Spike brewing conical fermenters unitanks

[Aus.Morgo]

Hi all,

Is anyone using or had a play with the spike brewing conical fermenter unitanks?

I was planning on buying a SS Brewtech conical and brite tank (smallest versions), SS Brewtech has said they are looking at doing a smaller 7gal unitank but no date.

Seeing as Spike brewing has the CF5 which is up to 7Gal I'm leaning that way.
I like that unitank option halves the space compared to a conical and brite tank plus its cheaper, should help with performance and lower infection risks etc

Any thoughts?

 

[droid]

I'm a uni tank fan too, linky?

 

[Aus.Morgo]

https://spikebrewing.com/collections/fermenters

 

[Aus.Morgo]

The CF5 has just been made available for pre order. I'll wait for reviews before going ahead but have heard other gear by them is pretty good, apparently heavier duty than some others.

 

[Mardoo]

Spike makes some well thought out, solid gear, IMHAO.

 

[CJW]

Hi all,

Is anyone using or had a play with the spike brewing conical fermenter unitanks?

<snip>

Any thoughts?

I emailed Spike a while ago, prior to their Unitank launch, about availability in Australia. They said they have many projects underway, one of which is working on Australian availability/distributor.

I have been meaning to follow them up to see how that is going, but I would certainly be interesting in the Spike Uni as by all accounts the welding is superb and the SS Brewtech TC ports on the front can be a bit crowed I hear.

How would you get a Spike conical here? Would there be any advantage in a multiple buy? I'd certainly be interested.

Maybe my only concern is the pressure rating, says 15psi, which is fine when cold crashing but would prefer it to be higher to pressure ferment at ale temps (I need to look more into this). Also says it handles 5psi transfers for the band which seems odd.

 

[Aus.Morgo]

I haven't looked into shipping yet though I have a US mail forwarder I could likely use. Might find out the size and weight of packed uni from them first though.

 

[CJW]

I haven't looked into shipping yet though I have a US mail forwarder I could likely use. Might find out the size and weight of packed uni from them first though.

I've replied to my old email to see if there is an update on international (Aussie) shipping. I'll post back here if/when I get a response.

If you ask them about shipping dimensions, weight and volumetric etc weight also ask how many they get to a pallet. I am guessing it might be 4, this could make shipping into Aus much cheaper if everyone got together on it.

 

[Aus.Morgo]

Just checked the SS Brewtech website today, they have their 7 gal uni listed!

https://www.ssbrewtech.com/collections/home-unitanks/products/7-gal-unitank

Going to email them about the dimensions, seems a little wide compared to the 14gal

 

[CJW]

I'll post back here if/when I get a response.

I heard back from Ryan at Spike, firstly he confirmed the working and transfer pressure is 15psi.

Secondly, he has suggested getting in contact with a freight forwarder they have used before for shipping into Aus.

The details provided are

Michael Paine | Senior Freight Consultant

InXpress Barossa Valley
PO Box 3, Gawler, SA 5118
Phone: 1300 584 884
Email: [email protected]​

I'd be interested in the CF10 as it can do 5 and 10 gallon batches, but I guess it would need all the accessories in the same shipment so it adds up.

Anybody want to talk to Michael and suss out the details and what, if any, benefits would come from shipping a couple at once?

 

[Hubert]

I heard back from Ryan at Spike, firstly he confirmed the working and transfer pressure is 15psi.

Secondly, he has suggested getting in contact with a freight forwarder they have used before for shipping into Aus.

The details provided are

Michael Paine | Senior Freight Consultant

InXpress Barossa Valley
PO Box 3, Gawler, SA 5118
Phone: 1300 584 884
Email: [email protected]​

I'd be interested in the CF10 as it can do 5 and 10 gallon batches, but I guess it would need all the accessories in the same shipment so it adds up.

Anybody want to talk to Michael and suss out the details and what, if any, benefits would come from shipping a couple at once?

