Newbie. Mash not bubbling through bubbler

[LaDonna Von D]

Hey everyone I am working on my first ever mash. My recipe is as followed.
8.5 lbs cracked corn
2lbs malted barley crushed
5 gal of water
2 pks of rapid yeast
8tsp of nutrient

Cooked the corn and barley , let it cool then put in the yeast and then added the nutrient. Stirred and put the lid and bubbler on. It’s been 2 days and bubbles are happening in the bubbler. My husband started telling me the yeast was dead , I checked the ph and it was higher then 6.0 so I added two tsp of baking soda and it started bubbling and swirling . But today nothing. Could I get any advice?

[Saltbush Bill]

The most unreliable way to tell if a ferment is working or not is to look at an airlock for bubbling action.
Lids leak as do seals around air locks.
Take the lid off, look and listen to what is happening inside.

[SW_Shiner]

How did you 'cook' the grains? What mash steps did you do?
What was the SG?

[greggn]

I checked the ph and it was higher then 6.0 so I added two tsp of baking soda

In addition to the comments about following a mashing protocol, if the pH was higher than 6.0 then you should have added an acid (e.g. lemon juice) to lower it. Baking soda will raise the pH.

[AlZilla]

It's going to be impossible for people to help figure out what's happening without the details of your process. For example, if you put your barley and corn together and boiled it up ... you killed the enzymes. Assuming you had malted barley and not just barley.

Since you're a newbie and maybe a visual learner, this will turn up some beginner videos for you:

[Saltbush Bill]

AIZilla, your link lead immediately to two youtube clips put up by a YouTuber who's advice / content is not welcome on this forum.
For that reason your link has been removed.
Please read the forum Rules paying particular attention to Rule L.
Feel free to put other links up, but please be more selective when doing so.

[AlZilla]

Most unfortunate on so many levels.