Packbacker2
Member
yum. Penicillium sp. The longer you let that go, the more sporulation is going to occur, hence the blue color in the center of the colonies.
Mold? Salvagable?
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LandoLincoln
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That's a bad idea. That's just going to cause more problems than it solves. Try using some fermcap drops to control krausen instead, or just use a blowoff tube.
TheZymurgist
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You're just trying to further insight an argument. Don't be a jacka$$. From what I know of Revvy, I'm sure the issue has been resolved in private.
ericbw
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Do you have to use an aeration stone with an aquarium pump (which adds to the cost)? What about getting bugs in the wort? Does the pump just suck air in or filter it? I know they make those inline filters, too. Again with the cost, though. Just curious.
Seems to me my aquarium air pumps did have a small filter in them. An inline filter might be a good idea. Don't wanna go too cheap.
TheZymurgist
Well-Known Member
I've never understood the point of an air filter. I know it's an added precaution, but when you look at the other methods of aeration, it doesn't make sense to me. Using the "shake-and-pray" method or attaching a paint stirrer to a drill aerates the wort with the same air that a pump would use, but there's no way to filter the air. I've used both methods, along with strict sanitation practices, and haven't had any issues. Is the fact that the air is traveling through a pump that can add contamination?
I think so, yes. I've used a piece of a cotton ball before. Cheap and effective. I think aerating with an aquarium pump is a waste of time, though.
homebrewdad
Well-Known Member
I personally don't see the point in using an aquarium pump. It takes something like five minutes of bubbling with a pump to achieve the same O2 saturation that you get with 60 seconds of shaking your fermenter. To me, you might as well shake it nicely (and get that max 8 PPM that you get from any method of adding air) until you decide to step up to pure O2.
homebrewdad
Well-Known Member
That was my take on this, too. Revvy was wrong, it was mold. I was wrong, it was mold. Others who said not to worry were wrong... it was mold.
To me, the lesson is to be sure to be vigilant on sanitation, treat your yeast with care, and make sure to pitch enough total yeast!
that first picture was terrible. it was basically no different from not having a picture at all and someone saying, 'funny stuff is floating on my beer.'
on the other hand, maybe we should be a bit slower to jump to conclusions and ask for more data before suggesting something.
ericbw
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Even with the crappy pic, there was the info needed in the first few posts. It took a while for it to gel, but the original question was more like, "I have a batch of wort with NO live yeast in it, and it has been sitting for 4-6 days. There is something blue/green and fuzzy on top. Does this seem normal?"
Everyone would have then agreed that that is not normal.
Of course, someone would have asked, "Does it smell normal?" And he (or maybe his friend who is deathly allergic to mold) could have take a big whiff from the top of the carboy. The autopsy would later show conclusively that it was, in fact, mold.
I am all in favor of less jackassery, HOWEVER, there are some other lessons here (besides sanitize, etc.). Like don't assume that someone is being a worrier just because they ask about infections or mold or the crazy way a fermentation takes off. And don't respond with a cocky attitude about noobs. There are some on here that do it frequently, and it's not helpful.
Like Thumper's dad said, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say nothin' at all.
As rare as it might be (although from the hospital staff and microbiology student on this thread, it looks like it is less rare than everyone wants to believe), mold obviously grows and grows fast in wort. So the next time someone asks about "something funny is floating in my beer," don't dismiss it.
PseudoChef
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But there's a fundamental difference in the way you stated your opinions.
You were wrong, but you stated it in a well-worded, and friendly fashion.
While Revvy was wrong, he used his trademark ramble on paragraph diatribes with incessant capitalization demeaning the OP.
If he's wrong, that's fine, but there's no need for hostility in the wording toward the OP, IMO.
Clonefan94
Senior Member
Another thing to consider that when saying, "nothing that will kill you will grow in beer" is assuming someone has made beer. From what I understand, the acidity and alcohol in the beer, prevents dangerous pathogens from growing in, "Beer" The biggest problem here was that the OP did not in fact create beer. They only created wort, which is a perfect environment for just about anythig to grow.
OP
OP
NinjaMedic
Well-Known Member
LandoLincoln said:
Thanks, I won't be making that mistake again. Going to redrew this with the suggested amount of yeast this time. We use a refrigerator with a thermostat that keeps it at the right temp so we're also going to a blow off tube.
I agree that when I looked at the 1st pic,it didn't look like anything teribbly unusual. Then by the second pics,I saw that blue & white & knew it was mold,just like you see on old bread. So def pitch the right amount of yeast next time. And clean & sanitize the fermenter real well before doing another one.
By the rate at which this mold appeared and grew, there is a potential problem looming for your next batches.
You should carefully review your sanitation methods. Something got missed.
Don't forget to clean all your equipment thoroughly, particularly the inside of tubes, hoses, canes, etc. After this mold infection a good scrub of everything inside and out followed by a long soak in bleach water is no luxury. Then rinse well and sanitize.
What sanitizer do you use?
Did you brush that carboy well (with a carboy brush and "soap") after your previous use?
homebrewdad
Well-Known Member
The only thing that was wrong is that the OP killed his yeast.
For the record, I NEVER brush my carboys. A good soak with oxyclean, a thorough rinsing, followed by StarSan... never need to brush.
I would agree that an extra thorough cleaning is in order since the OP *knows* there are nasties around, but that doesn't mean he did anything else wrong before.
BMClark2210
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ericbw said:
I use a drill and a paint stirrer that I purchased from amazon that fits right in my carbon and stirs it up like a tornado lol. Pretty cheap and works awesome (cheap if you already have a drill that is lol).
