[Phil_M]

I've been aiming for between 5.2-5.6 per Gordon Strongs Brewing Better Beers.

After taking that sample, I added more gypsum/calcium choride and took another sample at the 40 minute mark, pH was down to 5.7. I'll call that acceptable, and try and either fix my beersmith process or use Bru'n water next time.

[Wort-H.O.G.]

I've been aiming for between 5.2-5.6 per Gordon Strongs Brewing Better Beers.

After taking that sample, I added more gypsum/calcium choride and took another sample at the 40 minute mark, pH was down to 5.7. I'll call that acceptable, and try and either fix my beersmith process or use Bru'n water next time.

Recommend getting some lactic acid for ph reductions, and take a look at bru'nwater.


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[Phil_M]

I've got some phosphoric acid, so I'm set in that regard. I'll try Bru'n water on my next batch, and reference that with Beersmith, maybe I can figure out where I went wrong.

Sooner or later I'll buy a RO system, I'm sure that will help too...

[Wort-H.O.G.]

I've got some phosphoric acid, so I'm set in that regard. I'll try Bru'n water on my next batch, and reference that with Beersmith, maybe I can figure out where I went wrong.

Sooner or later I'll buy a RO system, I'm sure that will help too...

sounds like a good plan. might be stating the obvious but will throw out that your PH reading is only as good as the accuracy of your meter. making sure its calibrated gives you confidence your readings are accurate, and prevents any frustration and tinkering for nothing.

[Phil_M]

Here's the one I've got:

http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity®-Accuracy-Measurement-Resolution-Handheld/dp/B00FJFEB2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424550442&sr=8-1&keywords=pH+meter

Last calibrated it about a month ago. I usually check it against my tap water, which has a known pH of 8.0 before using it. So far it still reads 8.0 when I do. (Yes, I make sure the sample is as close to 70* as possible.)

[mabrungard]

Here's the one I've got:

http://www.amazon.com/Etekcity®-Accuracy-Measurement-Resolution-Handheld/dp/B00FJFEB2O/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1424550442&sr=8-1&keywords=pH+meter

Last calibrated it about a month ago. I usually check it against my tap water, which has a known pH of 8.0 before using it. So far it still reads 8.0 when I do. (Yes, I make sure the sample is as close to 70* as possible.)

Unfortunately, because of the way a pH meter is calibrated, your method is almost like not calibrating at all.

Since we deal with the lower end of the pH scale in brewing, it is important to calibrate by a two-point method in the lower pH range.

[Phil_M]

Correct, and the probe was initially calibrated with 4.2 and 7.0 pH calibration packets. Using such packets every time I brew isn't feasable, so I do a simple sanity check with water. No, it's not a great check, but it would reveal any serious problems with the probe.