Just kidding, I've already brewed with my new March pump once and it was awesome. But I have a few questions:
1. I could use it to pump from the mash tun but I didn't because I was worried about either compacting the grain bed down so far it wouldn't drain, pulling bits of husk through, or both. Anyone have experience with this? I lauter through a slotted CPVC manifold FWIW.
2. When I started my whirlpool, using the pump to pull wort from the bottom of the kettle, through the CFC, and back in at the top, I had a lot of hop particles and break running through the system. By the time I was done it was running clear, but after all was said and done I started worrying. I don't think any of it is hard enough to actually do damage; I'm more worried about binding up the impeller and burning out the motor or something like that. Am I just obsessing?
3. Finally, I cleaned everything up by pumping hot Oxiclean through it, then running hot water through until it ran clear, then blowing through it to get as much water out as possible. Is there anything else I should be doing to clean it? I guess I could take the head off, but it seems like pretty soft plastic (I almost stripped one of the threads just putting the fittings on). Maybe I'll compromise and clean it every 3-4 brews. How well do the plastic heads hold up long-term?