Hydrometer reading odd?

[DemiGoth]

Hi,

So I am totally new to brewing, I have a hydrometer that is reading 1.000 in pure water. I have added 5kg of sugar to a 25l batch of blackberry and apple must (5kg chopped apples, 5.2kg of mashed blackberries), and the hydrometer is reading 1.045.

What I have read suggests that the hydrometer should be reading nearer to 1.07.

Thus, I am thoroughly confused, and hoping someone with a little more experience can guide me here? I have adjusted for temperature and checked for bubbles on the hydrometer.

 

[RPh_Guy]

Need to stir more, a lot more.

Get a drill-powered tool for convenience:
https://morewinemaking.com/products/vortex-carboy-cleaner-wort-aerator.html

 

[Mallerstang]

I agree - 5 kg of sugar added to 25 litres of water alone would have SG approximately 1.07, so likely the sugar was not completely dissolved when you got a reading of 1.045. The fruit would not account for such a big difference.

Have you re-measured the SG after a good stir?

 

[DemiGoth]

Thanks for your replies everyone, I disolved all of the sugar in 2l of water before I added it to the mix. Though I found a crust of material on the bottom of the bucket using the spoon and dislodged it all (its vanished now) the SG is still reading low. It's actually gone down since yesterday, the yeast happily munching away I imagine.

 

[RPh_Guy]

Here's a "tequila sunrise" that wasn't properly stirred. That red stripe on the bottom is the sugar syrup (grenadine). The high density sugar solution falls directly to the bottom and stays there. It requires a LOT of mixing to homogenize.

You can also see it visually when trying to dissolve honey (e.g. when making mead), which is very difficult at room temperature.

 

[DemiGoth]

I managed to get into a tissy with this in the end due to other life constraints. I found a paddle and blitzed it, and it has been racked into a carboy now. But I forgot to take another hydrometer reading before sealing it all up.