Temp Control: Submersion + Aquarium Heater?

[Isaac Brewton]

I've started submerging my primary fermenter in a water filled kettle to even out the fermentation temperature. It seems to generally stay a couple degrees lower than the rest of the room that way. I'm currently using the White Labs Cream Ale Blend (080) on a cream ale, and throwing ice at it to keep the temp under 64 degrees F in hopes of bringing out some of those lager characteristics. I plan to ramp up the temp after three days, as per Jamil's advice. I will raise it to about 68 degrees F using an immersion type aquarium heater. Providing that my ambient temp stays lower, it seems like the heater should keep everything steady. I hope to try this out next on a Saison, where I can really ramp it up around 85 or so. Anyone have any experience with this type of set up?

[acr4]

My father used to ferment wine in glass carboys this way. The basement was pretty cool, so he had the fermenter sitting in a plastic bucket with water (plus a few drops of bleach or something to keep the water clear) and a fish tank heater. I guess the currents in the wort during fermentation help keep a pretty steady temperature (whether you are cooling below ambient w/ ice or warming with a heater).

I was actually just thinking about the ice bath idea myself. I'd like to start some of my fermentations in the low/mid 60's and with spring/summer on the way, I don't want to pay A/C costs to keep a room that cool!


[edit for post-beer bad grammar and run-on sentences.]

[Thirsty Boy]

I've fermented quite a few beers that way. It works very well indeed.

Those Aq heaters are pretty damn good at keeping a steady temperature tropical fish don't like sudden temperature changes and neither does beer.

If you are going to try to raise the temp up to 85F .. and if you haven't insulated the container that you are keeping the water in, I would go for a larger wattage on the heater you choose to buy.

I used a 50W one with success... but these days I usually immerse the heater directly into the wort so its more efficient ... works very well but isn't so good if you want to change the temperature during the fermentation. But I replaced it with a 100W version and I am happier with that.... for you, I reckon get at least a 150-200W one because you are dealing with a volume of water as well as a volume of wort.

Cheers

Thirsty

[WitsEnd]

What you explain is what I've been using for the past two years. It works great! I use a submersible 200W from Wally World. As-is, I couldn't get the temp as low as I wanted, but the dial comes off and you can reset it to anything you want.

I also have a scrapped submersible pump from a desktop water fountain that I zip-tied to the thing. This circulates the water in the tub and (in my mind) gives me a more even temperature.

Winter is great for fermenting in the garage. Summertime calls for the basement.

[Thirsty Boy]

WitsEnd -

What brand is that Aq heaater you are using?? my main problem with the ones I use is that the temps don't go low enough, and they unfortunately cant be fiddled with.

link or pictures maybe???

cheers

Thirsty

[WitsEnd]

It's a whisper 200W submersible heater. I don't know if they make it anymore, I'm not able to find it online anywhere. I picked it up about 2 years ago. The top lever comes off and you can put it back at a different setting. This is how I adjusted it.
I've also put up a pic of the whole unit, with the submersible pump on it. The thing is quite dirty... Man, I need to transfer that brew! I haven't found a good way to keep the water clean, yet.

[BadRock]

I haven't found a good way to keep the water clean, yet.

Bleach! 1oz in 5 gallons will give ~80ppm which should be sufficient to keep shit from growing in there.

[WitsEnd]

I tried bleach, but it cleaned the gallon marks off of my better bottle.

I'm mostly using glass carboys anyway, so maybe I'll give it another try.

Trouble is, I usually forget...