Airlocks - am I doing something wrong

[Shoit]

I'm just wondering whether i'm doing something wrong with my airlocks. I've filled it up to the max line and the brew's within its first 12 hrs. The lids bulging but no bubbles are coming from the airlock? Is there some hidden technique to using a airlock that no-one has told me about?

Kev

[Stonechat]

What sort of airlock is it?

[Shoit]

What sort of airlock is it?

Really sorry, that would have been helpful. It's one of the bubbler type airlocks (not the 'top hat' version)

Kev

[Stonechat]

If it's a bubbler, you only need to fill it to the first bubble from the bottom, and even halfway up the bubble will do.
If the lid is bulging it appears the seal on the bucket by the lid is good.
Try emptying some of the solution from the bubbler.

[Russ]

As Stonechat says but I also put a weight on top of the lid to stop the bulging (a tin of extract is about right)

[Shoit]

As Stonechat says but I also put a weight on top of the lid to stop the bulging (a tin of extract is about right)

Good plan, i'll give that a go, at the end of the day - does it make a difference if the CO2 just sits in there, as long as the lid doesn't pop and spray froth all over the wallpaper and floor?

[Stonechat]

As Stonechat says but I also put a weight on top of the lid to stop the bulging (a tin of extract is about right)

Good plan, i'll give that a go, at the end of the day - does it make a difference if the CO2 just sits in there, as long as the lid doesn't pop and spray froth all over the wallpaper and floor?

If the bubbler is working properly the CO2 should be bubbling out from it.
One final thought...take the bubbler off and run tap water through it to make sure it's not blocked with anything and then refill with whatever solution you use(I use a 10% sodium metabislphite solution).

The CO2 will act as a protective layer of gas and will do no harm, quite the opposite

[Shoit]

(I use a 10% sodium metabislphite solution).

I've just been using boiled cooled water - how do you make up a 10% solution of sodium metabislphite? Also is this the same stuff that you can use to neutralize chlorine when rinsing your sanitized beer equipment?

Thanks in advance

ev

[Stonechat]

I've just been using boiled cooled water - how do you make up a 10% solution of sodium metabislphite? Also is this the same stuff that you can use to neutralize chlorine when rinsing your sanitized beer equipment?

Thanks in advance

ev

Two teaspoons of sodium metabisulphite into 2 pints of cold tap water in a jug. Half a teaspoon of citric acid in half a pint of cold tap water. Mix the two and pour into a plastic bottle.

I use it to keep my bottles sweet after they have been cleaned and sanitised with VWP. If you then put cling film or plastic reseals on the bottle tops they should store without acquiring any mould inside.

[Shoit]

That's interesting - do you just rinse the bottles out after sanitising or just leave a small amount in the bottle itself?

Kev

[Stonechat]

That's interesting - do you just rinse the bottles out after sanitising or just leave a small amount in the bottle itself?

Kev

Just leave the small amount in the bottle. With the reseal or clingfilm on no air borne bugs should get in while the bottles are being stored in the garage.
When bottling day arrives the 48 bottles are given a rinse'n shake with some more sulphite and filled with beer. There should only be a few drops left in the bottles and the small amount of SO2 should do no harm.

[clogwog]

I don't use airlocks at all.
My fermenters are topped with gladwrap (plastic kitchen wrap?), and I use the rubber seal from the lid as a rubber band.
It's actually allows you to see your fermentation as it happens, rather than imagining it from the bubbling.
I do a hydro test 2 weeks post pitching, and then bottle.