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Author Topic: CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter  (Read 1857 times)

Offline SchillingBrewHaus

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CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« on: December 15, 2017, 12:21:37 pm »
Just starting out and wondering how many people flood or wash their secondary fermenter with CO2 prior to racking, to remove oxygen and prevent oxidation.

Offline denny

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Re: CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« Reply #1 on: December 15, 2017, 12:36:45 pm »
I do when I use a secondary, which is almost never.
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Offline Stevie

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Re: CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« Reply #2 on: December 15, 2017, 12:55:31 pm »
The term “purging” and it is a very good practice to add to your  SOP.

Offline blatz

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Re: CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« Reply #3 on: December 15, 2017, 01:44:43 pm »
my secondary is my keg, and yes, I fill it to overflowing with sanitizer and then push all the sanitizer out with CO2.
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Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« Reply #4 on: December 15, 2017, 03:32:02 pm »
my secondary is my keg, and yes, I fill it to overflowing with sanitizer and then push all the sanitizer out with CO2.

Before moving to a full purge like you describe above, I used to run a CO2 line to the bottom of the keg and flush it that way.  I don't recall ever purging my fermenters, but maybe.

Doing what you can to minimize O2 is a step in the right direction, even if you're not getting a full purge of the vessel. 
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The Beerery

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CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« Reply #5 on: December 15, 2017, 04:26:32 pm »
If you want to be a wizard attach your primary to your secondary and let fermentation purge it for you. 

Fermenter out to orange carboy cap on the secondary. The secondary has a racking cane to the bottom and an airlock in the other port. 
Fermentation generated co2 (pure) goes out the primary to the bottom of the secondary, then fills the secondary and out the airlock.  Hell attach a keg in there as well!  Fermentation generates 25 times the volume of the beer produced.  Free and easy. Read.  “Cheap and easy” (see what I did there!?). Purging method. 

Here is a video of how I purge my kegs, same idea though. 
https://youtu.be/X9NdErVUnyQ

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« Last Edit: December 15, 2017, 04:30:52 pm by The Beerery »

Offline Joe Sr.

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Re: CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« Reply #6 on: December 17, 2017, 06:47:08 pm »
I might try that next time I brew.

Hoping to get a couple batches in after Christmas.  It's been almost 6 months since I last brewed...
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Offline a10t2

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Re: CO2 "Washing" Secondary Fermenter
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2017, 03:47:27 pm »
Fermentation generated co2 (pure) goes out the primary to the bottom of the secondary, then fills the secondary and out the airlock.  Hell attach a keg in there as well!  Fermentation generates 25 times the volume of the beer produced.

Wouldn't that leave O2 at ~1% though? CO2 evolution from fermentation isn't fast enough to displace the air, only dilute it.
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