blow off tube

[cowboy3829]

I just finished my fourth brew yesterday. I decided to try and make my own Mosaic IPA. My first 3 brews went great with just an airlock, but as usual I can't help myself but to open the closet and take a peak. The krausen was almost to the top of my big mouth bubbler and the airlock wasn't going crazy, so I sanitized everything and switched out to a makeshift blow off tube, using my siphon hose and a 1 gallon glass jug. Do any of you use both or one of the two options, I think from now on I'll only use my airlock during secondary.

 

[Jtk78]

I usually start with my blow off set up and see how violent things are going to get. Once it slows a bit, but is still off gassing, I will switch to the airlock. I may or may not sneak a hydrometer reading while I have it open.

 

[kh54s10]

I start every fermentation with a blow off tube installed. I put the end in a margarine cup with just enough Starsan to keep it submerged. This is in case a change in temperature causes a reverse siphon. If it does, there would only be a cup (or less) of Starsan that could be sucked back. The cup sits inside a bigger pot in case it overflows.

I don't do secondaries and will only replace the tube with an airlock if I need the tube for another batch. I have several blow off tube assemblies so it is rare that I need one that is already in use.

 

[brewbama]

I use a blowoff tube in a growler of water at the base of the fermenter. I don't secondary and don't switch to an airlock. If I get water traveling up the tube I remove the fermenter side to equalize -- don't pull the tube from the growler or you'll get suck back.

 

[bajaedition]

I have switched over to blow off tubes exclusively.
I use a qt jar however, 3/8s hose.
Reason I do is I have a fermentation chamber. I can walk by and listen to the bubbling to judge the fermentation going on instead of opening the chamber

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

For IPAs I start with a blow off. I always dry hop at the tail end of active fermentation (about 72 hours). At that point I switch to an airlock.

I don't do a secondary unless I'm doing a really long age (BBA porter, for example).

 

[bkboiler]

i start every fermentation with just an airlock...i like to live dangerously...

 

[Shepbrew]

I went with just air locks for a while, no issues. Then decided to do a blow off randomly just to try it out and that batch fermented like crazy! Blew off so much into the growler, I can't imagine what it would have done with just an airlock...blow offs every time now

 

[bajaedition]

I went with just air locks for a while, no issues. Then decided to do a blow off randomly just to try it out and that batch fermented like crazy! Blew off so much into the growler, I can't imagine what it would have done with just an airlock...blow offs every time now

After my apprenticeship at a brewery (just for fum as I was retired) and I learned how to make a good starter, bubbles were no longer an option, blow off tubes became the norm. blubbers are spitting the water at 6 hours after pitch

 

[Morrey]

BO tubes are the norm now for me. I cant remember the last time I used an airlock with the exception of using the plastic body/center stem of a 3 pc airlock to attach a 1/2" silicone hose

 

[Vammy]

I quit using airlocks in 2006 after a violent fermentation of an english bitter with Wyeast 1968; it didn't quite destroy my closet, but came close. 3/8 tube into a a growler or a gallon glass jug from there on out...

Cheers
Vam

 

[Morrey]

I quit using airlocks in 2006 after a violent fermentation of an english bitter with Wyeast 1968; it didn't quite destroy my closet, but came close. 3/8 tube into a a growler or a gallon glass jug from there on out...

Cheers
Vam

1968 is an "over-achiever"! LOL

 

[MrBJones]

I quit using airlocks in 2006 after a violent fermentation of an english bitter with Wyeast 1968; it didn't quite destroy my closet, but came close. 3/8 tube into a a growler or a gallon glass jug from there on out...

Cheers
Vam

Is that 3/8" inside or outside diameter, and - if you use carboys - do you connect it to one of the orange caps?

 

[TenaCJed]

Always use blowoff, I only replace the blowoff with a S-shaped air lock when cold crashing to minimize suck back.

 

[SlitheryDee]

So far I haven't needed a blowoff tube. The 6.5 gallon carboy I've mostly used had plenty of clearance, and the plastic bucket I used on my most recent batch seemed to as well. I was a bit nervous about the bucket because the Nottingham yeast I used seems to want to form a pretty sizable krausen, but it stopped just short of the bucket lid and fell back. I have a 5 gallon carboy that I've only used for a secondary so far, but if I ever need to use it for a primary I'll have to look at a blowoff tube for it.