Aeration equipment

[Frothy]

A recent brew proved particuarly stubborn to ferment.
I'd made a 300ml starter and the only thing I hadn't done is aerate the wort.
I bought a 2micron stainless steel airstone & HEPA air filter from http://www.Beertech.co.uk as they were very reasonably priced. Only to find that these items have 1/4" fittings and my puny aquarium pump is both too pathetic & only equipt with 1/8" fittings.

Solution?Very sucessful & cheap
12v air compressor ~£10.


Use 3/8" OD plastic beer hose to connect it all together, chop the tyre valve connector end off of the pump & use a 1/4" hose joiner -> I also chopped the cigarette lighter socket off & fitted a couple of crocodile clips for using a seperate battery.

Works a charm if a little over zealous, probably only need ~ 3minutes of wort aeration with one of these on the go.

Frothy

[Garth]

good job Frothy, does this mean that you don't need to stir vigorously for about nine hours or use the paddle in a drill etc?

do you aerate just before or just after the yeast is pitched? i aertae just before then stir the yeats in well.

[Andy]

That's what I'd be worried about with that type of compressor....

[Frothy]

I understand that it's only designed to be used for short periods of time. With a HEPA filter in the line I think the risks are negligable. The compressor is under very little strain compared to blowing up tyres.

Garth - yeah ideally I'd aerate just before pitching the yeast although this time I didn't have any choice. At least it's going now

Frothy