StarSan messing with hydrometer readings?

[boley]

I tried StarSan for the first time on my last batch. Overall it was much better than the Oxyclean-like stuff that I got from the local shop.

I did not fear the foam, except for one situation. Basically foam kept piling up on top of my thief/hydrometer sample tube making it very hard to read my hydrometer. I assume the foam had to affect the reading due to an eighth inch of foam helping to help float the hydrometer. After fumbling with the foamed sample for a while I finally gave up and used my other cleaner to clean the thief and hydrometer before sampling/testing.

Is there some secret to getting StarSan to play nicely with a hydrometer sample tube?

 

[Rev2010]

Well for one, fill the container you are using with water first, then add the StarSan, it won't foam that way. Just give it a gentle stir to mix up the solution. Two, you don't need to sanitize your hydrometer tube or hydrometer - you aren't putting the sample back into the beer are you? If you are, there's no need to and it's a very small amount to lose from your batch, nothing to be concerned about. So don't sanitize the hydro tube or hydro but do sanitize the thief of course.


Rev.

 

[Brew_4iT]

I just use my hands to coat the hydrometer with the foam/liquid. Then rinse well, hands and hydrometer, I don't think it's good to have your hands exposed to it for too long. For one it says so on the bottle and I've noticed if my hands are in it for an extended period they shrivel up quickly and dry out like hell after.

 

[eltorrente]

Is there some secret to getting StarSan to play nicely with a hydrometer sample tube?

Yup. Don't use it at all on a hydrometer tube. As Rev2010 pointed out - don't pour the sample back into the beer. It's not worth it.

 

[Fritobandito]

I just put my hydrometer right into the primary to take a reading.

 

[boley]

Not sanitizing the hydrometer makes sense. Should I also only sanitize the outside of the thief/hydrometer tube? Unless I was being super paranoid, I don't see how the inside of the thief could contaminate my beer.

No I do not return the sample to the beer.

I should note that I had the StarSan in a spray bottle, so it foamed like mad when sprayed. This probably made things worse. My bucket of sanitizer was actually full of the oxyclean type stuff I got from a local shop - trying to use it all up since I have it.

 

[unionrdr]

I mix up gallons of star-san,& keep it in 1.2G vodka jugs. So I just pop the lid off the tube the hydrometer comes in,pour the right amount of sta-san in. give it a minute,then pour it back in the jug,& proceed.
But the fermenting beer does make a little foam of it's own to deal with.