No bubbles through airlock

1 year ago | sonsieboy (Member)

Help! I've started a third batch, 3 days ago, in the new F/V which is a Youngs 25 litre bucket with a lid and an airlock. Everything looks right and seems to be going fine accept it is not bubbling through the airlock. I even taped around the lid and the airlock rubber grommet. The lid is bowed up and the water level in the airlock goes up one side and just stays there. Where else can the CO2 be escaping? A brew made up 24 hours previously in a Coopers F/V is merrily gurgling away. I have taken a SG reading, two days apart and it has moved from 1018 to 1008. Both times it tasted and smelt as I would expect. Should I worry yet?

Planning: - Coopers Lager, Apple wine from juice.
Fermenting: Elderberry wine & Vimto wine.
Conditioning: - Ginger Beer, Magnuum apple cider, Coopers Lager.
Drinking: - Coopers Lager,Coopers Draught Elderflower bubbly, Nettle wine,Wherry,

Read responses...

Responses

Neil:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Hi Sonsie,

If you've got a good head inside you fermentor and it smells fine then to me that sounds fine. I'd take another hydrometer reading in a couple of days if has remained at 1008 then i'd say it's done. If it has dropped again then i'd say leave it again for another couple of days until the reading levels out.

If you have tapped around the edge of the fermentor then i cannot see where else it could be escaping from.

I used to use those little gadgets but found sticking a clean tea towel and the lid on losely works fine for me.

Hope this is of some use? I am no expert so i'd wait and see what Greg/Nath have to say as well. Both imo are top notch in their knowledge.

Neil

sonsieboy:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Thanks Neil. Just the sort of re-assurance I was looking for. I'm on the verge of putting a big bag over the F/V and tapeing it, just to see if CO2 is coming out of a pin hole in the bin. It's got to be getting out somewhere!!

Nath:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

Hey there!

Like neil says, check the hydro reading and you may find its all done. No beer is the same, I have had kits that have fermented out in a few days and the same kit again that has taken a week. It all depends on the yeast, conditions, placing, the other half, the moon phases, umm.... tidal stuff and err.... not to forget timmy mallet!

Well anyway, dont worry, if the hydro is the same tomorrow all is finished and its time to start keggin'/bottlin'.

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

sonsieboy:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Thank you Nath,
I think the fear of failure, having followed all the advice, is the real worry. If this brew doesn't work out, I am going to be nervous about this new F/V. Apart from all that, what a waste of good beer making ingredients!!

Nath:

Posted 1 year ago by Moderator

Im sure it will be fine. It smells fine and tastes fine and its hit its gravity. Unless you are extremely unlucky (which I doubt you are) it wil....be....fine! :wink:

What kit is it by the way?

Drinkin' - nowt, it's all gone

Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!

nathbrew@gmail.com

sonsieboy:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Coopers Australian Lager. The first batch is crystal clear. Even the last bottle with loads of sediment has cleared. I think the first bottle may be tried on Saturday night.

Toombstone:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Hi sonsieboy, I used to worry about my fermenting the same as you. It great to see your airlock bubbling away as it gives you some reassurance that it's working. Out of 10 batches I'd only see 1 or maybe 2 start to bubble. I always put it down to air escaping around the lid - but don't worry the carbon dioxide from the beer will sort any nasties which may find their way through these possible gaps. I'd not advocating purchasing one, but I bought a large glass demijohn from Greg about 3 weeks ago & from the 2 batches I have made it's definitely a great purchase. The little hole at the top of the demijohn leaves very little area for the gasses to escape except through the airlock & when it's dark if you shine a torch through the beer you can even see the yeast swimming around eating all the sugar which gives me great confidence, but be careful it can be addictive to watch :-) Good luck.

Conditioning: Witbier Mashkit & St Peters Ruby
Drinking: Tea
Planning: Rauchbier & German Pilsner Mashkit

sonsieboy:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

So, I have started another brew in this F/V and it was much the same. I will not be defeated, I paid for an airlock and I want to see bubbles. I taped up the lid with gaffer tape, still no bubbles. I put insulating tape around the airlock to make a tighter fit in the rubber grommit, still no bubbles. I put a heavy-ish letter rack on one edge and it bubbled..... but only twice. So I got 2 lengths of 2x1 wood and weighted them with a beer kit each, and Bob's your uncle, a constant gurgling sound as the co2 escapes and I can sit for hours, mesmerised by the miracle that is homebrew.

Varnish:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

Bit extreme sonsieboy!

Toombstone:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

You should definitely not a glass demijohn, your be there for days :-)

Conditioning: Witbier Mashkit & St Peters Ruby
Drinking: Tea
Planning: Rauchbier & German Pilsner Mashkit

sonsieboy:

Posted 1 year ago by Member

I have found an altogether more civilised way of ensuring I get bubbles through my bought and paid for airlock. It came from someone who had posted that they only used clingfilm with a pinhole. I have clingfilmed the top, put the lid on, waited for the film to expand, poked a pinhole through the rubber grommit, put in the airlock and Bob's your uncle, I have my craved for bubbles.
I have come up with a theory about folks who have aquariums. They are not watching the fish because they are relaxing. It's the bubbles that are doing it.

Mark:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Sonsieboy your answers are a classic could not believe the exremities you go to to get bubbles, really made me chuckle. Are you mr bean in disguise? lol

Planning-Connoiseur Johannisberg Riesling
Fermenting-Nowt
Conditioning-Proper Job Comp Beer,Kenridge White Merlot
Drinking-Raspberry/Lime cider,Grenache Blush Rose,Coopers modified lager
SG Chardonnay Wine

sonsieboy:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

I have only just revisited this thread after some time. Do you know my family, Mark? They all say I'm like Mr.Bean after I have done all the all important tasting sessions, which are Wednesday, Sunday, Friday, Tuesday and Monday. That leaves me Thursday and Saturday to enjoy the fruits of my labour.

Mark:

Posted 10 months ago by Member

Ahh Thursday today plenty of fruit for you then? Which fruit is it today?