universe
Well-Known Member
The kits I do call for an airlock. How many people use an airlock for the primary and how important is it really?
I never use an airlock (or even a cover, beyond a clean dish towel) for primary. Within about 5 days, though, fermentation slows down, and I rack to a carboy, top up so there is almost no headspace, and airlock. A primary doesn't need to be covered, but a secondary certainly needs to have the headspace minimized and it must be airlocked. That fermenter will work fine for primary, as long as you have an appropriately sized carboy for secondary.
Is this just the way you do it for wine Yooper or do you not use a lid on beer too?..
Wine only. I always airlock my primary for my beer. I've been doing a lot of reading though and may want to just cover the primary loosely sometime, just to try it. I think it's BobNQ who says that you don't need to airlock beer in the primary.
I'm thinking that airlocks really don't do much. The let CO2 out, without letting breezes in. But once fermentation starts, the gas is going only one way. And once fermentation slows, and the carboy cools, outside air gets drawn through the airlock any way. A clean cloth or a loose plastic bag will do as good. Or a condom with a hole in it, and it'll show pressure/fermentation by erection.
I'm thinking that airlocks really don't do much. The let CO2 out, without letting breezes in. But once fermentation starts, the gas is going only one way. And once fermentation slows, and the carboy cools, outside air gets drawn through the airlock any way. A clean cloth or a loose plastic bag will do as good. Or a condom with a hole in it, and it'll show pressure/fermentation by erection.
Well, the point of an airlock is that outside air CAN'T get drawn through the airlock. The co2 vents out, but no air can get in. That's the whole idea.
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