Oxygenation+Campden+carbonation+Benonite+man this sucks!!

[Alamo_Beer]

Hey guys,

I've been reading this forum for a few weeks now and I'm hooked.... anyway.

I'm on my second cider now (the first one was a complete and total failure) and I've got a couple of questions.

Just about ten minutes ago I finnished racking from secondary to another carboy to let it age a bit more and to add some acid blend I just got in yesterday as well as some Splenda. My problems began when I realized my new racking cane and hose were too short( meaning the end of the hose wasn't at the bottom of the second carboy, it was hanging about halfway in) but I had already started the siphon. I figgured well I guess I'll just let it go, but afterwards I realized there was quite a bit of bubbles on the top due to all of the splashing. So, I added some crushed campden tabs to prevent oxydation. But now I'm thinking this may have been a bad idea because I really want to carbonate it and I hope this won't affect that.

-OK-

Next question

While racking I inadvertanly mixed up A BUNCH of sediment and my newly racked cider looks like it did when I first put it into secondary. This morning I was looking strait through it thinking about how clear it was. But now it looks like poowater.... SO I added some bentonite to help clear it. Was this a good idea and will it affect my ability to carbonate now?

Thanks for any info you guys send my way and sorry about all of the ramblings...

-Andy

PS: I'm really hoping the answer is just "Relax and drink a beer"

 

[david_42]

Cider will settle out eventually. I've never used bentonite for finings, but many people do.

"campden tabs to prevent oxydation" Campden is used to kill yeast & other nasties.
If you were planning on natural carbonation, you will have to add some more yeast along with the priming sugar. If you want to force carbonate, no problem.

So, relax.

 

[denimglen]

I've used bentonite in all my brews, doesn't seem to stop carbonation.