HELP...before my house turns into a suds party

daveooph131 · 05-11-2009, 02:08 AM

So I brewed a Paulener Hefe clone last night, in about 7 hours active fermentation....Most active I've seen, as of now the kreusan has infultrated my air lock and is shooting bubbles out the top. This is 6.5 gallon carboy, the only tubing I have for a blowoff would be what I usually autoshipon with. Will that work, or should I just ride it out?

gfd622 · 05-11-2009, 02:13 AM

Doubt this will help you but I too use a 6.5 gallon carboy for a primary. Usually it's good for me, however, I had one brew where I re-used some yeast (just took some from the bottom and pitched it in) and it went like gangbusters. It sprayed the ceiling, got stuff everywhere. I was able to get a blowoff tube in (it was still doing this when I found it), but was surprised I needed it with the large fermenter. Guess it just depends.

I would find some way to rig a tube if you can. It's probably only gonna get worse.

Good luck

GFD622

MikeinAK · 05-11-2009, 02:15 AM

How about sanitized tin foil.

daveooph131 · 05-11-2009, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeinAK

How about sanitized tin foil.

How would that help? Seems that it would just get pushed off by the foam with in 2 seconds. I mean this is turning into a geyser!!! Is there a risk for infection because of this? Also, has anyone used their tubing from the autoshipon to put down the stopper and serve as a mini-tube-blow off?

oguss0311 · 05-11-2009, 02:30 AM

I Always get fermentation like that with Hefs- so I go for a blowoff tube. But failing that- you can take your three piece airlock apart, place the same tubing that you have for the autoshipon on the shaft from the main unit of the airlock, and have a smaller blow off tube. Will your airlock still be semi-clogged? Yes! but I bet you have several........

histo320 · 05-11-2009, 02:31 AM

Take the large piece of the airlock, take the racking hose, run it under hot water (makes it more malleable), push it on to the airlock, take the other end of the hose, fill up a jug of water with sanitized water about .5-1 inch of water, and place hose in the water.

This has worked for me many times.

oguss0311 · 05-11-2009, 02:33 AM

There is so much stuff Leaving your carboy right now- that I bet your Fine. Just in case, leave a spray bottle with some StarSan in it to spray things that your unsure about. I once found a carboy with the stopper off on the floor, so I sprayed the whole rim of the carboy- inside and out- just to ease my mind. (resanitized, and put airlock on too).

mikfire · 05-11-2009, 02:34 AM

Use your autosiphon tube. Sanitize it with a bit of Starsan and rig the blow off tube however you can.

The popular solution, assuming you are using a 3-piece bubble lock, is to remove the "cap" piece and jam the blowoff tube right down onto the post. You may need some coaxing to make it work, depending on inner and outer diamters. Revvy has good pictures here: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/bubbles-wort-getting-into-airlock-bubbler-117749/#post1304643

I have read of people on this list simply sticking the tube into the carboy and using some aluminum foil to close the top off.

Use the search function for "blow off tube" and you can find other solutions.

oguss0311 · 05-11-2009, 02:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikfire

Revvy has good pictures here: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/bubbles-wort-getting-into-airlock-bubbler-117749/#post1304643

Use the search function for "blow off tube" and you can find other solutions.

Well done.

daveooph131 · 05-11-2009, 03:17 AM

Ok I've rigged something up, but before I undue the previous airlock and risk infection, should I give this more time and see if it will subside?