Testing SG in sealed buckets

by **FireKitty** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 11:48 am

Hi guys,

I currently have 2 TPW's going in 15 liter buckets with airlocks, and I'm wondering when exactly it'll be finished and how I test (day 6 atm). There's a bit of mixed information out there about just going by the activity in the airlock, and while I'm tempted to test the SG in a few days I'm worried about doing so, as I don't have a tap affixed to the buckets therefore I would need to open one - exposing the wash to fresh air, which I hear is a no-no.

What's the best way to go?

Cheers!
FireKitty

by **db1979** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:18 pm

You're going to distill it so any nasty bacteria you introduce now is going to be killed. Since its day 6 your fermentation should be just about over, leave it a few more days and then run it. If you do open it to do an sg reading then it won't really harm it so long as you don't leave it for ages before running it.

by **Zak Griffin** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 2:22 pm

I didn't think that taking the lid off of a fermenter (just to check temps etc, not long term...) was detrimental?

by **Kimbo** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 3:18 pm

Zak Griffin wrote:I didn't think that taking the lid off of a fermenter (just to check temps etc, not long term...) was detrimental?

It's not mate ;-)
Taking the lid off will be just fine, you will have a layer of CO2 on top of the wash that will protect it for the short term.
If it were me, I'd Take the lid off one, put the hydrometer in it and seal the bucket back up with a layer of gladwrap.
that way you can see look the bucket and see the hydro. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
edit: just poke 1 or 2 holes in the wrap with a tooth pick :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **Zak Griffin** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 4:54 pm

Cheers Kimbo... I pull the lid off of my fermenter every couple of days to check temp and SG, so I hope it's alright!

by **db1979** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 6:11 pm

I don't even bother with lids for my neutral washes, I just do what Kimbo said and go the gladwrap. I'm careful what happens to my bwko fermenters though, I use lids with them. But even then I don't bother taking SG readings (in fact I have never taken an SG reading on any fermentation, even beer), just leave it long enough to let it clear and then run it through the still.

I like the KISS principle - Keep It Simple Stupid.

by **BackyardBrewer** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 6:36 pm

I would say don't test until day 10 when it's almost certain to be done.

Better yet wait 12 days for it to clear up and don't bother testing and just run it.

by **db1979** » Sat Oct 05, 2013 6:41 pm

BackyardBrewer wrote:Better yet wait 12 days for it to clear up and don't bother testing and just run it.

:text-+1:

by **drunkmore** » Sun Oct 06, 2013 9:54 am

My air lock on my new fermenter dosent work. (Bubble that is). I think the lid dosent seal so I was testing my SG's every day. Not suggesting it was a good idea but it worked fine and finished with a nice 0995.
I don't think if you minimise the time it's open it will do any harm.

On top of that like was said befor, you are going to distill it and after six days your yeast has done most of its expanding and is going to be strong enough to resist ordinary air born yeasts and bugs. Just don't let in any pesky flies, the can drink a lot of you good wash real quick.