Conditioning in unitank

[CbP Brewing]

Hi I just got new 7 barrel unitanks. Drained the yeast off of the bottom after a week of primary, added enough boiled dextrose to provide carbonation, thought that it would be best to add 15 psi because there is way more head space than a bottle would have. Should I add the head pressure gradually to make sure that I don't crush the yeast in solution by adding 15 psi all of a sudden, does it matter? As they are brand new tanks I am a little bit concerned about possibility of pinhole leaks here and there in the gaskets that I cannot discover, don't want to make a bunch of flat beer, don't really want to use the carbonation stone if I can avoid it. Any advice appreciated, thanks!

[TheCarolinian]

Why are you trying to avoid using the carb stone?

[wailingguitar]

Why are you trying to avoid using the carb stone?

I would ask the same question. In over 25 years I have never known anyone to bulk carbonate with dextrose. It seems like it would be a difficult scenario since it would be extremely difficult to know precisely how much beer you have and you could easily overshoot or undershoot your carb level. That's a major reason why commercial breweries use stones or spending devices, stones are pretty much fool proof and spun digs only slightly less so (since you need to make sure the bleed off is right every time and make sure the tank is capped in time)

[beerme]

spund spund spund spund

get a spundapparat.

it is a pressure relief valve that lets off excess pressure when carbonating. you probably need to bring your temperature down to around 4c to allow enough co2 to dissolve at the pressure you are at.

gw kent sell them.

[Dough In]

Priming a unitank

Why would you want to prime your Unitank???
Check your fermentation gravity during the duration of the fermentation. When your within 2 plato above your final gravity SHUT the blowoff valve (or invest in spunding devices) on your tank. This preserves the natural carbonation. Together with a carbstone you can regulate your volumes accordingly.

Good luck

[a10t2]

When your within 2 plato above your final gravity SHUT the blowoff valve (or invest in spunding devices) on your tank.

That should be shut the blowoff valve *and* attach a spunding device. Pressurizing a tank without a calibrated means of regulating the pressure is a Bad Idea.

[grnis]

You will not crush your yeast in vessels that small.
A bunging valve has been used in one form or another to carbonate beer for centuries. It's free carbonation for your beer.
Your yeast will not suffer