Just wondering if there's any no-nos regarding the container used to brew essence. My problem is that my aquarium heater is quite long, and so in any measuring jug or bucket it takes at least 2 litres to cover it to the minimum water level' mark. As the heater's running at pretty much full-whack to give me a steady 31.5 I'm not keen on testing the veracity of this guideline and underfilling the container, but 2 litres is way more than I need at any one time and I don't want to waste what is quite a pricey product.

I have a tall glass water bottle that I picked up that holds 0.8 litres (which would be plenty for my plants), and which when full would cover my heater adequately, but I was wondering if the fact that it has a relatively closed opening (if that's not an oxymoron) would interfere with the bubbling/brewing process in any way.

Is the surface area of the liquid at all relevant? And the fetteredness of the froth? I noticed someone on here using a 2 litre drinks bottle, but half full, so the surface area of the liquid is still pretty big. If a bottle like that was filled up to the neck would it harm the brewing process in any way?

Well i use a 5L empty bio bizz containerwitht he top chopped off, my tank heater fits in perfect at an angle like its meant to sit, i just put like 4L of water in.

I guess you could try using the heater to warm a tray of water, then sit a smaller tray, say a margerine tub or something, in the tray of water to brew the essence. You might have to knock up a lid to keep the temps up, but i reckon it'd work...




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e2a: or yeah - that sounds easier evans

Depends how long the heater is i guess...?

Did a brew in a saucepan
placed the saucepan in a washing up bowl
and added warm water to the washing up bowl when the temp. dropped in the saucepan.
worked a treat

thanks for the input guys.

I know I can use the bain-marie method but seeing as I have a thermostatically controlled aquarium heater it seems stupid not to use it and take the stress (or any active participation for that matter) out of maintaining the temps.
While downsizing the quantity inevitably leads you to assume that you need a short squat container (like a marge tub) I'm just wondering if this is actually true. For me the ideal would be to use this (tall, narrow) water bottle I've got with the aquarium heater and be able to mix only the quantity I need but still have the convenience of the heater to control the brew temp.

I guess I don't see any reason the tall glass wouldn't work, but use a tray undernath - I reckon the froth would make a hell of a mess

Give it a try.



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oh yeah. It'll be sitting in a bucket for sure!

Well that didn't work!

Put 500ml in my bottle (so about 2/3 full) and sat it in my 2 litre jug full of water, which was in turn sat in a large tub for potential froth catching. Aquarium heater in the jug, airstone and temp probe in the bottle. Bubbled, added molasses, bubbled some more, added essence. Left it bubbling overnight, came back in the morning to find about 200ml left in the bottle and the rest in the tub.

Back to the drawing board.

I brew in a demi-john with a small 11watt heatmat underneath it,it works great,the froth never reaches the top of the jar

I use a big saucepan (15ltr) from the kitchen and either stick next to a radiator or put it in a small cupboard with a fan heater to keep the small cupboard air temp at about 28oC. Brews fine - no mess.