Airlock liquid disappeared overnight.

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by jivex5k, Jul 31, 2014.

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  1. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Read that it could be a crack in the airlock causing this. It happened once so I switched airlocks to another one that's never had an issue. Happened again last night.
    Any way to stop this? Don't like the idea of star san solution mixing directly into my beer.
     
    #1 jivex5k, Jul 31, 2014
  2. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    Star San solution in your beer is not a problem. This is why one uses Star San in the airlock in the first place. If your fermenter has been cooling down with no active fermentation, then a reduction in pressure inside the fermenter could be forcing the liquid into your fermenter.
     
    #2 utahbeerdude, Jul 31, 2014
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  3. mr_g00dkat

    mr_g00dkat Initiate (0) Apr 16, 2014 Illinois

    This. It has happened to me before, the cooling creates a vacuum and will suck all of the liquid from the airlock. What temp were you fermenting at and what was ambient room temp?
     
    #3 mr_g00dkat, Jul 31, 2014
    utahbeerdude likes this.
  4. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Yeah it's not fermenting, another sour mash gone too far that the US-05 couldn't handle. I stopped cooling it 2 days ago in an attempt to rouse the yeast, must have been my room getting colder at night. Still learning this sour mash process, going to toss in some Brett from my other sour mash that went wrong. Sacc hasn't survived in either batch but brett is actively fermenting one and it's the same base recipe so I'll just use my beer thief and toss some wort in.
     
    #4 jivex5k, Jul 31, 2014
  5. Naugled

    Naugled Pooh-Bah (1,944) Sep 25, 2007 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    The air lock fairies took it.

    Curious as to what type of air lock you used. This seems to only happen to me with the 3 piece airlocks. And never with the bubble type.
     
    #5 Naugled, Aug 1, 2014
  6. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    3 piece.
    I tossed it, it was all thick and nasty when I looked at it.
    [​IMG]
    Something probably got into it when I opened it to check it a couple days ago. Wasn't like my brett one and the wort itself was syrupy or something, just dumped it.
     
    #6 jivex5k, Aug 1, 2014
    GreenKrusty101 likes this.
  7. jbakajust1

    jbakajust1 Pooh-Bah (2,552) Aug 25, 2009 Oregon
    Pooh-Bah

    Sounds like Pedio
     
    #7 jbakajust1, Aug 1, 2014
  8. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Yeah that thought crossed my mind but I didn't want to risk tasting it. Looked kind of moldy and it's only 13 bucks, and i already have a super funky one going so I'd rather have this fermenter open for my next sour mash.
    It smelled awesome though LOL.
     
    #8 jivex5k, Aug 1, 2014
  9. Mag00n

    Mag00n Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2008 New York

    bleach bomb that bucket if its supposed to be for clean beers
     
    #9 Mag00n, Aug 1, 2014
  10. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, but at least it's sanitized liquid getting sucked in. For long term secondary carboys, I use cheap vodka, since exposed to air, I would assume Starsan's sanitizing power eventually fades.
     
    #10 jmdrpi, Aug 1, 2014
  11. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    I only brew berliners but I don't want this shit again so I will bleach it anyways.
     
    #11 jivex5k, Aug 1, 2014
  12. ssam

    ssam Pundit (997) Dec 2, 2008 California

    If you use distilled water when making the starsan solution, it would theoretically stay forever.
     
    #12 ssam, Aug 1, 2014
  13. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    most if not all other sanitizers @ double normal strength will work fine also...eg. I use Tri-clor-melamine @ 200ppm (double my normal dilute for routine fermenting...it can also be used on kegs (SS) unlike regular chlorine that will pit SS. I also like the fact I can mix with my well water...unlike Starsan.
     
    #13 GreenKrusty101, Aug 1, 2014
  14. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    What's the explanation in layman's terms? I'm an electrical engineer, it's been a long time since Chemistry I class my freshman year of college.
     
    #14 jmdrpi, Aug 1, 2014
  15. ssam

    ssam Pundit (997) Dec 2, 2008 California

    I'm by no means an expert in Chemistry either but it has to do with the minerals in undistilled water slowly changing the pH of the solution, and eventually bringing it out of the sanitizing pH range. Without minerals to do that, the pH would stay the same, therefore keeping it at sanitizing strength.
     
    #15 ssam, Aug 1, 2014
  16. jmdrpi

    jmdrpi Grand High Pooh-Bah (8,989) Dec 11, 2008 Pennsylvania
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    Maybe someone will chime in with more detailed info
     
    #16 jmdrpi, Aug 1, 2014
  17. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Eh maybe I'll just buy another bucket, they're cheap and I don't want bleachy berliners.
     
    #17 jivex5k, Aug 1, 2014
  18. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    Good idea, bucket fermenters are cheap and bullet proof for the most part. Order a spigot for that while u are at it. :slight_smile:
     
    #18 GreenKrusty101, Aug 1, 2014
  19. jivex5k

    jivex5k Initiate (0) Apr 13, 2011 Florida

    Eh I hate spigots. I just use an autosiphon and bottle wand to bottle. I should get a new autosiphon too.
     
    #19 jivex5k, Aug 1, 2014
  20. GreenKrusty101

    GreenKrusty101 Initiate (0) Dec 4, 2008 Nevada

    I wasn't talking about bottling, just fermenting
     
    #20 GreenKrusty101, Aug 1, 2014
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