problem siphoning

[nblewis]

i was attempting to bottle some a0pple cider that I let ferment for 20 days. I could get the siphon started well but the flow would gradually diminish to nothing within thirty seconds. I tried a control experiment with just water and that worked fine. I tried to siphon with and without the bottling "wand" that was provided in the beer kit I bought, with the same results for both. I noticed a lot of bubbles in the brew as I was siphoning, and am wondering if the brew was too carbonated for the siphon to work properly. Has anyone had a similar problem and know the solution? Thanks.

Nate

 

[Yooper]

It shouldn't be carbonated at all so that's not the problem. I suspect a few things- one is that it's probably not done fermenting. If you didn't check the sg before bottling you might have a few bottle bombs. It should be clear and still before you even think about bottling it. 20 days really isn't enough time.

The siphoning trick is not the easiest thing to do! What I do is use a bottling bucket with a spigot- it is so much easier. If you can, I suggest getting one. You just put the bottling wand on it and open the tap. You also leave alot of stuff behind that way, by racking above any yeast that have fallen out.

But, with no bottling bucket, it's still doable. Make sure the carboy you're bottling from is pretty high, like on a counter or island, and the bottles are low like on the floor or the dishwasher door. Then push the bottling wand tip in and start the siphon. If you don't push the tip in, the siphon won't start. I used to fill my siphon with water and then empty it into an empty glass until the wine flowed and then moved the wand into the empty bottle. It's kind of a pain, so I also bought an autosiphon about a year ago. It makes it much easier.

 

[mr x]

Maybe the cider hasn't been degassed. I've had problems with siphoning with wine from the bucket to carboy before, but it was a combination of the still carbed wine and a loose connection at the hose/wand which was sucking in air and killing my siphon