eller_13

Recipes 

I am brewing an IPA and am having some issues with my s shaped airlock. I fill the airlock with water/star san mixture and the fermentation is so aggressive that it pushes the liquid out and my airlock is dry after about 1-2 hours. I am fermenting in a plastic bucket.

Please provide some advice on what to do.

Should I get a three-piece?

CastleHollow

Recipes 

Blow off tube. Remove the airlock & gasket on the bucket, insert a sanitized 3/8" tubing into the hole and then run the other end into container of starsan or cleaner. When initial fermentation settles down after a few days, reinsert the gasket and airlock.

Toadsticker

Recipes 

Seconded. ^^ In my setup, the racking hose is the perfect size to fit the grommet. Just pull the airlock, sanitize the hose and insert about 2 or 3 inches, other end in starsan.

F250

Recipes 

^^^ Thirded.

Definitely sounds like a job for a blow off tube.

Rick

__________________
Primary - Big Pale Citra Ale (AG)(1.063)
Secondary - Bitter (AG)
Bottled - Best Bitter, Bitter, SNPA clone
On deck - Tank #7 clone.

eller_13

Recipes 

Thanks! I sanitized the the tacking tube and used it, worked like a charm. I am a little nervous because it was dry for multiple hours last night (sleeping). I hope no bacteria got in.

Toadsticker

Recipes 

No worries. Some people still use open fermentation, others use loose lids with no airlocks. You'll be fine.

F250

Recipes 

Since it's fermenting you have C02 going out, it's doubtful anything got in.

Rick

__________________
Primary - Big Pale Citra Ale (AG)(1.063)
Secondary - Bitter (AG)
Bottled - Best Bitter, Bitter, SNPA clone
On deck - Tank #7 clone.

RLinNH

Recipes 

If your fermentation is aggeresive enough to dry out an air lock in 1-2 hours, then you have no worries about nasty little buggers getting in. With the volume of pressure that is blowing out of that carboy, I am pretty sure that nothing had an opportunity to muscle it's way into your beer. RDWHAHB.

__________________
You Can Give A Man A Fish and Feed Him For a Day, or You Can Teach Him To Fly Fish And Spoil Him For Life

On Deck Late Hop IPA
Primary Campers Delight Ordinary Bitter, German Alt, Simcoe Sevada
Secondary Maibock/Hells Bock
Bottled Saison
Kegged Camper's Delight Ordinary Bitter
On Tap Camper's Delight Ordinary Bitter