I'm going to start a 1-gallon mini-batch of blueberry mel this weekend. Most of the time, I do my primaries in a bucket, so aerating, feeding, and degassing is easy. However, this time I'll be using a jug and I'm not sure how people normally handle aeration with that kind of setup. Keep in mind I have no fancy pressurized gas/airstone gizmo, so I'll have to keep my methods low-tech.
I've already figured I'll have to sanitize my hydrometer equipment really well before I do gravity readings. I'll pour a bit of must off, measure it, and then pour it back in. I'd get some air into it during the pour, but it would likely be nowhere near enough to make a difference. I'm wondering if it will even be possible to get air into that jug, since during an active primary there is lots of outgassing and CO2 is heavier than air anyway. Should I just do my gravity checks/nutrient schedule and hope for the best? I figure I can degas by simply swirling the carboy. It will only be 2/3 to 3/4 full during primary to avoid overflows during feeding and to keep mead out of the airlock.
I've already figured I'll have to sanitize my hydrometer equipment really well before I do gravity readings. I'll pour a bit of must off, measure it, and then pour it back in. I'd get some air into it during the pour, but it would likely be nowhere near enough to make a difference. I'm wondering if it will even be possible to get air into that jug, since during an active primary there is lots of outgassing and CO2 is heavier than air anyway. Should I just do my gravity checks/nutrient schedule and hope for the best? I figure I can degas by simply swirling the carboy. It will only be 2/3 to 3/4 full during primary to avoid overflows during feeding and to keep mead out of the airlock.
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