Fermentation Issue

I am brewing an IPA and am having some issues with my s shaped airlock. I fill the airlock with water/star san mixture and the fermentation is so aggressive that it pushes the liquid out and my airlock is dry after about 1-2 hours. I am fermenting in a plastic bucket.

Please provide some advice on what to do.

Should I get a three-piece?

 

Blow off tube. Remove the airlock & gasket on the bucket, insert a sanitized 3/8" tubing into the hole and then run the other end into container of starsan or cleaner. When initial fermentation settles down after a few days, reinsert the gasket and airlock.

 

Seconded. ^^ In my setup, the racking hose is the perfect size to fit the grommet. Just pull the airlock, sanitize the hose and insert about 2 or 3 inches, other end in starsan.

 

^^^ Thirded.

Definitely sounds like a job for a blow off tube.

Rick

 

Thanks! I sanitized the the tacking tube and used it, worked like a charm. I am a little nervous because it was dry for multiple hours last night (sleeping). I hope no bacteria got in.

 

No worries. Some people still use open fermentation, others use loose lids with no airlocks. You'll be fine.

 

Since it's fermenting you have C02 going out, it's doubtful anything got in.

Rick

 

If your fermentation is aggeresive enough to dry out an air lock in 1-2 hours, then you have no worries about nasty little buggers getting in. With the volume of pressure that is blowing out of that carboy, I am pretty sure that nothing had an opportunity to muscle it's way into your beer. RDWHAHB. :fro: