Hi everyone,
Last year I implemented a reciculating mash system to try to get clear wort into the kettle. I've had marginal success with it but it's been inconsistent and I've also had lower than my normal efficiency.
After running off to the kettle I've noticed that the grain bed is somewhat pulled away from the sides of the mash tun and seems to be somewhat compacted, leading me to think maybe I'm running the pump too fast, even though I have had this happen when cutting back the flow as low as I can from the beginning. I've tried stirring at intervals in the mash to uncompact the grain bed. So I'm installing a manometer composed of 2 weldless sight glasses, one above the false bottom and one below, with hope that I can see what is going on and be able to make adjustments from there.
Where exactly, in relation to the false bottom and pump, should I install the sight glasses? What should I look for when using it? Any other insight on getting clear wort into the kettle?
I brew 5.5 gallon batches, full volume mash, in a 15 gallon direct fired tun. Slotted false bottom sits about 3" above the bottom on a rack made of 3" wide SS sheet metal pieces that go together vertically in a tic tac toe type of grid. I pump into the water on top of the grain through a piece of locline with the outlet just under the surface. I condition my grain just before milling leaving the husks intact after milling. Mill gap is about .035 and Mill runs at 120 rpm.
Thanks in advance for your comments.