Fermentation Question

[thump keg]

How long do you wait before you call a wash stuck. Its been working for about 48 hrs and has stop bubbling through the air lock. I started two washes at the same time of the same recipe one is still going I'm getting a bubble about every 10 sec +or - a sec or two.Is this normal or have I got trouble?

[myles]

Blast some air through it, take off a sample to clear, and measure the SG. Could be all sorts of things that have stoppedit .

[MuleKicker]

what kind of wash is it? ingredients, temps, SG, (like myles said)?

[WalkingWolf]

Depending on the circumstances it may have finished.

I've run two wash buckets of the same thing at the same time and had one finish two days quicker than the other. I figure it had something to do with the relative "healthiness" of the yeast in one vs. the other. (?) It is kinda perplexing when it happens.

[thump keg]

It's the sweet horse feed recipe the temp is 77f I'll have to check the sg. After reading some I may have pitch the yeast to early I had 90f on the brain I pitch it in at 87f.

[olddog]

A couple of degrees either way should not make a difference.


OD

[LWTCS]

A couple of degrees either way should not make a difference.

Specially on the south side of 90

[Mr.Spooky]

is your fermentor sealed good? i use 5 gal buckets, and unless i got the lids taped all to shit, the airlocks wont work. i dont even use the locks anymore because i know the lids will breath.
spooky

[LWTCS]

i dont even use the locks anymore because i know the lids will breath.

Thats cuz you spent all your grocery money on copper and now you can't scratch 2 nickles together for a decent bucket.

Just look what you've become.

[Mr.Spooky]

i dont even use the locks anymore because i know the lids will breath.

Thats cuz you spent all your grocery money on copper and now you can't scratch 2 nickles together for a decent bucket.

Just look what you've become.

aint that the truth. iv cut the dogs intake to half.

[rad14701]

There are a lot of variables to be considered before reaching the conclusion that the was is stalled... If the potential %ABV of the wash was low then it might be done fermenting... I highly doubt that there is a lack of nutrients... And not all that confident that it could be a pH problem, but it is possible... If the wash had a potential yield of under 10% ABV then it could very well be done in two days time...

[thump keg]

OK I got a chance to look at it a little closer I took the lid off the fermenter AKA 5gal bucket it did not have a head on it but the wash was rolling.I check the SG I'm new at this but the best I could determine it was .990 I didn't check it before I pitched the yeast my mistake.what should it be when its done or is it done?

[LWTCS]

Taste it. If it is dry and all activity has stopped, it is likely done.

[thump keg]

I went back to taste it its got a head on it now. my inexperience is kicking my a%^ . lol

[LWTCS]

No worries, yer doing good.

Once you git some likker built up it will become easier to let things take their course.

If you can git yerself to the point where you have something fermenting, something clearing and something ready to charge the still,,,,,you will be in good position to get some drinking stock built up.

Then you can take your time and focus on very best parts of the hobby.
Hang in there.

Try and stick to one recipe (tnt that is) till you get it all smoothed out. This will help you gage and benchmark a standard.

Then move on at your pleasure.

[thump keg]

I must have missed something I thought once the fermentation process was done I could strain it and put in the cooker.please explain the clearing step.

[LWTCS]

must have missed something I thought once the fermentation process was done I could strain it and put in the cooker.please explain the clearing step.

Recon you can.

I like my washes perty clean. So I rack (transfer liquid into new container while leaving solids behind) to the fridge to further allow suspended solids to drop. Fridge not needed. It just helps thing along a lil better.

If you get 1 or 2 more fermenters in service, it will be easy to let a clearing wash get nice and brite.

Nice and clean going in the still. And nice and clean comming out the still

[thump keg]

How long long will a wash keep after the fermentation is finished?

[Dnderhead]

a few weeks if in a bucket fermenter,months if in something closed like a carboy.

[rad14701]

Once the ferment has completely finished most of the solids should drop within a day or two... The wash may still appear a bit murky but as long as the solids have dropped you can rack (siphon) the "cleared" wash into your still...

[thump keg]

thanks guys its day four and it has stop doing anything sg is .990. I tasted it and it was bitter as hell kinda like bitten into a green persimmon.if any of all ever done that lol. I'm going to wait till tomorrow before I try to do anything to it, the only thing floating is some wheat or barley.