Cluster Filter

There really is a system to this
no matter that it's not obvious!

Lees are being pumped (independent of filter)
via impeller pump, from the larger (300G)
tank in the center/back, into the smaller
mixing tank(80G) on the right/forward.

The filter aid (Perlite in this case:
DE can be used as a substitute)
is blended into the lees inside the mixing tank.
Product from the filter is going into the
tank on the left (230G).

Two thirds of a bag of perlite was used in
130 gallons of lees with 19 frames.

Here in lies half of the key to lees filtrations:
the size of filter needs to match the quantity of Filter Aid.

The other half of the key is using the right amount of Filter Aid,
per volume of lees. This figure can vary somewhat depending on a
couple of factors:

• Density of the lees: can generally be estimated by how long the juice settled>
• Fining agents used: bentonite will require extra filter aid.
• Grape varietal: Labruscas worse than hybrid
• Grape condition: Bot and other rot will require more FA.

Middle ground is 1 bag of perlite to 150 gallons of lees,
with top dosage being around 1 bag/100 gallons (catawba) and
bottom being 1 bag/200 gallons (Vidal/Chardonel).