5 Star 5.2 ph

[snowcapt]

Anybody use this stuff? I bought some and used it for the first time yesterday and it seemed to work pretty well, considering that my hydrometer is MIA. Before I drain it, I notice the bubble had that wonderful rainbow color on them.
I am curious to get a reading on it.
How has it done for you guys?

[ajdelange]

No one uses this stuff because it doesn't come even close to doing what it is supposed to do. There must be a hundred posts in the archives that explain why this is so and give the hard evidence.

[snowcapt]

Yeah, I searched a bit for it, but couldnt track it down.
Thanks, AJ.

[ajdelange]

Try "phosphate buffer" and ajdelange. I got 6 or 7 hits.

[Kbar]

I am assuming this is primarily Calcium Sulfate or Calcium Chloride. Aids in PH reduction. Anyone in hard water regions will not need it. May need it here in Oregon though.

[snowcapt]

i believe a while ago aj said i needed to dilute my water 9/1 ro to tap and add back calcium. calcium sulfate with desierd hop forwardness. Super alkaline here, apparently.
did I do good aj?
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=25184&hilit=another+water+question

[ajdelange]

I am assuming this is primarily Calcium Sulfate or Calcium Chloride. Aids in PH reduction. Anyone in hard water regions will not need it. May need it here in Oregon though.

It's a mixture of mono and dibasic sodium phosphates. It buffers to about 5.9 in distilled water. I think the idea is that the phosphate in the malt is supposed to get it to buffer to pH 5.2 but no one has been able to demonstrate that it actually does this.

[ajdelange]

i believe a while ago aj said i needed to dilute my water 9/1 ro to tap and add back calcium. calcium sulfate with desierd hop forwardness. Super alkaline here, apparently.
did I do good aj?

In theory, yes. Did the beer improve?