Hi All, First Kit-brigalow

[mrmatt]

Today when I checked the Krausen had done just that it. It had been light and fluffy looking and about 2cm to an inch thick it has now thinned out and the brownish muck formed where the highist point of the krausen had reached. Thought, woot i can have a taste and see how much the hydrometre value had dropped. well......it hasnt, i dropped the hydrometre into the fermenter after i had mixed everything the first day, and the reading was 1032, today it was the same reading.



edit: just had a taste and its like sour off apples, sort of, and still kinda sweet, all in not tooo bad. So im guessing that the fermenting didnt happen? But the krausen, and all that, did its thing....

 

[manticle]

Are you sure you are reading it correctly?

It's better to take a sample from the tap or by autosiphon into a cylindrical vessel and use that to test rather than drop the hydrometer into the fermenter. IT's hard to read and it opens up an extra possibility of infection.

 

[mrmatt]

the first reading i dropped it into the fermenter, today Ive tapped some into a glass. pretty sure im reading it right
thanks for your help/(and wow)quick reply manticle.

 

[manticle]

The vessel should contain enough fluid so that the hydrometer floats off the bottom. Lead/steel part should be at the base (yes it's been done before). Give it a twirl to free it from any co2 and let it settle. It sounds very strange that you had rich krausen but no gravity dropping.

Finally the hydrometer should read 1000 in 20 degree water so double check that.

 

[mrmatt]

1020 in tap water

 

[manticle]

Then your hydrometer is reading incorrectly. You may need another. Is tap water around 20 degrees?

 

[mrmatt]

actually dont own a thermometre..reckon it could be as high as 25 in brisbane,not 100% sure tho.

still it was 1032 at the begining and 1032 now....reckon its cool to leave for a bit then try again, thats what ill do.

i had to go buy beer anyway this weekend may aswell leave it in there. The garden will still be thirsty in a few days

 

[manticle]

If you can find out the temperature you can do a correction.

Go here: http://hbd.org/cgi-bin/recipator/recipator...r.html?11995300

However higher temperature results in lower reading so if it's more than 20, your hydrometer is definitely stuffed.

 

[user 10246]

actually dont own a thermometre..reckon it could be as high as 25 in brisbane,not 100% sure tho.

still it was 1032 at the begining and 1032 now....reckon its cool to leave for a bit then try again, thats what ill do.

i had to go buy beer anyway this weekend may aswell leave it in there. The garden will still be thirsty in a few days

Mine seems around the 27 C from the tap here (around coomera/oxenford)

I just saw your comment at the bottom, I think that's the go. My bet is that it is ok, take another reading soon & taste again, if it tastes like beer, it probably will end up at least ok.

 

[user 10246]

Also, I think you put this one down on the 2nd yeah? That's only 4 days in the pot, wouldn't be too worried just yet mate.

 

[manticle]

still it was 1032 at the begining and 1032 now....reckon its cool to leave for a bit then try again, thats what ill do.

1032 on a piece of equipment that's stuffed and therefore unreliable.

Definitely cool to leave it for longer. In the meantime buy another hydrometer.

 

[mrmatt]

Tried it again today, tasted horrible reckon i stuffed it somewhere.
might give a few days then clean it out and try again.