Hey CJW,
I used Mike to ship my CF15 out recently. Communication from him is fantastic. Price was better than I could arrange myself too (his contacts are heaps better than mine ). He also had contact fairly regularly with Ryan from Spike, so there were no surprises when the quote for freight came in.
I only shipped a single unit with a few extras in the one shipment. You can however fit four to a pellet and this would cost roughly the same as one air freighted, but take 6 odd weeks to get to Aus. I just wanted mine sooner, and didn’t have three other buyers lined up and sorted.
In the end, door to door from the US to regional Qld, approx $450 and a week transit.

As for the CF15, welds are great, solidly built piece of kit. Very well protected for shipping too, so another bonus there. Currently have a Mosaic SMaSH fermenting away nicely. Highly recommend the CIP ball Spike sell too. Works a test with my Kaxin mag drive pump. Massive port in the lid for dry-hopping and 2’ dump port on the other end.

Solid, well though out bit of kit.

Do it, you deserve it!

Cheers.

 

[huez]

@Hubert do you have any photos mate? Particularly of the welds?

 

[Hubert]

@Hubert do you have any photos mate? Particularly of the welds?

None at the moment, I’ll grab some over the next day or so and post back here.

 

[seamad]

Hubert, how are you cooling yours ?
I'm thinking of the 10, have an old glycol chiller sitting around doing nothing, was thinking of using it with the centre cooling coil.

 

[Hubert]

@seamad, the CF15 fits nicely in a STC1000 controlled fridge. Glycol chillers aren’t really an effective option in Nth Qld unfortunately, would be constantly running.

 

[huez]

None at the moment, I’ll grab some over the next day or so and post back here.

champion

 

[Hubert]

Ok, sorry for the delay. Was caught up Christmassing with the family...
All pics are on the external of the unitank. The internals are all polished and sanitary.

4" TC modular top port

1.5" TC port

1.5" TC sample valve fitting

Leg

My thoughts so far:
- Recommend getting your TC fittings from Spike as well, they are of better quality than the ones I can get locally.
- The CIP ball works ok with a kaxin pump. Am going to see how it goes with a Chugger or March in the new year. Currently it doesn’t give full coverage in the one spot. All it really means in its current configuration is I have to move the lid around to clean and sanitise, not a biggie.
- If you’re going to be doing 5gal batches with the occasional double/triple, go a smaller unit. The temp port lies in line with the 5gal mark.

Happy Brewing.

 

[huez]

Nice one thanks for that hubert.

 

[CJW]

None at the moment, I’ll grab some over the next day or so and post back here

What is your thoughts regarding the lid seal, I would love to see one and get an impression regarding the construction.

Is it rolled? Does it seem solid or flimsy? I have no grounds to doubt their engineering but i would love to see it before purchasing one.

 

[Hubert]

What is your thoughts regarding the lid seal, I would love to see one and get an impression regarding the construction.

Is it rolled? Does it seem solid or flimsy?

The rubber seal works a treat. Seats nicely and is easy to install/remove. The Spike crew even sent a spare for Justin. Not envisaging having to use it in the near future, but a nice gesture none the less.
The clamp that holds the lid works. IMHO it looks like the bleed actuator clamp used on old helo engines. And they never missed a beat. Three solid pieces held together by by a metal, semi-flexible strap. Definitely a two handed operation to fit. Holds the pressure the vessel is rated to without a worry.

 

[Meddo]

With the good current AUD/USD exchange rate I'm going to grab one of the Spike CF15s very soon, hopefully this week. Purchase prices on the fermenters are CF10 USD$625, CF15 USD$750.

On @Hubert's advice I got in touch with Mike at InXpress regarding importing the fermenters, and now just want to see if there is anyone else in Brisbane (or willing to collect from Brisbane) interested in getting some Spike gear so as to reduce combined shipping costs from Milwaukee.

Indicative ($AUD, excluding GST) pricing for shipping only from Mike is:

• ~$430 for one CF10, 6-10 days delivery
• ~$530 for one CF15, 6-10 days delivery
• ~$1020 for three CF15s, sea freight 45-52 days delivery, so about $340 each

As such, I'm looking for another 2+ people who are keen in the next week-ish to go in on a group shipment, otherwise I'll just go the single unit option. Mike advises that three units will likely be enough to qualify for sea freight and hence the cheaper price - any additional units will be fine but will not significantly improve the cost-per-unit any further.

