Do lower OG beers have less airlock activity?

[3nochroot]

I'm brewing an English mild, which has a lower OG than anything I've brewed before. It's also fermenting at a lower temperature than I've ever tried before -- about 59 F.

The thing is, since I pitched 5 days ago, I haven't ever seen the kind of vigorous airlock activity I've seen with my other batches. It's definitely bubbling slowly, but never got up to the rate of 1 bubble per second (even on the 2nd day after pitching).

My question is this: could either of the factor above (low OG, lower temp) contribute to this? Or does this sound like I need to re-pitch?

I'm using Wyeast 1098 and following the recipe here: http://byo.com/malt/item/2193-mill-race-mild-ale

Cheers,
Edward

 

[UndeadFred]

Lower temp, and the yeast strain really is more of an issue here.

But then again.. you never go by airlock activity. I have had issues with English strains not looking like they are doing anything (WLP Edinburgh Ale) and the beer turned out perfect according to the numbers. RDWHAHB.

 

[lumpher]

Cooler temps will slow the fermentation down. Slower fermentation, slower bubbling.

 

[TheMadKing]

Are we talking time integrated activity or rate of co2 emission?

 

[FooFighter]

I would suggest not to gauge progress by airlock activity... if you're using plastic buckets the lid gaskets could be leaking.

Lid gaskets on both of my FVs began leaking after the first use; they happily bubbled away on the first batches, but subsequent (successful) fermentations have not had one bubble.
They bubble when I press gently on the lid, but never on their own.

The leak is likely very tiny, but enough to be the 'path of least resistance' vs the airlock.

Food for thought.