Volcano Fermentation! Am I OK?

[Jsbeckton]

So I know the usual suspects for excessive fermentation/plugged airlock are lack of headspace, lack of a blowoff tube, lack of fermcap, high fermentation temp, lack of fermcap...

Well I had a 5 GAL 1.056 OG IPA, 1L starter, used a 7.5gal carboy with about 6 gallons of beer, used 12 drops of "fermcap", had a "blowoff tube" and am fermenting at about 64F (probe taped to carboy).

So disclaimers about the quatations:

The "fermcap" is what my LHBS carries and just says something like foam control" or something like that, not sure if there is a difference. The directiosn call for 1-2 drops per gallon in boil or fermentor. I added to fermentor only because I have lots fo headspace on boil.

What I am calling a "blowoff tube" is just a 3-piece airlock with the cap removed and a hose attached to the cylinder and leading to a jar of sanitizer.

So I had about a 1" krausen after 48 hours and was looking great, them about 56 hours in I checked again and ther was krausen in the airlock. I cleaned it out and replaced it but sure enough ir pluggged again. I then left the airlock off and just covered with foil like i do for a starter since I had to go to work and it was obvious that the tube would be plugged again.

So my questions are, should fermcap prevent 1.5gal plus of krausen? Anything else that I should have done? And as long as after activity settles I replace the foil with and airlock, will I have any problems with oxidation? Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[ColoHox]

Every piece of your story is quite common. Even with fermcap, sometimes the yeast do what they want. Oxidation is not usially an issue, as there is quite a lot of positive pressure exiting the carboy. Just cover back up as soon as you can.

Also, you may consider a larger blow-off. I use a 2" tube the fits snugly into the neck of my carboys. I had far too many beer-canos using the airlock attached method.

 

[Jsbeckton]

Also, you may consider a larger blow-off. I use a 2" tube the fits snugly into the neck of my carboys. I had far too many beer-canos using the airlock attached method.

Yeah, I have been meaning to do this! Hope I can fit this type of airlock in my keezer. Not sure how bendy the larger hose is but I have about 5-6" space above Carboy.