Easiest way to sterilise 40 odd bottles

[MPLMPL]

! I wonder whats in tap water that turns starsan cloudy?

I assume it is the calcium levels. Calcium phosphate (or calcium hydrogen/dihyrdorgenphosphate at the pH levels we are concerned with) is not particularly soluble in water. I think the precipitate is this. I get it with my tap water, which is reasonably hard (high Ca2+ levels). In my opinion (fell free to disregard it!), so long as the pH is < 3 then this should pose no problems with the use of the Starsan solution.
I found some data on t'internet (http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/137448/ ... survey.pdf) on pH and mineral levels of various bottled waters (from 2005). The Tesco Ashbeck water is listed as pH 6 with only 10 mg/L Ca2+ cf. Tesco value still which is shown as pH 7.3 and 91 mg/L Ca2+.
Calcium levels widely depending on the source of the water.
Sainsburys Pennine pH 7.7, 57; Asda Fountain Head pH 7.9, 26; Buxton pH 7.5, 60; Vittel pH 7.2, 77; Morrisons pH 7.6, 27; M&S pH 7.1, 108.
Re the hardness scale: 80-120 mg/L Ca2+ is considered hard, 60-80 moderately hard, 40-60 slightly hard, 20-40 moderately soft and 0-20 mg/L soft.

I'm in a hard water area, ~100 mg/L hence my cloudy Starsan.

 

[Pensive]

My dishwasher runs at 70 degrees for 2 and a half hours! I'm relying on that to sterilise the bottles, although it's my first brew so this doesn't count as advice!

I suppose that running them through the dish washer doesn't come under brewing expenses so slips under the radar as far as costs are concerned . . . Personally I think 8ml of starsan and a 5L bottle of Tesco Ashbeck once a month comes in at a considerable cost saving. :wha: :wha:

Quite possibly cheaper but:

1) I have 9 month old twins, and its all about time for me, not money. I can stack that dishwasher in 2 minutes flat.
2) On a similiar note - this is a fun hobby for me, not a cost saving exercise. :)
3) Bearing in mind 1), my dishwasher runs twice a day at least for 110 minutes at a time, so I think one 2.5 hour run every 4 weeks is, if you will pardon the almost-pun, a mere drop in the ocean.

:)

 

[winnywood]

Last time I did 40 bottles I washed them thoroughly then added about 20ml of water to each bottle. then cut some squares about 2" square of silver foil and sealed the tops then put them in the oven. (40 bottles fit perfectly in a 900mm oven) then set oven to 170°c for 2 hours. (did it at night time keft over night to cool) next day on bottling time I took out of oven the foil had sealed itself to top by vacuum so bottles were clean dry and sterile.
Ive only done this once and will def do it again as it splits the cleaning time over 2 days
A bit over the top but I found it easy to do.

 

[Maysie]

! I wonder whats in tap water that turns starsan cloudy?

I assume it is the calcium levels. Calcium phosphate (or calcium hydrogen/dihyrdorgenphosphate at the pH levels we are concerned with) is not particularly soluble in water. I think the precipitate is this. I get it with my tap water, which is reasonably hard (high Ca2+ levels). In my opinion (fell free to disregard it!), so long as the pH is < 3 then this should pose no problems with the use of the Starsan solution.
I found some data on t'internet (http://www.buckscc.gov.uk/media/137448/ ... survey.pdf) on pH and mineral levels of various bottled waters (from 2005). The Tesco Ashbeck water is listed as pH 6 with only 10 mg/L Ca2+ cf. Tesco value still which is shown as pH 7.3 and 91 mg/L Ca2+.
Calcium levels widely depending on the source of the water.
Sainsburys Pennine pH 7.7, 57; Asda Fountain Head pH 7.9, 26; Buxton pH 7.5, 60; Vittel pH 7.2, 77; Morrisons pH 7.6, 27; M&S pH 7.1, 108.
Re the hardness scale: 80-120 mg/L Ca2+ is considered hard, 60-80 moderately hard, 40-60 slightly hard, 20-40 moderately soft and 0-20 mg/L soft.

I'm in a hard water area, ~100 mg/L hence my cloudy Starsan.

I bought my Tesco Ashbeck water this morning as my water here is hard as nails!!
45p for a 2 litre bottle, so cheaper than I thought. :thumb:

 

[Dr Mike]

I was listening to one of the old Brew Strong podcasts the other day in which they interviewed the guy from five star chemicals and talked a lot about Star San. Quite a few interesting points made.

It works as long as the pH is below 3.5.

The guy from five star doesn't think there is any tap water which is alkaline enough to stop it getting to the right pH if you dilute according to the instructions.

When it goes cloudy, it's the Cations (metals) being chelated by the surfactants. It's not related to alkalinity. It wasn't really made clear how well it works when it's cloudy.

It's the 5th Jan 2009 episode if anyone wants to listen.