I've prepared a simple Excel calculator that determines the effect CRS and Campden Tablet additions have on a water profile, as well as the amount of CRS needed to reach a target alkalinity level (as CaCO3).
This should be useful for those using Beersmith which doesn't recognise CRS (I believe it's not as common in the US as it is over here). I assume there are other beer calculators out there that might not recognise CRS too. The idea was to create something that was simpler to understand than some of the other water calculators.
The idea is that you would enter your existing water profile, total water volume and target alkalinity and the calculator will determine the total CRS addition needed and the effect the CRS has on Sulphate, Chloride and Alkalinity. You can then create the Adjusted Water Profile in Beersmith and use that as your "starting" water, allowing Beersmith to then determine any other salts required.
The calculator will only work where you are looking to reduce alkalinity so don't try and use it if you're trying to increase it - that's an entirely different ballgame.
It also calculates the negligible effect Campden Tablets have on water profile - I thought I'd include this for good measure.
Let me know if you have any questions or spot any issues.
Thanks, of course, to @strange-steve for his technical input and for giving the calculator a quick check.
This should be useful for those using Beersmith which doesn't recognise CRS (I believe it's not as common in the US as it is over here). I assume there are other beer calculators out there that might not recognise CRS too. The idea was to create something that was simpler to understand than some of the other water calculators.
The idea is that you would enter your existing water profile, total water volume and target alkalinity and the calculator will determine the total CRS addition needed and the effect the CRS has on Sulphate, Chloride and Alkalinity. You can then create the Adjusted Water Profile in Beersmith and use that as your "starting" water, allowing Beersmith to then determine any other salts required.
The calculator will only work where you are looking to reduce alkalinity so don't try and use it if you're trying to increase it - that's an entirely different ballgame.
It also calculates the negligible effect Campden Tablets have on water profile - I thought I'd include this for good measure.
Let me know if you have any questions or spot any issues.
Thanks, of course, to @strange-steve for his technical input and for giving the calculator a quick check.