Sanitizer Question regarding Blow-Off Tube

[daytonlawvol]

Im going to be using a 6.5 gallon ( i think) Carboy for my next primary fermentation, since my only 6.5 gallon bucket is housing a English Pale Ale at the moment.

When I connect the blow off tube, from the stem of the airlock (with the x part of the airlock removed) what sort of liquid can I have the tube running into? Water + One Step Cleaner? Vodka? Some other kind of liquor I have available? Water + Dish Soap etc?

 

[criptrap]

It does not matter what the blow off tube goes into because the fermentation will be pushing out co2 and yeast and some wort. The reason you have a blow off tube is because the fermentation is so vigorous. Eventually the container that is receiving the blow off tube could grow mold if it is plain water. Don't use soap in water the suds will probably flow out of the container. use plain tap water or sanitizer water.

 

[Wigglyscuds]

I use water with some Star-San in my blow-off bucket.. Any sanitizer will work. Probably the only time you could use a bit of bleach too.

 

[johnmcc]

If I use a plastic gal jug, how high do I need to fill it?

 

[user 21663]

If I use a plastic gal jug, how high do I need to fill it?

I cut the top of the plastic water jug and fill it half way. As long as the other end remains below the surface, you're good.

 

[jglazer]

Grateful Dead Revival Post - why do you need to put sanitizer in the blow off bucket??? I never understood this, all it does it make the blow off tube really slimy right? Any other reasons I am not thinking about?

 

[FuzzeWuzze]

Grateful Dead Revival Post - why do you need to put sanitizer in the blow off bucket??? I never understood this, all it does it make the blow off tube really slimy right? Any other reasons I am not thinking about?

Because then no mold or other germs can grow?

After a blowoff tube filled the liquid full of krausen it can get funky very quickly.

Also if you chilling your fermenter significantly you can get pressurized suckback of your liquid into the fermenter. Its not likely with how far the liquid has to go, but technically its possible.

 

[kesslerr1]

A local brewery of mine always puts a light bleach solution in the blow off water. I guess its just good practice... just in case..

 

[kh54s10]

There are also a lot of threads of atmospheric changes causing the blow off tube to act as a siphon sucking the sanitized water back into the fermenter. I use about 1 inch of liquid in the catch vessel, enough so that is doesn't evaporate and little enough so if it gets sucked back in it would not ruin the beer. So I say Starsan, Vodka or a VERY weak bleach solution.

It is also a good idea to keep the catch vessel as low as possible to lessen the chance a backward siphon can get started.