SG problem with tilt hydrometer

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Southern-Pol, Dec 15, 2020.

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  1. Southern-Pol

    Southern-Pol Initiate (136) Dec 12, 2020 Alabama

    I have a tilt hydrometer, used 6-8 times. The Last 3 have demonstrated something odd to me. Unit has been calibrated as per instructions prior to use. My OG readings were noted and recorded. Readings 24 hours later have been higher. The current beer OG was 1.043, 24 hours later, 1.050. What gives?
     
  2. Beer_Life

    Beer_Life Initiate (0) Dec 5, 2020 New York

    The following is speculation, as I don't own a Tilt:

    The way a hydrometer works is that the denser the fluid it is in, the less fluid it must displace to float, so the higher it floats. So usually, higher gravity leads to the hydrometer floating higher.

    But another thing that could cause the hydrometer to float higher is if carbonation bubbles adhere to it and effectively lift it higher than it would otherwise be. This would tend to make the beer appear denser than it really is, which would fit your observations. And it makes sense that there would be a lot of bubbles 24 hours into a fermentation.

    If I'm right, I don't really see what you can do. You could try to dislodge the bubbles manually, but I wouldn't... that would needlessly expose the beer to microbes. I would just let it ride. At the end of the day, the SG doesn't matter all that much until later in the fermentation. But it's unfortunate not to be able to track the fermentation accurately all the way through.

    Edit - this is from their FAQ:

    https://tilthydrometer.com/pages/faqs

    Q. How is the Tilt affected by foam?

    A. There is no noticeable interference from foam. Foam plays a minimal role since it is significantly less dense than the beer and 95% of the device is submerged in the beer.

    Q. How do bubbles from CO2 affect the Tilt?

    A. We recommend putting the Tilt in your beer prior to pitching yeast, this will ensure any bubbles will not affect initial readings. Bubbles from dissolved CO2 may cause higher than expected readings for a short time if placed in an active fermenting brew. However, this can be sped up if washed with alcohol (i.e. Everclear).
     
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  3. Southern-Pol

    Southern-Pol Initiate (136) Dec 12, 2020 Alabama

    First, thanks for the reply. The tilt was inserted prior to pitching. I am also starting fermentation at the lower end of the recommended temp range. There has been minimal activity in the off gassing of co2. The sg is 1.048 now (48hrs). If this makes a difference.
     
  4. BetaAcid

    BetaAcid Initiate (0) May 10, 2009 Connecticut

    Sorry about the non-answer but I have had this happen to me before, I don’t remember what the cause was or if I ever figured it out. I think either I gave the FV a gentle swirl and it fixed itself or the SG started to drop normally on its own. I ferment in stainless steel so I am not able to see the Tilt, are you fermenting in something that allows you see yours?
     
  5. Southern-Pol

    Southern-Pol Initiate (136) Dec 12, 2020 Alabama

    I’m fermenting in stainless as well and don’t have x-ray vision glasses! I’ll try your suggestions and see what happens. Thanks.
     
  6. Naugled

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

    I've been using a tilt for about 18 months now and it can give some strange results sometimes (I use a stainless fermenter as well). Here a few things I've observed.
    • It can get stuck on things in the fermenter; probes, dip tubes, screens, whatever you may have in there. If I see something funny I gently rock the fermenter to see if I can unstick it.
    • Hop and yeast gunk can build up on the tilt. You see this when you pull it out at the end, that build up impacts the reading.
    • Very active fermentations can move it around a lot and impact the reading.
    • High gravity batches, mine seems to measure on the high side for very high gravities.
    • Large batches (>10 gallon) seem to amplify some of these issues.
    But with all that said, I still like it. I get a close enough SG reading and I use it mainly to watch the SG drop, to validate temperature and log the data. If I see it slowing down or stopping before expected then I will take a sample to see if anything needs to be done, ie warm it up, add yeast, etc.
     
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  7. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    I agree with most of this. I love my Tilt. It's finicky and it ain't perfect, but it's still pretty useful. personally I rock the fermenter at least once or twice a day, to keep off some of the schmutz to try to keep it more accurate, definitely seems to help.
     
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  8. Southern-Pol

    Southern-Pol Initiate (136) Dec 12, 2020 Alabama

    Appreciate the reply’s. This helps to know it’s not just me. I agree, I like to follow the data continuously.
     
    riptorn likes this.
  9. Kansas_Greg

    Kansas_Greg Initiate (0) Feb 28, 2021

    I also love my Tilt but find the readings vary loads. I wondered if mine is defective but think maybe I need to treat it as a child doing chores - perfection is not realistic.

    For example, my 30 minute OG logs might progress like this:

    1.025
    1.025
    1.020
    1.023
    1.024
    1.024

    My limited knowledge of science says fermentation didn't go backwards. I suspect the right approach is to be content, not whine about details, and guestimate. Yeah?
     
  10. riptorn

    riptorn Pooh-Bah (1,776) Apr 26, 2018 Georgia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    A low battery can produce quirky behavior in some devices. Have you Tilt users found this to be an issue?
     
  11. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    I also have a Tilt but haven't used it because I ferment in carboys and I worry about getting it out of the thin neck. I mostly got it for remotely measuring the temperature during the mash.

    One other possibility in the readings might relate to changing temperatures of the wort as it heats during fermentation.
     
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  12. riptorn

    riptorn Pooh-Bah (1,776) Apr 26, 2018 Georgia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah Trader

    Or maybe yeast activity is causing churn/turnover of the wort/beer, delivering varying concentrations of sugars to the Tilt sensor/s during the 6 readings over 30 minutes (mentioned by @Kansas_Greg)? Just spitballing, here.

    ETA: I don't own or use a Tilt
     
    #12 riptorn, Feb 28, 2021
    Last edited: Feb 28, 2021
  13. Southern-Pol

    Southern-Pol Initiate (136) Dec 12, 2020 Alabama

    I have used in carboys with no problems retrieving.
     
  14. Southern-Pol

    Southern-Pol Initiate (136) Dec 12, 2020 Alabama

    Haven’t had mine long enough to answer your question.
     
    riptorn likes this.
  15. Naugled

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

    I've suspected that as well but haven't noticed it. I've been using mine for about 2 years now on the original battery. It's probably due to be replaced. I've noticed the blue tooth signal seems to be weaker, but it is still functioning the same.
     
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  16. OldBrewer

    OldBrewer Maven (1,385) Jan 13, 2016 Canada (ON)

    I'll give it a tray next time.
     
  17. dmtaylor

    dmtaylor Savant (1,149) Dec 30, 2003 Wisconsin

    Same here, but I haven't noticed any reduction in functionality. If anything, it seems to be working even better now than it used to. Makes no sense but whatever.
     
    Naugled likes this.
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