Mike advises that no import duty will be payable on the Spike gear, however if the total shipment value is over $AUD1000 it will be subject to GST. Any additional accessories are likely to fit in the packaging for the fermenters and therefore will not incur any additional shipping costs (as they are based on volume, not weight).

It's short notice obviously but I'm keen to make this happen asap so if anyone's interested in joining in please let me know sooner rather than later. I've got a bit more info from Mike but I won't go into too many more specifics here now - if anyone has any questions please just let me know.

https://spikebrewing.com/collections/fermenters/products/cf15
https://spikebrewing.com/collections/fermenters

 

[homebrewnewb]

$A1020 for three CF15s.

what's the shipping costs from the US?

that looks phenomenal if the numbers are correct just for the product alone.

 

[Meddo]

Sorry, with hindsight that was a very ambiguous post by me - those are the shipping costs that I quoted, not purchase. I've updated the post to clarify.

Purchase prices on the fermenters are CF10 USD$625, CF15 USD$750.

 

[huez]

I would have been keen but i contacted spike about dimensions last week and the ones they have on the website are measured without any valves or accessories attached. So the CF10 went from being a pretty tight squeeze in my ferment fridge to not even close to fitting. I'd double check with them before committing if you plan on putting it in a fridge.

 

[homebrewnewb]

they are probably more suited to jacket cooling, they are bigish units i would be surprised if you could find a unit to cool them short of a cool room.

 

[Meddo]

I would have been keen but i contacted spike about dimensions last week and the ones they have on the website are measured without any valves or accessories attached. So the CF10 went from being a pretty tight squeeze in my ferment fridge to not even close to fitting. I'd double check with them before committing if you plan on putting it in a fridge.

Good info, thanks. Did you get any actual dimensions that you could share? I asked for some drawings last week but they didn't give me anything useful.

 

[Belgrave Brewer]

I looked at the Spike gear, as well as the SS Brewtech Brewmaster, and several other options out there. They are pretty sweet units.

The inline cooling coil would be fine for fermenting, but would not suit as a serving tank as less contact with the beer as it is consumed unless the coil reaches the conical area. Would be fine in a ferment fridge though.

I ended up going with jacketed fermenters from Brew-Tek and glycol chilling in an insulated room.
https://aussiehomebrewer.com/threads/glycol-chilling-and-multiple-jacketed-fermentors.97625/

They make non-jacketed fermenters that are tight and compact for ferment fridges, but a little more pricey.

 

[huez]

Good info, thanks. Did you get any actual dimensions that you could share? I asked for some drawings last week but they didn't give me anything useful.

I must have deleted the email sorry, i think its mainly the sample valve sticking out the front thought to be honest.

 

[Hubert]

they are bigish units i would be surprised if you could find a unit to cool them short of a cool room.

measured without any valves or accessories attached. So the CF10 went from being a pretty tight squeeze in my ferment fridge to not even close to fitting. I'd double check with them before committing if you plan on putting it in a fridge.

I’ve got the CF15 with the additional ports and it fits nicely in my ferment fridge. Mind you, I did get the unit first then trawled gumtree & farcebook marketplace a fridge that would fit it. Internal dimensions of 50x50 gives ample space to fit yeast starters etc around the legs.

Cheers,

H.

 

[Meddo]

I’ve got the CF15 with the additional ports and it fits nicely in my ferment fridge. Mind you, I did get the unit first then trawled gumtree & farcebook marketplace a fridge that would fit it. Internal dimensions of 50x50 gives ample space to fit yeast starters etc around the legs.

Cheers,

H.

Hey Hubert, if you get a chance would you mind checking the maximum depth of your unit for me please, as in front to back, including valves? I've got a pretty big fridge but I think it's more like 470 mm deep than 500. Would be good to make sure the door will shut before I purchase one.

Thanks mate