Earlier finish to primary fermentation with O2?

[SuperX]

My usual timeframe for primary fermentation looks like 24-48 hours to start, then 3-4 days of rapid bubbling then a gradual slowdown until activity stops around 7 days. I've noticed my last 2 batches have been starting within 12 hours and finishing strong activity in a couple of days, dropping to bubbling every 5 minutes for a day then to nearly nothing by the end of day 3 or 4.

The only change is that I added oxygenation of my wort and starter to my process. Is it normal to cut primary fermentation duration nearly in half by using O2?

 

[zachattack]

With all other variables the same, each of those things (O2 and higher yeast counts) reduce lag time and therefore should speed up the overall fermentation. And since happy yeast make for happy beer, chances are the beer will have fewer off flavors and be ready to drink a little sooner as well.

 

[boydster]

Yes! Oxygen is essential for the yeast to be able to reproduce before the visible fermentation kicks off.

 

[GrogNerd]

oxygen makes yeast happy and reproduce.

once they run out of oxygen, they start making US happy by making alcohol

 

[SuperX]

If this accelerated primary fermentation is normal, is it OK to go straight to 2ndary / bottling or should I still be giving the yeast time to clean up and do their thing? (aka keep the same 10day/10day schedule)

 

[boydster]

Throw the schedule out the window. Primary for 10-14 days, take a gravity reading, wait 2 more days, take another reading. If they are the same, bottle it up. The hydrometer will tell you when the beer is done. The yeast just don't care what the instructions say, they will finish on their own timeline.