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Observation on not using an airlock

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Ken2029

NewBee
Registered Member
Oct 26, 2015
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I've got two batches going now that are in the early stages of fermentation. Instead of using an airlock on my five gallon batch, I put a linen napkin over the opening on my fermenter and secured it with a rubber band. My one gallon batch is in a bucket. I just have the lid resting on it.

I am finding that when I degas the must I am only getting a fraction of the foam that I used to get.

After a week or two, I will add the airlocks.
 
T

Toxxyc

Worker Bee
Registered Member
Dec 21, 2017
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Pretoria, South Africa
An airlock takes some effort to get the CO2 through it, specially with the cap on. I have noticed the same. Since it takes a bit more effort, the content in the fermenter is actually under pressure, which would result in more CO2 being dissolved in the mead. It makes sense, your observation would seem to be correct.
 
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Ken2029

NewBee
Registered Member
Oct 26, 2015
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It does make the degassing, oxygenation, and nutrient additions easier to manage without so much foaming.
 
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Squatchy

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Nov 3, 2014
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I always ferment with a lid that just sits on top. It's way better than under an airlock. I move it to glass and airlock around 1020ish
 
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Ken2029

NewBee
Registered Member
Oct 26, 2015
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Update: I'm degassing with the wire whip attachment to my immersion blender and getting very little foam. I was getting so little foam that I was concerned that my fermentation was stalled. Checked the SG and find that I am already at the 1/3 sugar break early on day 4, so that part is good. This is definitely the way to go.
 
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