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I have a mash in a 5 gallon bucket. I took the lid off and the mash (corn) is bubbling away but not forcing gas into the air lock bubbler. I have checked and checked for air leaks and can't find one. Is 10 days long enough? Does it matter that it didn't push the bubbler? Temp, ph, sg are all within range. Can I safely cook it when it stops fermenting? Thanks for any help you can give.

best bet is always checking with hydrometer but if it's done, it's done.
buckets are notorious for air leaks, doesn't take much, no worries as long as you witnessed fermentation. Taste it, should be dry and not sweet.

them damn lids are worthless. just about all mine leak. whats the gravity? if it stopped dropping and between 0.996 and 1.01 then yes. I dunno your recipe or yeast type so cant tell yuo where it should finish. 10days doesnt mean much without telling us which yeast at what temperature. teh same yeast could take 2 days at 80F and 2 months at 60F

You didn't say what kind of bucket it is, so I'll assume it's the typical HDPE 5 gallon bucket with a snap on lid. If that's the case, they tend to lose their ability to maintain an airtight sill - especially with repetitive use. The CO2 will take the path of least resistance. It takes a little more force to push the gas through the water in the airlock than it does to push it through a leak in the lid.

That said - you could try putting some weight on the lid to try to force the seal. Also be aware that you don't really need to use an airlock. You could just lay the lid on loosely or put a towel over the bucket to keep insects out. The CO2 being heavier than air will protect the wash from most contamination.

A hydrometer will tell you when the wash has finished fermenting. When it reads 1.0 or lower, it is finished. If you don't have a hydrometer, taste it. It will taste dry - that is, it will have no sweetness.

Posted while Bellybuster and Jimbo were posting.

Painting the seal with simple syrup works for my buckets.

NZChris wrote:Painting the seal with simple syrup works for my buckets.

and the ants that get lodged in the rims stuck in teh syrup complete the seal?

Never used an air lock yet. I just ferment in food grade trash cans with a loose snap on lid. Use a hydrometer to tell you when its done not bubbles.

I have never had an issue with an air lock. I've never had an issue with my buckets either. I bet you have a crack in the lid.

I never use an airlock on my 5gal bucket, I put the lid on loose, even. I generally do quick ferments. When it's actively fermenting, it's going to produce its own layer of CO2 over the top of it that will keep the air off of it as long as you don't have wind blowing on it or something.

I don't think it would be a problem unless you're pushing a mash for months on end.

Jimbo wrote:

NZChris wrote:Painting the seal with simple syrup works for my buckets.

and the ants that get lodged in the rims stuck in teh syrup complete the seal?

No, they don't for some reason. There are plenty of ants around here, I only have to put a bucket that's had messy fruit in it down for a few minutes and they'll be cleaning it up, but they never go storming my syrup seals. Maybe there is too much CO2 in the old fridges I use for incubators.

Jimbo wrote:

NZChris wrote:Painting the seal with simple syrup works for my buckets.

and the ants that get lodged in the rims stuck in teh syrup complete the seal?

I found that that rather humorous.


honestly i'll probably use a cloth and a string on mine. the lid on my bucket won't seal worth a flip.

It still seals better than cloth. As long as you arent one of those tgat opens it constantly it will stay full of co2 and be fine. Ever got a snout full of co2? Nothins gonna climb in there. Not even ants

Jimbo wrote:

NZChris wrote:Painting the seal with simple syrup works for my buckets.

and the ants that get lodged in the rims stuck in teh syrup complete the seal?

Haha, there's a new label for you Jimbo...

'Jimbo's Ant Seal Whiskey' (picture of ants stuck in syrup)



Maybe replace the tag with a flask/bottle of whiskey Or this one Ok ok, I'm done now

You mean something like this...

Haha, that's a good one!

BAHAHAHAA.