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Airlock not bubbling

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M

McCollum83

NewBee
Registered Member
Mar 30, 2017
5
0
0
Chesterfield MO
I tried to search for this but couldn't really find what I was looking for, not really looking for answers just curious if anyone else has experienced this "issue". So I recently started 4th and 5th batches of mead, batches 1-4 have all been 1 gallon batches and 5 is a 3 gallon batches. 1-3 have been in secondary/aging for a while now and also had this "issue". I am not getting any bubbling in the airlock. Batches 1-3 were fine and fermented like I expected them to, so I'm not worried about batch 4. Batch 5 is bubbling like a champ and 4 appears to working when I've done my SNAs it bubbles and has the right aroma. All primary fermentation is done in food grade buckets, I don't know if something weird with the one gallon buckets. Has anyone else seen this happen, thinking about just going to all bigger batches but would like to experiment with recipes on smaller scale.
 
McCollum83 said:
I tried to search for this but couldn't really find what I was looking for, not really looking for answers just curious if anyone else has experienced this "issue". So I recently started 4th and 5th batches of mead, batches 1-4 have all been 1 gallon batches and 5 is a 3 gallon batches. 1-3 have been in secondary/aging for a while now and also had this "issue". I am not getting any bubbling in the airlock. Batches 1-3 were fine and fermented like I expected them to, so I'm not worried about batch 4. Batch 5 is bubbling like a champ and 4 appears to working when I've done my SNAs it bubbles and has the right aroma. All primary fermentation is done in food grade buckets, I don't know if something weird with the one gallon buckets. Has anyone else seen this happen, thinking about just going to all bigger batches but would like to experiment with recipes on smaller scale.
Click to expand...

So if you've gotten this far you should already know that bubbles don't really mean jack. And the way to monitor things is with a hydrometer. We all know buckets leak. And things can bubble long after a ferment is finished. Just go by a hydrometr and stop counting bubbles.
 
I use a refractometer saves on lost volume. Just found it weird that I've never gotten a single bubble from my one gallon buckets but immediately see bubbling in the three gallon. Wasn't sure if anyone else has experienced this as well, I know that "airtight" is not a true expectation from the buckets. Maybe the pressure build up due to less space is forcing it out the lid while I have more space in the bigger bucket so it doesn't create as much pressure and thus the airlock works.
 
McCollum83 said:
I use a refractometer saves on lost volume. Just found it weird that I've never gotten a single bubble from my one gallon buckets but immediately see bubbling in the three gallon. Wasn't sure if anyone else has experienced this as well, I know that "airtight" is not a true expectation from the buckets. Maybe the pressure build up due to less space is forcing it out the lid while I have more space in the bigger bucket so it doesn't create as much pressure and thus the airlock works.
Click to expand...

Refractometers don't work as soon as there is ethanol in solution. Once the dead airspace volume is full. It doesn't matter if it'sd a half cup or half a house the air still moves through the airlock the same.
 
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