10
Important:
Dry the outside of the tank with a cloth and if any fittings are leaking, tighten them as
required, taking care not to bend the tank. If you are unable to resolve a leak problem please re-read
the fitting assembly instruction thoroughly taking special note of the location of the o-rings and
retainers. If you are still experiencing a leak, contact Blichmann Engineering as this is not normal.
After the prescribed time has passed for your sanitizer to finish it’s job, open
both
valves and drain the
tank. If you have used a sanitizer that must be rinsed, open the tank and rinse as recommended.
Alternate Sanitizing Method:
An alternate method to sanitize the tank and lid is by using a surface sanitizer. This uses significantly
less sanitizer. The only surface sanitizer we recommend is StarSan which has been specifically
formulated as both a flood and surface sanitizer. However, the surface sanitizer concentration is
stronger. Refer to the product instructions for dilution rates. Iodophor and other sanitizers are not
recommended for this procedure. When all the fittings and components have been removed from the
tank and lid, spray the inside surface of the tank and lid with sanitizer and let sit for 10 min. Repeat
for another 10 min, then assemble as described above. Note that the fittings and other seals and
components should still be immersed in sanitizer prior to assembly. The only drawback with this
method is that you can’t check for leaks prior to filling. However, the sealing system has been extremely
reliable and leaks are very uncommon.
You are now ready to ferment!!
Note:
You can CIP (clean in place) the fermentor if you have the equipment. However, complete
disassembly only takes a few minutes and is much more thorough and takes less overall time.
Therefore, we recommend this method in lieu of the CIP method. It is also possible to surface sanitize
the inside of the conical and lid (eliminates filling, and also leak check) using StarSan in a
concentration for surface sanitation. However, you will need to soak the fittings, valves, seals in
sanitizer as surface sanitizing is not effective with these parts.
Operation:
The FermenatorTM has been designed to fit in a large refrigerator, and about any chest or upright
freezer. If you plan to use it in a freezer or refrigerator, the CO2 gas from fermentation should be vented
through the door or wall of the refrigerator. For primary fermentation, it is highly recommended that
you use a blow-off tube (not included). Fit the 90 degree barbed elbow (included) into the stopper as
shown in Fig. 25 after primary fermentation. Run the hose to the exterior of the unit and affix it to an
airlock as shown in Fig. 26.
Fig. 23
Fig. 24
