
use a separate tube/straw that can be inserted into the tube end, and
then suck on the other end, being careful not to blow into it. Or, you
could use the device below to further isolate the siphon tube from your
mouth.

I use similar technique for taking samples for gravity readings. I have
a 2 hole stopper that nicely fits the top of my measuring sampler, with
2 small (1/8" id?)tubes attached to brass tubing (from hobby shop) in
the holes. I place the longer tube into the carboy after sanitizing it,
then suck on the other tube to draw the necessary wort into the sample
tube, pulling the sample tube out of the wort while I continue sucking
when enough fluid is in the sampler, so all the wort in the tube is
sucked into the sampler. No waste, and very little chance of contamination.

[Joerg]

Post by Bob F

Post by Joerg

Post by Bob F

Post by Joerg
Since I started using secondary and also racking off into primary from
After sanitizing inside and out with a spritz bottle can I use purified
water to prime the racking hose? That would avoid having to always mix
up a whole gallon of "StarSan soup" just to rack one load to secondary.
When racking the cooled wort from the boil pot to the primary fermenter
bucket I hold or affix the hose slightly above the bucket. That causes
the wort to splash and foam. Is that going to supply sufficient aeration?
My main reason for using racking is to avoid back strain from lifting.
Also, it allows me to leave behind more of the unwanted sludge. Neither
the plastic fermenters nor the aluminum boil pot have spigots.

I just sanitize my racking cane/hose, place the cane into the carboy
using a clothes pin on the cane for height adjustment, and a pack strap
to stabilize the hose to the side of the carboy so it doesn't wiggle
around. Then I start the siphon with a sanitized squeeze bulb which has
a glass tube coming out of each end. Stick it into the racking tube end,
hold the end slightly above the liquid level in the carboy, then squeeze
the bulb, cover the open end with my finger, and release the squeeze on
the bulb the draw the liquid into the tube. If one squeeze doesn't get
enough liquid, I release my finger on the end, squeeze the bulb, cover
the end and repeat. As the tube fills, raise it to avoid the liquid
going into the squeeze bulb, remove the squeeze bulb, and quickly put
the tube end into the secondary. You could use a kitchen baster to do
the same job, just pulling it out of the tube while the end is above
the carboy liquid level to exhaust air for the repeat phase. This works
very well, with a minimum of extra hard to clean hardware.

Ah, a squeeze blub, good idea. I should be able to find that in a local
store. It would also save the little dump bucket for the frist spritz
until wort shows.

I raise and lower the tube end at the appropriate time to minimize the
chance of any brew getting into the squeeze bulb. You could also just
use a separate tube/straw that can be inserted into the tube end, and
then suck on the other end, being careful not to blow into it. Or, you
could use the device below to further isolate the siphon tube from your
mouth.
I use similar technique for taking samples for gravity readings. I have
a 2 hole stopper that nicely fits the top of my measuring sampler, with
2 small (1/8" id?)tubes attached to brass tubing (from hobby shop) in
the holes. I place the longer tube into the carboy after sanitizing it,
then suck on the other tube to draw the necessary wort into the sample
tube, pulling the sample tube out of the wort while I continue sucking
when enough fluid is in the sampler, so all the wort in the tube is
sucked into the sampler. No waste, and very little chance of contamination.

That sounds like it should work nicely and I have a suitable durable
straw from a coffee mug. Tempting though. For the transfer into
secondary I might suck long enough to get beer in my mouth and then keep
on doing it :-)

I always keep a couple bottles handy in case the 5-gal secondary runs
over and then disappointed when it doesn't. Because then I don't get to
drink any.