16 hours later and no ferm....

[CanadianQuaffer]

Hey guys,

So I pitched yesterday at 5:00pm, it's now 9:00am and there's a bit of pressure on the airlock, but to activivty (bubbles) yet.
Should I open up the bucket to see and re-pitch if there's nothing going on or should I RDWHAHB?

Nick

 

[philjohnwilliams]

Rdwhahb

 

[JimTheHick]

It's a long wait, but don't do anything for the first 72 hrs. I nearly pitched a pack of 05 into my last sluggish starter at 48 hours- but decided to wait based on info I read on this forum. By 72 the thing was going like crazy and the beer is awesome!

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

72 hours!?!?! OMG I'll fait if I have to wait that long!

I almost always have fermentation rolling in under 12 hours, so this is new territory for me, lol.

 

[JimTheHick]

Yeah, it was a first for me too. I even pitched an active starter so the whole thing was a bit mysterious.

Let me tell you I was pretty worked up. I needed two homebrews to relax and not worry!!

 

[Revvy]

Bubbles mean nothing. Read this.

 

[JimTheHick]

They mean something to me. I like watching them, and they give me a pleasant feeling inside.

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

Bubbles mean nothing. Read this.

Thanks Revvy! I'll wait, as painful as it's gonna be. Like I said earlier, my airlock is almost always going nuts by this point.
But I'll heed your advice, Jedi brewer.

Oh, btw, my wife just walked by as I was reading your post, saw your avatar, took a closer look and said "Worry not! Relax! Have a homebrew, you must!" and walked off! lol

 

[ChessRockwell]

They mean something to me. I like watching them, and they give me a pleasant feeling inside.

I agree, I have a 2 gallon bucket I use to ferment and I don't think it quite seals. Still works fine and I use it all the time, but the airlock never bubbles so I don't get that same happy feeling inside.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Oh, btw, my wife just walked by as I was reading your post, saw your avatar, took a closer look and said "Worry not! Relax! Have a homebrew, you must!" and walked off! lol

that's awesome! i remember thinking about the same thing the first time i saw a revvy post.
wise is your wife, listen to yoda a young jedi should. :rockin:

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

OK, 24 hours later and the pressure has increased on the airlock but still no bubbles...good sign?

 

[tv187u]

I'm with rev on this. You could have a leak or any number of things to could be going on. This is why readings are important. Take a reading at the start and then you have something to go by. If you haven't taken a reading yet I would do so ASAP and then check again in a few days. Or if you have a reading from earlier, then wait another 24 hrs and take another reading to see if there is any change.

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

Reading just before pitching was 1.062.
Are you suggesting I open my bucket during fermentation and take a sample?

 

[JimTheHick]

OK, 24 hours later and the pressure has increased on the airlock but still no bubbles...good sign?

I think so. I wouldn't touch this thing for at least another 24 hours. does the airlock 'blub' when you press lightly on the lid?

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

I think so. I wouldn't touch this thing for at least another 24 hours. does the airlock 'blub' when you press lightly on the lid?

yes. I barely have to frig with the lid at all and it "glubs".

 

[CanadianQuaffer]

Well, boy do I feel stupid, lol.
I've got pretty good activity in the airlock now...about a bubble every 7-10 seconds and it looks like it's pickin up.

RDWHAHB from now on!

 

[JimTheHick]

Well, boy do I feel stupid, lol.
I've got pretty good activity in the airlock now...about a bubble every 7-10 seconds and it looks like it's pickin up.

RDWHAHB from now on!

Nice! Don't feel stupid. We expect the yeast to behave the same each time and every so often they lollygag a bit.

I'm down with the bubbles not meaning much after the first week, but I sure think they mean something in the first 5 days after pitching. I like to know fermentation is occurring and I don't have any leaks!

 

[tv187u]

And don't worry about opening the bucket to take a reading mid ferm. Just make sure you sanitize everything. Many people take readings throughout the ferm to be sure ferm is progressing. And if it wasn't progressing you would have had to open it in order to add yeast anyways