mmelnick Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 I don;t currently have a budget for an RO filter. But I've been playing with the idea of creating a sun still that would just sit on my balcony and collect evaporated water that should theoretically be pure distilled water. The design would be something like this: The plan would involve a plastic bin or one of those rubbermaid totes. Preferably a black one to maximize the suns heating power. I would then seal a trash bag around the top of the box and place a rock or any heave object in the center to create a low point in the center of the bag. I would fill the bin with tap water and allow the sun to cause it to evaporate. The water should then condensate on the trash bag because the air outside of the box will be cooler. and since the rock will create a low point the water will run down the bag and drip into the center in one specific location I would then cut the top off of a 2 liter bottle and then place back in the bottle upside down. This would act as a funnel to catch falling water and drain it into the bottle. this would also stop water from evaporatin back out of the bottle after it has been collected. Theoretically all of the water collected should be pure distilled water which I could use for top offs and water changes. Do you think that this could be effective or even safe to use? ------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am also thinking of using a variation of this to use as a "moonshine" still. I've been making my own wine, but have been thinking of maybe doing something different. Here is the plan on that one. The idea behind this one is that the alcohol in a pre fermented mash evaporates out along with some water and I should get a mixture of alcohol and water. Is this correct? edit photo Link to comment
mkzimms Posted June 2, 2008 Share Posted June 2, 2008 technically it should work... i would invest in a good TDS meter to determine if it is actually working correctly. Link to comment
mmelnick Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 technically it should work... i would invest in a good TDS meter to determine if it is actually working correctly. yeah , I've seen a few for $20-25. that's not bad compared to a cheap $100 ro filter. I spend about $10-12 a month on top off water alone. And I know buying a filter would pay off fairly quickly, but I just don't have the $ to drop $100 right now. what do you guys think about the second still plan? it seems to me like it should work. the traditional still uses a fire or burner for heat, but alcohol evaporates at a much lower temp than water, so I think that I might actually get a really strong alcohol content compared to a traditional still. Is there any way to test for alcohol content? (other than seeing how long it takes until you can't walk a straight line) Link to comment
mkzimms Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 Is there any way to test for alcohol content? (other than seeing how long it takes until you can't walk a straight line) yeah, you can use a hydrometer, luckily you are into fish tanks and should have one around! take a specific gravity (SG) reading before you pitch the yeast for original gravity (OG) and then again after fermentation for final gravity (FG). then you can calculate your alcohol by volume (ABV). (OG - FG) * 131 = ABV then to convert to standard proof... ABV * 2 = proof Link to comment
mmelnick Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 yeah, you can use a hydrometer, luckily you are into fish tanks and should have one around! take a specific gravity (SG) reading before you pitch the yeast for original gravity (OG) and then again after fermentation for final gravity (FG). then you can calculate your alcohol by volume (ABV). (OG - FG) * 131 = ABV then to convert to standard proof... ABV * 2 = proof Thanks mkzimms!!! That's a really cool formula. But how would it work if I were using a mash and distilling the alcohol out of it. I'll definitely start using that whenever I make homemade wine because that is the process for wine, but this method won't have a filtered yeasty fluid. I'll just let the alcohol and water evaporate out and collect it. in a separate container. Link to comment
filefish949 Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 you may want to consider this: no knock warrent for posession of a fish tank? WTF just saying Link to comment
Pickle010 Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 I saw that exact sun still work on "Man VS Wild" The guy was on a beach and of course he couldn't drink the ocean water so he dug a hole in the ground and urinated in it. Then he placed a cup in the center and covered it with plastic - put the rock in the middle and sure enough a few hours later he had a 1/2 cup of drinking water. Now if this guy can turn urine into drinking water (i'd have to of been stranded a while) then I bet you could turn tap water into top off water. I'd still probably want to get the first sample analyzed just to make sure nothing remains that you don't want in your tank. Link to comment
mmelnick Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 you may want to consider this: no knock warrent for posession of a fish tank? WTF just saying I don't really see the relevance. Am I missing something? Link to comment
mkzimms Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 Thanks mkzimms!!! That's a really cool formula. But how would it work if I were using a mash and distilling the alcohol out of it. I'll definitely start using that whenever I make homemade wine because that is the process for wine, but this method won't have a filtered yeasty fluid. I'll just let the alcohol and water evaporate out and collect it. in a separate container. forgot... you could still use a floating hydrometer and calibrate it against things you already know the alcohol content of like beer, wine, rubbing alcohol and some liquors... just use a sharpie and mark those readings on the hydrometer to scale it. then just test your stilled solution with it. Link to comment
lostone Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 put a aquarium heater in there at night so it runs 24/7 , and i sall a video, this guy put food coloring in the water(red), after distilling it was pink...so distill 2 times for better results, (i talk in jibbirish) sorry! Link to comment
mmelnick Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 forgot... you could still use a floating hydrometer and calibrate it against things you already know the alcohol content of like beer, wine, rubbing alcohol and some liquors... just use a sharpie and mark those readings on the hydrometer to scale it. then just test your stilled solution with it. I never would have thought of that, but it's so simple. I love plans like that. put a aquarium heater in there at night so it runs 24/7 , and i sall a video, this guy put food coloring in the water(red), after distilling it was pink...so distill 2 times for better results, (i talk in jibbirish) sorry! I'm worried that the sun won't be able to keep up with the needs of my tank. I go through about 5 gallons a month though. That's not a whole lot. I'll hit it with the TDS after one distillation and 2 and see what the difference is. I don't mind a few minerals in the water, but I need to watch out for heavy metals and other toxins. And there is no way to tell what is dissolved in the water. Link to comment
mkzimms Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 why dont you start now and buy water for a little longer until you can stockpile some. Link to comment
dopamine Posted June 3, 2008 Share Posted June 3, 2008 this has been a source of survival for many years taught through the marines. It will take forever to get enough water though Link to comment
mmelnick Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 why dont you start now and buy water for a little longer until you can stockpile some. Yeah, that's pretty much the plan. I think I'll build the thing tomorrow and use bought RO as long as I have to, but try to save up as much distilled as I can. This won't work in the winter in Colorado, so this will just have to be for the summer time. I suppose I could boil water off on the stove in the winter, but the idea is free energy from the sun making free water. (That sounds pretty hippy doesn't it) Link to comment
mmelnick Posted June 3, 2008 Author Share Posted June 3, 2008 Does anybody have a really good recipe for the mash for the second still? Link to comment
The Propagator Posted June 6, 2008 Share Posted June 6, 2008 No, but I have a good one for a replacement sun still. MAN UP AND BUY a frick'n $54.99 100 gpd RO/di unit off Ebay man. If you can afford a reef you can afford the $54.99 plus $30.00 shipping holmes $52.99 100 GPD RO/DI Link to comment
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