Hi Jeff,
During last winter I used 2 3000 Watt heaters,
drawing about 15 amps (tank size 3000 litres). This was controlled by a
thermostat with a thermometer in the CT tank. Worked perfectly, you can dial up
your temp and it will keep it there. It would be cheaper to use a gas
heater but my set up did not suit. It took about 4 hours to heat the water
form 13 deg C to 28 deg C. I also use solar to heat the water if there is any
sun. I still use this now even though it is the middle of summer here, day temp
30 deg C, since the water is cool when it comes out of of the storage
tank. Temp control seems to me to be important to get the high fungi
numbers and short brew times. I start the brew on the warm side when
DO demand is lower and as DO demand increases (as organisms multiply) I let the
temp drop so the CT will hold more DO. I have found through logging the temps
and DO that the highest DO demand occurs about 18 to 20 hours after starting the
brew I start at 8 am this means highest demand for Oxygen is 2 or 3 am in
the morning (next day)!!
The solar system is 20mm rural ag pipe (polyethelene
draped over the roof of my shed, about 400 metres, the water is pumped around by
a small electric pump. This will heat 3000 litres water from 13 deg C to 28 deg
C in about 4 hours if the sun is out.
Regards Mike Harvey.
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