[majorvices]

How long do you run it and at what setting?  I run mine so I can see it bubbling to the surface and usually only about 45 seconds to a minute ( a little bit more for big beers ).

The red canisters are also different sizes.  I'm still using my larger one ( probably have 8 beers on it ) and I have a skinnier one for backup.

I must have mine set to high, it creates quite a bubbling action.  I go for about the same amount of time.  Sounds like I should dial it back a bit.  Thanks dude.

You'll save a lot of money just getting a tank from a welding shop and using a flow meter. But if not, as I have said here many times, if you see large bubbles coming out you are wasting it. Should be just a trickle .

[klickitat jim]

Or just stay away from oxygen all together.

By doing what?

I gave up on the PITA of oxygen and use a Mix Stir now.

Amanda, you get today's pragmatism award!  My experience is that a MixStir works as well as an O2 setup.

My limited experience tells me I'm doing fine with splashing and will forego the O2 for the sake of being lazy, cheap, and old fashioned

[Thirsty_Monk]

Or just stay away from oxygen all together.

By doing what?

Paul,
I use venturi tube and fill fermenter thru CIP ball. No problem fermenting 1072 beer.
That is the biggest beer I make.
I am on yeast 14 th generation and performance is still good.

[theDarkSide]

I don't shake, I pour back and forth between buckets until the froth reaches the brim.

Am I mistaken if you froth it up during the aeration stage, those head forming proteins are no longer available when you carbonate and serve the beer?

I could swear I heard that somewhere.  Most likely on the internet, so it must be true 

[HoosierBrew]

I don't shake, I pour back and forth between buckets until the froth reaches the brim.

Am I mistaken if you froth it up during the aeration stage, those head forming proteins are no longer available when you carbonate and serve the beer?

I could swear I heard that somewhere.  Most likely on the internet, so it must be true 

All I know is I spent alot of years rocking carboys to aerate until they frothed and my beers have excellent head retention.

[beersk]

Same here, pouring back and forth probably doesn't mess with head retention. I like aerating with pure O2 if only for convenience. I doubt it's really necessary for most of the beers I do, which are in the 1.050 to 1.065 range. I just need to figure out what to do with the red canisters. Seems so wasteful to just throw them away.

[HoosierBrew]

I use a canister and wand now, but on the times I run out of O2 and don't replace it for brew day, I aerate it 'til it froths.  Truthfully, don't notice a big difference at the end of the day.

[Joe Sr.]

I just need to figure out what to do with the red canisters. Seems so wasteful to just throw them away.

I toss them in with the recycling.  I'm not sure that's proper disposal, though.

As for head retention, there may be valid science there but I haven't had any issues and I shake my kegs to carbonate them.  I'll fill a one-liter PET bottle when I fill the kegs and I shake that thing like mad.  Throw it in the freezer and in 30 minutes I've got fresh beer with a big rocky head.

[denny]

I don't shake, I pour back and forth between buckets until the froth reaches the brim.

Am I mistaken if you froth it up during the aeration stage, those head forming proteins are no longer available when you carbonate and serve the beer?

I could swear I heard that somewhere.  Most likely on the internet, so it must be true 

In theory, that's true.  In practice, I've never found it to be a problem. 

Might have read it here....http://byo.com/stories/article/indices/35-head-retention/697-getting-good-beer-foam-techniques

[AmandaK]

Or just stay away from oxygen all together.

By doing what?

I gave up on the PITA of oxygen and use a Mix Stir now.

Amanda, you get today's pragmatism award!  My experience is that a MixStir works as well as an O2 setup.

Hooray!  Do I get a sticker or something? But seriously, on a homebrew level I just don't see the point of pure O2.

[blatz]

I just need to figure out what to do with the red canisters. Seems so wasteful to just throw them away.

I toss them in with the recycling.  I'm not sure that's proper disposal, though.

round here, I collect them and bring them to the transfer station where they collect batteries, motor oil, fluorescent bulbs, etc.   its only 2mi from my house and i wait until i have a box of stuff to take.  YMMV.

[davidgzach]

Or just stay away from oxygen all together.

By doing what?

I gave up on the PITA of oxygen and use a Mix Stir now.

Amanda, you get today's pragmatism award!  My experience is that a MixStir works as well as an O2 setup.

Hooray!  Do I get a sticker or something? But seriously, on a homebrew level I just don't see the point of pure O2.

I think a mix-stir is just fine for medium gravity ales.  I was always a fan of the old whisk until I started getting whisk-elbow.... 

But I like using O2 for high gravity ales and lagers.  It was also a Christmas present so if it didn't come from Santa I would probably still be using the mix-stir.

I put my canisters in with the recyclables.  Asked and was told it was not a problem if empty.

Dave

[hopfenundmalz]

For some small beers that I want more esters in, I just pump into the fermenter. Medium gravity, the mix stir, high gravity and lagers get the O2.

[denny]

Hooray!  Do I get a sticker or something? But seriously, on a homebrew level I just don't see the point of pure O2.

[hubie]

For me, dropping in a stone attached to an O2 tank for a minute is way less effort than shaking, pouring back-and-forth, getting out the whisk or hooking up the drill with a whip on it.  The O2 tank is a convenience thing for me.