How long do i keep the blow-off tube hooked up?

[Sinisterdeer]

Brewed my 1st batch of beer last night. Woke up this morning to foam in the airlock. I have sanitized the blow-off tube and hooked it up to my airlock.. but how long does it stay like this?

 

[m1k3]

The honest answer is "as long as needed:".... but usually primary fermentation for ales is 2-3 days.

I never need a blow off now that I have learned to control my fermentation temp and have fermenters with antiquate headspace.
That being said there are a few yeasts that are known to blow off!

Best of luck with the 1st brew!!!!

 

[Jag75]

Just leave it until it's done. You could change back to a reg airlock onces it subsides but it's up to you. Either one works .

 

[Alex4mula]

When I started I used 6.5 gal fermenter. Never had blow off problems

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Using table sugar or very active yeast? Yes, need blowoff tube. Leave the tube until fermenation has subsided (can tell as no more foam or other items are being pushed thru the tube).

 

[Alex4mula]

When I started I used 6.5 gal fermenter. Never had blow off problems

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

When I started I used 6.5 gal fermenter. Never had blow off problems

YMMV

 

[Tobor_8thMan]

Few examples

 

[VikeMan]

When I started I used 6.5 gal fermenter. Never had blow off problems

I would agree that a 6.5 gallon fermenter is generally big enough for a 5 gallon batch, without blowoff. But as @Tobor_8thMan sais, YMMV. Some other factors are fermentation temperature, wort gravity, and yeast strain.

 

[m1k3]

I now use the 7 gallon FerMonster, that might seem like too much headspace but I'm always done in 10-12 days so I think the risk of oxidation is minimal.

 

[Knightshade]

5 gallon batch, 7.5G kettle..I didn't think a blow off tube would be even remotely necessary....but I'm also very much a rookie. I took this pic after I had cleaned up a little bit and managed to put the seal back on the kettle. This was a 1.080 and the recipe called for 2 packages of S-04. When I saw the airlock bubbling multiple times a second the night previous...that should have been a really good hint. *Knock, Knock...hey dummy..*