Hydrometer Takes A While To 'Settle'

[Yesiamaduck]

Hi, I got given a youngs home brew kit for Christmas because... welll happens.

Anyways I'm 10 days into primary (even though the instructions said it'd take 5 - 6 days, but a bit of research seems to suggest 3 - 4 weeks is preferable anyways... so whatever)

Now I mostly did things by the book but one thing I never seem to do is take a sample for my hydrometer readings, I just bung a recently sterilized and cleaned hydrometer right in the primary bucket *prepares for a lecture on contamination*

Anywho initially the blighter sticks out a fair amount, I'm talking only half submerged *should've taken a reading* but it then slowly but surely drops and I just leave it until it stops moving. When it stops sinking I accept that as the reading but this takes a couple of minutes and whenever I see demonstrations it seems instant (though this done in a testing tube) sooo uhm basically I'm just asking if this is normal.

PS... HI!
Thanks for your time

 

[Dynachrome]

I can picture what you're saying, but I've never seen anything like that with my setup.


....video?

 

[Yooper]

I bet it's "hung up" on some c02 bubbles. You can gently spin the hydrometer to knock of any bubbles holding it up. It's hard to read a hydrometer in a fermenter, as it should be read at eye level and the meniscus, but it might get you close enough.

Contamination is not an issue, if the hydrometer is sanitized. So no one will bug you about that.

It sucks when they break in your beer, and you have to throw the batch away though!

 

[Yesiamaduck]

I bet it's "hung up" on some c02 bubbles. You can gently spin the hydrometer to knock of any bubbles holding it up. It's hard to read a hydrometer in a fermenter, as it should be read at eye level and the meniscus, but it might get you close enough.

Okay I will give that a shot

Also it's not vital I be at eye level because it's designed for the brew I'm making so it's labeled RED, Orange, Green (green being the target) so it's easy to see (that's why I'm doing it the lazy way)

Thanks for the replies guys, if I still have issues I will come back here looking distressed if not I'll come back with a grin and sigh of relief.

 

[fartinmartin]

I close my eyes, and I think I can see what you are at .

Sanitise the hydrometer, lower it into brew with a vigorous spin, wait, then take a reading.

If you don't sanitise, you will get bubbles attracted to it.
Same if you don't spin.

Wash wash sanitise spin read!

 

[Yooper]

Okay I will give that a shot

Also it's not vital I be at eye level because it's designed for the brew I'm making so it's labeled RED, Orange, Green (green being the target) so it's easy to see (that's why I'm doing it the lazy way)

Thanks for the replies guys, if I still have issues I will come back here looking distressed if not I'll come back with a grin and sigh of relief.

The colors don't really matter- it depends on the beer. Some beers might finish in the orange area depending on the recipe and beer style. If that's "close enough" for you, that's fine. But you want to avoid bottle bombs so I'd be a little less lazy about it.

 

[binkleybloom]

Wash wash sanitise spin read!

y'know - earlier today I was wondering if there was a "Hydrometer Technique" because mine keeps hanging up on the side of the sample... beaker?

Methinks the spin might be it. Beats the heck out of me continuously poking at it with toothpicks too keep it freely floating.

 

[Yesiamaduck]

Yeah the spinning did the trick, it crept up after a lil while but saw that the were suddenly a gaggle of bubbles surfacing around it. Also seems a lot more carbonated then earlier ... I think I'll just leave it another 3 or 4 days because it smells fantastic

 

[pelipen]

Half the reason I withdraw the sample, is so I can drink it. The sample also gives a better idea of final color, which I'm usually curious about.

 

[Yesiamaduck]

It came out fine in the end, thanks for the advise

 

[boscobeans]

y'know - earlier today I was wondering if there was a "Hydrometer Technique" because mine keeps hanging up on the side of the sample... beaker?

Methinks the spin might be it. Beats the heck out of me continuously poking at it with toothpicks too keep it freely floating.

I dump my sample into a plastic container, snap on the lid and shake it for a few seconds. (degasses it completely)

Once it settles I pour it into the cylinder and spin the hydrometer into it. Never have any bubbles and the spin keeps it off the side of the cylinder.

bosco