I've been fermenting a batch of ale for about 12 days in the primary. After about day 7 I totally lost pressure in the fermenter. Replaced the blow off tube I was using with an airlock... waited to see if it would build up... nothing. Checked gravity, it was still at about 1.018 so I thought I'd pitch more yeast in case it was stuck. There has been no sudden change in temperature and it's been between 65F and 70F the whole time. It's still fermenting away as I checked yesterday and it was down to about 1.013. OG was 1.043.
I'm wondering what could have caused a sudden loss of pressure? Maybe the swelling caused an imperfection in the lid? (it's that light kind of plastic that bends easy). Also I'm worried about my beer becoming oxidized due to no pressure... is this possible? I don't want to bottle it if it's still fermenting but I can't rack into a more airtight carboy...because I don't have one!
I'm wondering what could have caused a sudden loss of pressure? Maybe the swelling caused an imperfection in the lid? (it's that light kind of plastic that bends easy). Also I'm worried about my beer becoming oxidized due to no pressure... is this possible? I don't want to bottle it if it's still fermenting but I can't rack into a more airtight carboy...because I don't have one!