KC Super-Kleer not working?

RachmaelBenApplebaum · #1 02-20-2012, 02:50 PM

Added Super-Kleer as per package instructions and 24 hours later the batch was still hazy. It shouldn't be a protein haze because it's just an OB traditional but I'm wondering if any additives had any effect on it? It's been settling for three days since I added the super-kleer pack and it's still hazy. I did sorbate/sulfite and backsweeten with a about a cup of honey, the batch was also fermented using Bee pollen (Which might be the source of the haze?). This is the first time this product hasn't worked with stellar results and I'm a little perplexed. I understand sometimes it might take a week to clear up completely but that seems kind of odd for something boasting 24Hr clearing. In addition I didn't use really hard water either, which could have been the source of the haze.

akueck · #2 02-20-2012, 04:39 PM

I wouldn't pass judgement yet. 24 hours is often enough time to see some clearing, but certainly you're going to wait a lot longer before racking off the clearing agent even if it is clear-looking. If you don't see any improvement in a few weeks, try a different kind of fining agent (opposite polarity) and see if that helps.

RachmaelBenApplebaum · #3 02-20-2012, 08:01 PM

Yeah, it just kinda struck me as odd. My understanding was that kieselsol and chitosan were opposite in their polarity. I'll give it a few more days, rack off the super-kleer sediment that did form and go for a sparkolloid/bentonite treatment.

huesmann · #4 02-20-2012, 08:51 PM

Pectin? You don't say what kind of mead you're trying to clear.

And sometimes SK KC takes a couple of days.

Chevette Girl · #5 02-20-2012, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by huesmann

Pectin? You don't say what kind of mead you're trying to clear.

And sometimes SK KC takes a couple of days.

OB traditional, he said in the original post, so no pectin should be present but the protein theory is possible based on the pollen addition. I've got a wine that's resisted bentonite and sparkolloid, so far a month later, it's clearer than it was and I can see some new sediment but it's still only translucent, nowhere near clear...

I'd recommend stirring it up well so that all the small particles have another chance to stick to the bigger ones and settle out...

RachmaelBenApplebaum · #6 02-21-2012, 12:35 AM

I might add some pectin to see if it clears anything out too (can't hurt, right?) and just let it sit. It's on it's last week of oak cube exposure so failing clearing I'll have to rack it this weekend anyways. I was also thinking it might have to do with the fact that it's a 6.5 gallon batch and there just wasn't enough of the SK mix to handle the volume? I might just go get chitosan and keiselsol and dig up my old lab glass (whatever box THAT's in) that is, given it doesn't clear up at all.