fermentation in glass carboy...enough room?

[FSUBrewer06]

Hey guys,

I posted for the first time a few days ago when I started this recent 5 gallon batch and over shot the 'top off' with an extra half gallon to a gallon in the 6.5 gallon glass carboy. Fermentation is underway and it's been sealed off with a rubber stopper and S-shaped airlock since Tuesday evening. I thought at first that it would have plenty of room, but now the foam is starting to creep up an inch or so on the funnel shaped top of the glass carboy. Probably a few 3-4 inches of room now.

I don't have a blow off tube...should I be majorly concerned? What, if anything should I anticipate that could be problematic?

 

[Morkin]

If it's a wheat beer, then yes you should be worried, as they have more active fermentation.

Do you have any tubing? I've fixed a fast blow-off tube with simple siphoning tube pushed onto the airlock.

 

[ajf]

Don't take a chance. If the airlock gets blocked and is ejected, it could make a big mess, as well as leaving the beer open to infection. Get a length of 1 1/4" OD tubing from Home Depot, Lowes, or whatever you have down there, and you will be prepared.
Of course, if you buy the tubing, it won't be necessary; but if you don't, it will.

-a.

 

[Moonpile]

I just always use a blowoff, at least until the bulk of fermentation is done. 9 times out of 10 it doesn't blow off in my 6.5, but that one time I'm glad I have it.

Tubing can usually be had at Home Depot or Ace, in addition to your LHBS.

 

[FSUBrewer06]

Thanks for the input guys. I'm now on Day 4 of fermentation for the batch. It seems to have slowed down a good bit...not so much activity today. The air-lock bubbling seems to have slowed down to every 9-10 seconds. I'll definitely go grab the tubing supplies at Home Depot as you recommended just for some assurance!