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Homebrew pump
I have been looking into getting a pump lately because I have a shirron chiller, and it is very hard to get any siphon action through it. I have used a bottling bucket with a spigot with good results but I think I need to get an upgrade. However, due to piling student loans I can't afford a march pump. darn. I found an extremely cheap "drill pump," but its filled with silicone lubricant which seems like bad news, so im not going to use that. In my search for a cheaper alternative I came upon this article
http://oz.craftbrewer.org/Library/Gear/ … Pump.shtml
Sadly, that magnetic pump is not found in the US. My question is this. Has anyone used an aquarium pump for transfering hot wort? If so, what brand? and did it impart off flavors?
Siphon?
Can't you just run that through with gravity? Doesn't Thirsty use a plate chiller with gravity?
Is it OK to write an entire thread reply in questions?
Yes it is.
And i have had some luck with gravity but more often then not the flow dies out after about half a gallon. I think it could be the fittings, but I have tried toughening them up with plumbers teflon tape but it still doesnt work great.
brewchez wrote:
Siphon?
Doesn't Thirsty use a plate chiller with gravity?
Is it OK to write an entire thread reply in questions?
Naw I use a march pump, don't you remember?
vinyalwhl's issue could be hot break or hop residue clogging, wouldn't ya think?
He may want to try whirlpooling or a higher gravity feed, suggestions?
How high is the drop to the chiller?
Always fun in questions is it not?
OK last edit, keep in mind if you have already bought a plate chiller you probably have an IC laying around, which means if you do get a pump, you can incorporate a HERMS for free, good two-in-one don't you think?
The drop is only about a foot which may be part of the problem. I couldnt find any clogs either but maybe whirlpooling will help. Also, no one uses an aquarium pump?? someone has to have tried it.
P.S.
Define IC
One problem you would have w/ an aquarium pump would be sanitation and cleaning. The march pump has a housing that is held on by 4 machine bolts. At the end of brewday I throw everything into a bus pan bring it inside and wash it all down, this housing comes w/ me. 4 more small machine screws open up the housing and you can clean every bit of wort out, and start next brewday clean as a whistle. Can only see problems w/ an aqurium pump. If you decide to "go for it" I would give a trial run w/ water and see what the situation looks like imagining it is wort.
The temperature would also be a huge consideration. I just replaced 2 hot lines w/ silicone tubing because the vinyl was getting stretched and abused. When something is not rated for 220 deg, it probably will not perform.
thirsty wrote:
One problem you would have w/ an aquarium pump would be sanitation and cleaning. The march pump has a housing that is held on by 4 machine bolts. At the end of brewday I throw everything into a bus pan bring it inside and wash it all down, this housing comes w/ me. 4 more small machine screws open up the housing and you can clean every bit of wort out, and start next brewday clean as a whistle. Can only see problems w/ an aqurium pump. If you decide to "go for it" I would give a trial run w/ water and see what the situation looks like imagining it is wort.
The temperature would also be a huge consideration. I just replaced 2 hot lines w/ silicone tubing because the vinyl was getting stretched and abused. When something is not rated for 220 deg, it probably will not perform.
Have you ever done a "clean in place" process with that pump, running hot DPW through it then water? After that you could take it apart and see if its really as clean as you get it with your barenhands approach.
I do pump hot water at about 180 deg 6 or 7 gallons or so into my mash tun at the very beginning of brewday, this primes the tun but also clears out the ball valve for my kettle and knocks any funk out of the pump that may have found a way in from the week before. The housing is so easy to remove it just makes sense to do it.
i have noticed that my plate chiller works best if i lay it on its side. i have only gravitated with it 2 times though but i have bout 6 inches drop.
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