[denny]

If you got a lot of Krausen into the blow off, then I would replace it with a clean air lock when fermentation settled down.  Maybe that's unnecessary and I'm just being too anal, but I would prefer the clean air lock in this situation.

Or a clean blowoff.

[Megary]

If you got a lot of Krausen into the blow off, then I would replace it with a clean air lock when fermentation settled down.  Maybe that's unnecessary and I'm just being too anal, but I would prefer the clean air lock in this situation.

Or a clean blowoff.

Absolutely.  Though I've never heard of two separate blow offs from the same fermentation.

Just something clean.

[neuse]

I use a 7.9 gallon bucket fermenter for a 5 gallon batch. Temperature is controlled. No blow-off necessary, at least for what I brew. I just never felt good about cleaning a blow-off tube - always worried about something left in it that I missed.

[deckerhand]

An airlock is an airlock, whether a plastic bubbler or a hose stuck in a jar. I see no advantage to changing near the end.

If you’re going to open your fermenter do it while there’s still yeast activity so the yeast can cleanup any O2 you’ve introduced.


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Thank you for the advice I’m still learning so way the soak up any information I can Weather it be reading podcast Online forms social media I just want to get really good at Homebrewing


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I have had to replace an airlock because fermentation got going so greatly that it clogged and popped it out.  I just replaced it with a blow off tube in those situations, using the bottom of a 3 piece airlock connected to blow off tubing, so the grommet didn't need to get changed out.  I never thought to switch it back to airlock later and never had problems with the resulting beers.

To the OP - to become a better brewer, just keep on brewing.  Temperature control measures were one of my first improvements to my process and lead eventually to focusing on lager beer brewing - I never have explosive fermentations with those lower temperature ranges now, even when it goes gangbusters and finishes fermenting within a week.

Cheers and good luck with your brewing.

I am watch my temps. Sometimes tho my Digital thermometer is off this time I missed it being off only when I dip in in starsan  I noticed it was off. That’s anther then I am anal about is being clean and being sanitary every time that thermometer goes into wort  to check some thing it gets dipped in starsan I know that’s going over board but I find it’s better to take every sanitization precaution necessary even if you don’t have to so you never forget when you need to


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[Megary]

I use a 7.9 gallon bucket fermenter for a 5 gallon batch. Temperature is controlled. No blow-off necessary, at least for what I brew. I just never felt good about cleaning a blow-off tube - always worried about something left in it that I missed.

If my blow off gets junk in it, I throw out the piece of hose.  I don't even bother cleaning it.  I've only ever had to do this twice, probably 6' hose total.

[BrewBama]

If you got a lot of Krausen into the blow off, then I would replace it with a clean air lock when fermentation settled down.  Maybe that's unnecessary and I'm just being too anal, but I would prefer the clean air lock in this situation.

That’s cool. I like to solve problems as they arise.  Cause and Effect: i develop a plan and IF something comes up, THEN I address it.

In this case I might clean the tube or just let it go (if everything else is fine) until i clean the fermenter. All depends where i am in the process.

I have had blowoff more times than i can count. A brush and water cleans it right up.

I have had a tube block once because the ID was too small. I increased the tube ID to eliminate that issue.

[deckerhand]

I leave a blowoff tube on from start to finish. No need to change air locks.


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I saw on line that it’s good to put the airlock back after all the crazy fermentation is done. Next brew I’ll start and end with it.


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I can't imagine what the difference would be.

They didn’t go into why so I couldn’t tell you.


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My guess is that they didn't go into why because there is no reason.  Functionally there is no difference.

Listing to all you guys I am willing to be they just wanted to sound smart. Every hobby has them


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[Richard]

I always used sanitizer for the blow off or airlock, occasionally some old cheap vodka.

I used Starsan in my airlock for a while, but with a vigorous fermentation the sanitizer would bubble and get pushed out of the airlock and it would start to go empty. I got tired of refilling it, so I just use clean water now.

[denny]

I always used sanitizer for the blow off or airlock, occasionally some old cheap vodka.

I used Starsan in my airlock for a while, but with a vigorous fermentation the sanitizer would bubble and get pushed out of the airlock and it would start to go empty. I got tired of refilling it, so I just use clean water now.

Same here...started with vodka, went to Starsan, now water (unless I already have Starsan mixed up).  Haven't seen any difference.

[deckerhand]

I always used sanitizer for the blow off or airlock, occasionally some old cheap vodka.

I used Starsan in my airlock for a while, but with a vigorous fermentation the sanitizer would bubble and get pushed out of the airlock and it would start to go empty. I got tired of refilling it, so I just use clean water now.

Same here...started with vodka, went to Starsan, now water (unless I already have Starsan mixed up).  Haven't seen any difference.

How would hard water be in a airlock. I got hard water by me. When I brew I use Poland Spring since it says it has low ph and I like how it taste


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[BrewBama]

The water in a blowoff jar doesn’t matter. I use the sanitizer I sanitized the fermenter with just prior to transferring the wort into it. But I have used tap water as well.


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[deckerhand]

The water in a blowoff jar doesn’t matter. I use the sanitizer I sanitized the fermenter with just prior to transferring the wort into it. But I have used tap water as well.


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Cleaning/sanitizing I’ll use my tap water. Brewing its porn springs water.


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[fredthecat]

The water in a blowoff jar doesn’t matter. I use the sanitizer I sanitized the fermenter with just prior to transferring the wort into it. But I have used tap water as well.


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Cleaning/sanitizing I’ll use my tap water. Brewing its porn springs water.

sounds spicy

[deckerhand]

The water in a blowoff jar doesn’t matter. I use the sanitizer I sanitized the fermenter with just prior to transferring the wort into it. But I have used tap water as well.


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Cleaning/sanitizing I’ll use my tap water. Brewing its porn springs water.

sounds spicy

Sorry meaning Poland springs water I hate auto spell


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[goose]

An airlock is an airlock, whether a plastic bubbler or a hose stuck in a jar. I see no advantage to changing near the end.

If you’re going to open your fermenter do it while there’s still yeast activity so the yeast can cleanup any O2 you’ve introduced.


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Not only that, but you have a large blanket of CO2 on top of the beer so you will be OK.