False Bottom

[Mike_n_dax]

I have some questions about a False Bottom I have. Its a Stainless Steel PICO style False Bottom. FYI I also have a dip tube that will pick up most if not all of the wort.

http://www.homebrewing.org/Stainless-St ... _1010.html

The Support system and bottom lifts the grain bed up so far that the "Mash water" volume of most 5, and 6 gal batches will not cover the grain.

So I'm questioning can I add additional water to the mash and then deduct that amount from my sparge water?

Mike

[arno]

That's what I do. I know I have a gallon below my false bottom, so I calculate my preferred grain to h2o ratio (usually 1.33), and add a gallon. Then I subtract one gallon from my batch sparge.

[Mike_n_dax]

Cool. Thats what I had figured I'd need to do... ie add water to Mash -in, and subtract from the sparg-out, but its nice to hear some one else who has one and has already worked through some of the issues... and if so what they have thought of it and what their efficiency has been using it?

[Mike_n_dax]

First time use today and Wow I LOVE IT! between having a "0" loss in temp during the mash I wound up with a 72% efficiency!