Temp Control with Aquarium Heater

[TheDarkSide]

I am going to brew within the next couple weeks, but the temperatures have dropped to the 30's outside so my basement is running about 58F right now. Last winter I used a large rubbermaid tub, filled half way with water, and put an aquarium heater in there and set it to 68 F. I will probably do the same this year, but wonder if I fermented too high last time. Since the fermentation will produce heat and I had the water at 68 F, did I end up fermenting at 70+?

What would be your best guess for temperature difference during high fermentation? I guess I could set the heater at a lower temp for the first few days then raise it to 68 F as fermentation slows down, but I just don't know how low I should set it.

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...and a chest freezer...and a two stage temperture controller..."

[Mylo]

"All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...and a chest freezer...and a two stage temperture controller..."

Meh. You don't need a two stage one. Just pick up one of the single Ranco's on eBay for $50. You can use it for heating in the winter, and cooling in the summer. Plug in the aquarium heater and set the thing above 70. Let the Ranco control it. With the waterbath and aquarium heater - you might also want to go with the carboy thermowell option - since the probe is not supposed to be submerged.


Mylo

[Bugeater]

Assuming you are doing a proper yeast pitch (a big starter) of healthy yeast, many ale strains will work well in the lower 60's. I routinely ferment my WLP001 and Wyeast Pacman yeasts down around 63° (wort temperature, not ambient temperature). Also depending on the gravity of your wort and strain of yeast, the temperature of the wort during fermentation can be as much as 5-8° higher than ambient. However, the lower the ambient temperature, the less the differential.

If you are not going to be measuring the actual temperature of your fermenting beer, don't be afraid to set your heater down to 62-63 during the really active part of fermentation (first 3 days or so) and then bring it back up to 67-68°.

Wayne

[WitsEnd]

I had the same setup as you described. I salvaged a water pump from a tabletop water fountain and zip-tied it to the aquarium heater. With the water constantly circulating around the fermenter, I felt that the thermal transfer was fast enough to keep the fermentation the same temp as the surrounding water (although not verified with a thermowell).

I would recommend getting a pump to circulate the water to keep everything the same temp and ensure proper thermal transfer.

[HopRunner]

My basement is also cold. Sound like it is at the same temperature yours is. I am using the WLP810 "Anchor Steam" Lager yeast. My carboy is at 62F and it is fermenting like mad. I expect it to drop to 58-60 when the fermentation slows down.

The last beer I made I used the Dry English Ale and it fermented out dry and clean at 60-62F. It did take about three weeks for the yeast to finish but it got there. The Brown Ale is very very clean tasting.

I'm not much into the gadgets. I just modify my process to meet the environment.

Brew On!!