Taking a gravity reading

by **Boomgate** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:17 am

When you take a gravity reading, is it ok to open the container? I could pour out some into a glass tube, but if I did that a few times I could loose up to a litre...

by **Linno** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:32 am

Gday BG

i take of the lid and I just drop my hydrometer straight into the fermenter mate..

by **Aussiedownunder01** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:38 am

Me too ;-)

by **Kimbo** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:49 am

Linno wrote:Gday BG

i take of the lid and I just drop my hydrometer straight into the fermenter mate..

you could just leave it in there if you want, saves risking infections by taking it in and out.

by **Linno** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 9:55 am

Kimbo wrote:
Linno wrote:Gday BG

i take of the lid and I just drop my hydrometer straight into the fermenter mate..

you could just leave it in there if you want, saves risking infections by taking it in and out.

With my Bourbon knock off it has been floating in there the whole time but i wasnt sure if that was good advise or not. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
just dont forget its in there is spose.

by **kiwikeg** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:12 am

:text-+1: my one lives in the fermenter too- cuts down on breakages

by **crow** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:25 am

rarely use mine except when trying out a new wash . i find once ya do and check it it always turns out the same gravity, only if in doubt do I check it to make certain its finished

by **Sam.** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 11:56 am

I take a reading before pitching yeast then another once ferment is finished so I can work out ABV.

Prob lose a couple of hundred mil but I can live with that.

by **Kimbo** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 12:34 pm

I have only ever used one the couple of times i've made beer.
other than that, never.

by **Boomgate** » Sat Nov 10, 2012 3:28 pm

Thanks for the replies guys, all good ideas and comments. Thank you most humbly.

by **invisigoth** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:02 pm

i don't bother with a hydrometer for my wines and meads, just beers. i always collect into a glass measuring cylinder for my readings. as others have mentioned, you don't wanna keep messing with your fermenter, that's just asking for an infection one day. the problem you may face with leaving it in the fermenter is that if it's still fermenting, co2 bubbles can cling to the hydrometer giving you a false reading. giving it a spin usually helps, but make sure your finger tips have been surface sterilised :handgestures-thumbupleft:

by **kelbygreen** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 10:20 pm

I been using a refractometer and at first took one with hydrometer as well but if your OG if right then you can calculate it. It was always within .5 sg so use that now as its 3 drops not a whole tube full. As for my rum I just listen till it stops fizzing lol I hear its hard to measure SG with that so just look for signs of fermentation

by **Urrazeb** » Mon Nov 12, 2012 11:06 pm

Mine goes in and out like a... well... um... is it going to get infected?!