Micro guys - would you replace these fermentors?

[dcq1974]

Hi All
I've recently seen a drop in quality of my home brewed beers and I'm trying to eliminate causes of possible infection. I've recently also switched from using bleach extensively as a sanitiser to Starsan (cleaning first with oxy cleaner like I know a fair few of you do).

I've noticed that most of my fermentors have a thin film of white coating (this can be scratched off easily) even after scrubbing, oxy cleaner and bleach or starsan etc.



Question is - would you chuck these and replace them or can you advise of possible deep clean procedure?

Any advice welcome.
Cheers

[Eadweard]

Looks like beer stone, which is a haven for bacteria. Acid will shift it, but with plastic buckets I'd be tempted to just replace.

[dcq1974]

Cheers Edweard
Really appreciate your comments .
So then Calcium Oxalate it is then

[jmc]

I've never got beerstone in a fermentor. Are you sure its not dried on oxy?
Once it gives off its oxygen its mostly Sodium Carbonate so acid eg starsan should help clean it off.

[Fil]

imho if they have got beerstone on em they are well past retierment age. afaik undisolved laundry oxy when over used can set solid and will be on the base only the post use residue is more dusty and wil cover the sides too, but can be wiped off with a starsan/videne soaked sponge if your steralising b4 use and not just cleaning after use. beer stone will be stuck to base and sides..

[orlando]

I watched a Beersmith video in which the CEO of 5 Star Chemicals was a little sceptical of Oxy for technical chemistry reasons beyond me. Bottom line, predictably, was that PBW followed by starsan was the best combination out there. I would still bin those fermentors though (nice to see the correct spelling ) as the suggestion is that the scratches are now providing a niche for stuff you don't want near your beer. My experience suggests that no more than 20 brews in them before retiring for other duties.

[dcq1974]

Cheers for all your comments chaps

I think I'll bin all three and replace Stainless would be nice

[Doingatun]

Yep Beerstone (calcium oxalate C2CaO4) scrapes of as a white powder, Since adding calcium during water treatment I find a small amount of beerstone scale in all my cornies and FV’s even new FV's, after trying a various methods of removal I use a trade Beerstone Remover.

[Blackaddler]

Given a long enough soak, vinegar will slowly remove limescale/beerstone. Citric acid might be quicker.

[Cpt.Frederickson]

Yep Beerstone (calcium oxalate C2CaO4) scrapes of as a white powder, Since adding calcium during water treatment I find a small amount of beerstone scale in all my cornies and FV’s even new FV's, after trying a various methods of removal I use a trade Beerstone Remover.

Could you point me in the direction of this cleaner? Got a beerstone issue with my cornies.

[sbond10]

CPt ask in dispensing I believe someone had a similiar problem recently seem to rember some chemical that was blue being the best way forward

[alix101]

For the additional cost of a bucket I'd just buy some new ones.
There have been a lot of articles and research recently on the effects of plastics ( Polyethylene) on the human body with unpleasant results.
When you consider the scale of the problem then it's not surprising nothing conclusive has come out ..basically it should be banned.

I'd consider buying glass carboys they will last forever if you don't drop it.
Link on beer fermentors.
http://beerlegends.com/fermenting-bucke ... ic-carboys

[Doingatun]

Yep Beerstone (calcium oxalate C2CaO4) scrapes of as a white powder, Since adding calcium during water treatment I find a small amount of beerstone scale in all my cornies and FV’s even new FV's, after trying a various methods of removal I use a trade Beerstone Remover.

Could you point me in the direction of this cleaner? Got a beerstone issue with my cornies.

Hi Cpt a local chemical supplier to the trade made me a litre up as a favour, Beer Stone Remover, contains: Phosphoric Acid & Nitric Acid, no idea of the mix, dilute in water, advised must wear gloves and goggles. Would have thought Beer Stone Remover would be available from most Brewery Suppliers.

I only get a small amount of beer stone build up with ales never lagers (less water treatment additions), strangely in lines as if drawn with a pencil, both in my cornies and plastic FV's, in the FV's it seems to appear at areas the paddle has swiped during aeration, no idea how it gest to be the same in the cornies.

[vacant]

I've noticed that most of my fermentors have a thin film of white coating (this can be scratched off easily)

I think you have the answer there. That stuff can be removed by finger nails, so if anyone can suggest a scraper of around the same hardness - i.e. softer than the FV plastic, I'd be interested.

[DeadFall]

I never see this, is it dependent on your local water composition? I do occasionally get a powder coating on items I've soaked in oxy but then haven't rinsed with star-san, looks like a very light dusting of talc. It scrapes off but doesn't rinse off, unless I spray with Star-san first.