Do I need a filter with pump?

[donchiquon]

I've been using a little solar pump to recirculate during the mash and even to test a whirlpool at the end of the boil.

So far I've gotten away with leaving the bazooka filter and false bottom in place during mash and boil, but last week the bazooka clogged during both mash and boil

To be honest I was surprised I was evening getting away with leaving the bazooka on before! :whistle:

If I remove the bazooka should I be fitting some kind of filter in case any grain gets through the false bottom? (I've spotted the Y splitter filter @ Brewbuilder)

How are other folk dealing with this?

Thanks in advance :thumb:

 

[simon12]

Can't answer the question but I am sure that y strainer would clog up much quicker than the bazooka.

 

[peebee]

I employed a "March-May" pump for pumping wort for just the reasons you mentioned. My little "solar pumps" only get clear water to deal with. But plenty of folk here do use solar pumps with potentially mucky wort. The big pumps ("March-May", "Chuggers", etc) come with hefty price tags.

The little "solar pumps" are inefficient? No, they are probably more effective than the big pumps mentioned, but those big pumps keep going despite debris.

 

[donchiquon]

Thanks @simon12 and @peebee, sounds like it's worth the risk using the pump (£10!) without a filter in place.

If it fails I'll swap it to a more powerful version.

Thanks again!