Braufather
Landlord.
How powerful does it need to be? Mine looks very lacklustre compared to what I’ve seen on utube etc
Stir plate vortex
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nickjdavis
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That's absolutely fine. You are just trying to keep the wort oxygenated whilst building the starter, not taking your yeast on a maelstrom ride like you might find at Alton Towers.
You are trying to help your yeasties to grow...not to make them throw up.
You are trying to help your yeasties to grow...not to make them throw up.
Braufather
Landlord.
That's absolutely fine. You are just trying to keep the wort oxygenated whilst building the starter, not taking your yeast on a maelstrom ride like you might find at Alton Towers.
You are trying to help your yeasties to grow...not to make them throw up.
that’s what I hoped and this morning it seemed to be doing it’s job keeping them in suspension still.
However now (about 16 hours in) whilst there is decent Krausen, it not moving and yeast us begging to settle.
Braufather
Landlord.
Braufather
Landlord.
I think when I checked the bottom first thing this morning I dislodged the magnet and it got stuck down the side. I’ve carefully got it back into the middle and its a lot more active now! Even if it’s shaken not stirred
Braufather
Landlord.
Insistently what’s the best RPM?
I’m on 900 now.
I’m on 900 now.
![BREWING THERMOMETER STICKERS ACCURATELY MONITOR FERMENTING BEER & WINE LIQUID TEMPERATURES 5PCS HOME BREW SPIRITS WINE LCD ADHESIVE [US]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/311DDjo2X3L._SL500_.jpg)
If the yeast is settled like then it's probably time to stop and cold crash it: you are trying to increase the number of cells, not ferment all the sugars :-)
Don't worry about the RPM: as long as the yeast is being kept in suspension that's fine.
The vortex is not necesary.
The vortex is not necesary.
Braufather
Landlord.
i think it settled because the magnet was dislodged at the side. It’s central now and all in motion again. Aiming for at least 24 up to 36 hours.
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Don't think its that critical. I don't have a stir plate and just use the 'swirl as you walk on by' method and have had no issues thus far. Will get a stir plate eventually, I accept its best practice, but they seem quite expensive for what they are.
Don't worry too much about the vortex. Initially you'll get one and then as the yeast multiplies and the liquid thickens the the vortex will become less prominent and often disappear. The tell-tale sign of success is the colour change to a pale creamy colour and all signs of foam will vanish when it's fully fermented out.
When you turn it off it's helpful to quickly draw the stir bar up the side of the flask with another magnet on the outside and leave it hanging there so it doesn't get buried in the yeast and end up being tipped into the fermenter because you forgot it's there.
. You'll be surprised how fast it starts to settle out so if you've overbuilt and are planning to decant some off into a jar for the fridge then that needs to happen immediately while it's still all in suspension.
When you turn it off it's helpful to quickly draw the stir bar up the side of the flask with another magnet on the outside and leave it hanging there so it doesn't get buried in the yeast and end up being tipped into the fermenter because you forgot it's there.
. You'll be surprised how fast it starts to settle out so if you've overbuilt and are planning to decant some off into a jar for the fridge then that needs to happen immediately while it's still all in suspension.
Braufather
Landlord.
Haha, I was wondering about that earlier. Don’t have any magnets to hand so no idea how I’m going to get it out Other than try to use the stir plate mate in some way!
Not if, like me, you just scavenge a fan from an old PC and superglue a couple of rare-earth magnets to the central hub (one North up, the other North down).
Cheap as chips.
Google for 'DIY stir plate' e.g.: How to Make a Stir Plate
RoomWithABrew
Landlord.
@Braufather
Don't forget magnets are attracted to metal so if you've got a high ferrous content piece of metal it might stick to it thru the glass.
Don't forget magnets are attracted to metal so if you've got a high ferrous content piece of metal it might stick to it thru the glass.
Braufather
Landlord.
Just off to google that!
I find that if I lower a (sterilised!) barbecue skewer in, then the stir bar happily sticks to the end of it to be lifted out.
Yes. You definitely don't want to forget and tip the magnet into the FV. Which I've never done eitherWhen you turn it off it's helpful to quickly draw the stir bar up the side of the flask with another magnet on the outside and leave it hanging there so it doesn't get buried in the yeast and end up being tipped into the fermenter because you forgot it's there.
The other thing you can do is take a Sharpie and write "MAGNET!!!" or "STIR BAR!!!" in big, bold letters lots of times on the flask to remind you to be careful when you pour the yeast into the FV
Oh, and to answer the OPs question, I asked the same thing when I started out and was told just fast enough that there's a dimple on the surface but no faster otherwise the stir bar will get flung off. No need for a mega vortex
Braufather
Landlord.
It cold crashing in the fridge now for brew tomorrow. Still a bit worried about loosing the stir bar. If I hold the stir plate under the flask as I decant, that should keep it in the flask I imagine?
I wouldn't try to do that if I were you... sterilise a metal skewer (just pass it through the gas flame for a second) and lower it into the flask: the stir-bar will attach to it and you can lift it out.
