Volume loss using a blow off tube

I agree with this, and it's how I do it.

Or use a fermenter with adequate headspace, pitch a reasonable amount of yeast (i.e. don't pitch on a full yeast cake from a previous batch), and control fermentation temps. If so, it's amazing how well even those "explosive" strains like 3068 behave themselves. I suspect you're already doing these things, or your foil cover would be getting blown away by gunk.

I don't use a blow-off hose unless OG is above 1.065. Even then, it's often just insurance.

 

If the temperature does drop to that extent (must be quite significant), and if the siphon house is arched above the container, there likely won't be enough negative pressure to suck the starsan all the way up the siphon tube and back into the fermenter. Especially if you use a larger diameter hose.

 

@VikeMan suspicion confirmed, the foil is just insurance. I've never had a blow off on anything but a starter

 

No. Assuming it's in a clean & sanitized container with sanitized tubing, and some kind of airlock on it - you *could* probably re-use it (with an adequate starter). But if it's just a tube going into an open bucket or similar? I wouldn't chance it.

 

I know someone who has saved the krausen blown off into a container (in this case from a yeast starter), but the set-up is quite elaborate.

http://cdn.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=272798&stc=1&d=1429701901

 

That's a nice setup. I never considered using a two-port Erlenmeyer to flush the headspace with O2. How often does he add the oxygen?

 

Only two times. It was given a shot of oxygen at 0 hr and at 24 hr. A diffuser was not necessary due to the toroidal movement of the stir-plate diffusing the O2 into solution. The set-up is especially great for reviving very old yeast. Usually there will be no krausen on the first pass.

 

For my big beers I use a 6.5 gallon carboy and my blow off tube is 1"-1 1/8"? unsure but it sticks in the mouth of the carboy nicely, held in place with painters tape so it has some give if needed, this goes down into a large 1.5 gal water bottle half filled with Star San and this sits in a bucket. Yes, the bucket does see some foam action but never past that.
It's amazing how much action happens in those primary's
I have pics but I still can't F'ing figure out how to post to this site

 

No, there doesn't seem to be any way of downloading a picture directly from your computer. I was going to show a picture of my set-up as well. I think you have to download your picture first on the web somewhere (Photobucket?) and then provide a link to it. When you click on "Image" it asks for an Image URL. Maybe someone else knows of a more direct way?

 

@OldBrewer @Wolfhead There is no direct way to load a pic, it must be done through a 3rd party photo storage site. I use Photobucket, but Imgur.com is also a popular site. If you use Photobucket, after you've uploaded to that site and have your pic on screen, there are 4 boxes to the right of the pic with links in each one. I use the second one down, and I think it is labeled 'Direct'. Click on the link in the box and it automatically copies it to your clipboard. Then when you are composing a post here on the BA site and have your cursor where you want the pic to show up, click on the Image link on the toolbar above (just right of Smiley face) and insert the link from your clipboard into the dialogue box. Click the Insert button and your pic will be in your post.

 

Thanks, MG. If you later remove that picture from Photobucket (or Imgur), does the picture then disappear from the BA site, or does the picture stay here permanently?

 

It's never "here" to begin with. It's being served from the linked server (photobucket or wherever) every time it's loaded into your web browser.

 

Thanks, VikeMan. So the answer is that you have to keep the picture on the server forever.

 

Yep, or at least a few months or so until the thread with your pic gets so far into the past in this forum and is unlikely to be looked at again.

 

I brew a one gallon, it was really 0.7 gallons, all grain for the first time and i had the same problem. After about 2 weeks in the fermenter i lost about .3 gallons, or 5 cups of wort through the blow of tube. I think i used too much yeast. Have you found any good reason why this happened to you? I'm not sure what my problem was.

 

For future batches you can manage your krausen using Fermcap-S:

https://www.morebeer.com/products/fermcaps-foam-control-1-oz.html

Cheers!

 

I use fermonsters. I have 4 of the 7 gallon ones and I rarely ever have blow off. I also do 6 gallon batches in it. Also it does have a litter more head space on it than 7 gallons.

*edit* I will say for my clean beers I rarely ever have blow off, but my last 10.5 gallons of wild beer I made I split the batch between 2-7 gallon fermonsters and I had to switch to blow off tubes and it was blowing off for about 4 days lol. I figured the just over 2 gallons of headspace would be enough room, but for that yeast it clearly wasn't lol