Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi all,
I put down 2 identical 25l TPW washes last night as per the original recipe to the letter.
Dissolved sugar and mixed in tomato paste and citric in 10l of hot water (66 degrees)
Added cold water to 25l. They were both still a bit hot (36 degrees) so I waited for them to cool a bit.
Added the 80 grams of Lowens a bit later. 1st fermenter was at 30.8 degrees. 2nd was at 33.7 degrees.
Stirred in the yeast vigorously, put on the lids and airlocks.
1st fermenter was bubbling away nicely abot 30 mins after that but nothing from the second one. That was about 10.00 last night.
Checked again this morning and it was the same. Just a slight difference in level in the airlock.
I dont know whats going on, perhaps I have contaminated something. I was very careful to sterilise though.
Will sneak home soon to check them again but any feedback would be appreciated.

Cheers.

probably just need to check if the lids on your fermenting containers are sealing properly, it's a fairly bomb proof recipe ;-)

I'd Throw a bit more yeast in the second fermenter, as over 30 deg may have killed off the yeast.

Don't panic yet SX...the gods of yeasties are fickle beasts, I expect that by this afternoon you should have, yeasties galore chomping on a feast of sugar. The temperatures you pitched at were OK for most yeasts. We rehydrate and pitch at anywhere from 35 degrees down to 25 degrees ( although I do not use bakers yeast...I am sure it would be in the range). Did you aerate the wash when pitching, yeasties need some air when they are first multiplying...this is often the cause of a slow start.
If for any reason your yeasties have given up the ghost in one of the washes...simply re hydrate a new batch and pitch the little buggers again. I am sure this will sort itself out in a day or two...if you hit a wall and it is just not working in two or three days...PM me. Cheers.
Doc

Yep what mac said. The seals might be leaking a little co2.

Also - don't be running home to check and opening your fermenters. Relax and have patience. All that worrying isn't going to make it ferment any better or quicker, and if anything every time you open it or pull off some wash to test the gravity means you're taking off the co2 layer that is actively protecting the wash from nasties.

Your heat is right, just let the yeast do its thing and wait a week or two from now and it will be right as rain mate.

Thanks Mac, Doc, djf & byb.
Yes I think you may be right. Seems I may have gone off half cocked again (not for the first time :oops: )
Will chek this arvo after work and report in.

Cheers.

OK here is a tip for new players. CHECK ALL THE LITTLE BASIC THINGS BEFORE ASKING DUMB QUESTIONS LIKE I DID.
Mac got it in one. Twisted seal in the fermenter lid. Fixed it and all bubbling away beautifully now.
Thanks for all the replies.

Cheers. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

or even better get rid of the lid and use glad wrap held with the o-ring. u can see the yeast foaming up at the start and I can also hear all the CO2 bubbling out.
Used to love hearing the air lock bubbling, but the cling wrap means two less things to clean for me :handgestures-thumbupleft:

poompy wrote:or even better get rid of the lid and use glad wrap held with the o-ring. u can see the yeast foaming up at the start and I can also hear all the CO2 bubbling out.
Used to love hearing the air lock bubbling, but the cling wrap means two less things to clean for me :handgestures-thumbupleft:

:text-+1: Definitely the way to go, you said you had a slight rise in the level in you airlock so i would bet that you don't have an air tight seal , i alway wet the bung hole for the airlock and the lid seal with sanitizer to get a better seal but now have given up on air locks just some gladwrap and rubber seal make things easier to hear and see. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

never bother with an airlock for distill wash while it's active... ferments fast enough to aroma up a kitchen let alone a little 60lt fermenter

Once it's done or if being stored, yeh sure.

bt1

Last time i wet the bunghole on the airlock she slept in the spare room for two nights

Bushy wrote:Last time i wet the bunghole on the airlock she slept in the spare room for two nights

:)) :)) Bloody clown :O)

Another trick is to stick your ear right up against the fermenter.If its do g its thing you wil hear it fizzing away very clearly.
I use this method alot.Its another skill in to develope.Monitoring a wash every day for quite a few washes and you wil hear the pattern

Your a sick man Bushy :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Good idea, that'll keep her out of the kitchen for a couple of days so I can run my still. :happy-partydance:

1 2many wrote:

Bushy wrote:Last time i wet the bunghole on the airlock she slept in the spare room for two nights

:)) :)) Bloody clown :O)

Clown ? you should meet him in person :doh: huge shoes and a funny hat too :laughing-rolling:

MacStill wrote:

1 2many wrote:

Bushy wrote:Last time i wet the bunghole on the airlock she slept in the spare room for two nights

:)) :)) Bloody clown :O)

Clown ? you should meet him in person :doh: huge shoes and a funny hat too :laughing-rolling:

Just don't mention his nose...... he's a bit touchy about that one :shhh:

Getting off Topic, I always use gladwrap with a rubber ring. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

well if ya curious bout TPW ya dont want to read this thread :teasing-tease:

Yummyrum wrote:Another trick is to stick your ear right up against the fermenter.If its do g its thing you wil hear it fizzing away very clearly.
I use this method alot.Its another skill in to develope.Monitoring a wash every day for quite a few washes and you wil hear the pattern

+1

The seals on my fermenters havent sealed 100% for a while now... probably from pouring hot water into it all the time.... If it aint bubbling, have a listen and if its hissing like a glass of fizzy drink you are fine.