Fermentation Vessels? Please Help Me Understand.

[LAgreeneyes]

Please help me to understand what is the right "fermentation vessel" to use and when. I am still not familiar with all of the correct terms. I have my "buckets" that I use but I don't know if I am using the right thing and I want to make sure that I have the right equipment.

Does anyone have pics of their fermentation vessels that they use? I am so confused. I drove myself crazy this weekend trying to figure all of this out.

Here are pics of the buckets and lids that I use for the fermentation process. I cut a small hole in the lid and I place a tube going into the bucket of wine (but not touching the wine) and the other end of the tube going into a glass bottle with water in it. I rig up and place a piece of chewed bubble gum around the hole that the tube is going in/out so that air does not go in.

I also have 3 of the large glass 5 gallon carboys but I don't have the tops to it. How can I make use of them? What do I need to get and how do I use that in the fermentation process?

I see in pics that people have "Rubber Bung (Stopper) and Fermentation Lock". How does that work? Does it work the same as me having my tubes going into the bucket and glass water bottle? Can I get one of them from my glass carboy and put on it? Is the carboy the last step when putting the wine in there to ferment?

I am sooooooooo lost. Please be patient with me as I learn. I really hate to ask so many questions, but I want to make sure that I am doing the right thing.

If these are too many questions, can you provide me a link where I can go and see pics (I'm visiual) and read Step by step by step on what to do and explanations?

I'm so lost.

 

[jamesngalveston]

those buckets are fine for
1st (primary fermenting) get rid of the lids.
cut rounds about 3 inches bigger then the top of the bucket, lay it on top and secure with big rubber bands are piece of elastic so it can get oxygen....Done
2nd secondary should be a better bottle are a glass bottle with a stopper and air lock to keep oxygen out.
You can use a rubber are plastic hose fitted in a bottle of water, like in your picture.
A plastic bucket with a lid and air lock,as in your picture can be used in a pinch. But not long term aging...I would get glass for that.
I hope this helps......

 

[DoctorCAD]

And get rid of the "pre-chewed" gum...that's just gross.

 

[jamesngalveston]

lol i thought it was silly putty...

 

[Rampage4all]

Those buckets look like 5 gallon I would get bigger up to 7.9 gallon for the 6&5gallon batches if wine. Your airlock method works fine just make sure to have the end of the hose in the bottle cover with kmeta water or vodka. And as James stated leave in open cover by cloth for the first part of fermentation. I let mine get halfway to where I want it before I airlock it or if the ferment gets to slow like with meads. If you want to conform then you can get rubber grommets to put in the bucket lid to place an airlock or cut a larger hole for a bung.

 

[saramc]

A bung (drilled stopper) and airlock (bubbler) will easily replace your bubble gum-tubing-water seal setup. Granted many people use the tubing + water if they think the primary ferment is going to be violent, foamy and possibly overflow. But, as previously mentioned you can use the buckets, without lids snapped on, as primary as this allows access to oxygen--something the yeast want/need up to a certain point. It is ideal to get everything topped up & under airlock when your SG has dropped by 66-75%(2/3 - 3/4), and a carboy is really what you want for that step beyond the primary bucket. Though many people use a bucket the entire time, but you have carboys so let's get you using them.

You can buy drilled bungs in a wide variety of sizes (wine bottle to 5 gallon hedpaks & larger), but I prefer to use the 'universal stoppers' because they do not have the smell like rubber ones, plus they have a lip on them and they won't get sucked entirely into the container, they are tapered for snug fit and great seal & one will fit a variety of sizes of carboys. Example: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/small-universal-carboy-bung-drilled.html

Here is a decent visual/explanation of bungs and airlocks... http://www.stonehelm.co.uk/browser....bubbler&headerType=spc&file=lessonairlock.php

What is the plastic recycle number on your bucket?

**Sara**

 

[Rampage4all]

Once your SG gets within say .020 of where you want it or some people let it go all the way dry then rack to carboy and airlock it . Rubber bung and tube a 3 piece or a 2 bubble airlock will work. That's preference but I say the 3 piece is easiest.

 

[jamesngalveston]

very good illustration julie....
one other thing.....

if you can not get lids with pre-drilled hole, use a drill bit smaller then the hose are airlock, and push it in hard...the smaller opening in the plastic lit will seal, no more gum,silly putty,silicone, etc.

 

[LAgreeneyes]

Ya'll are too funny. LOL I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!

jamesngalveston, I'm lost with what you said as far as cutting 3 inches bigger than the top. You have to talk to me like you would a 5 year old. I an verbally challenged. LOL. It's hard for me to understand without pics. I'm need 1st grade books to comprehend. LOL. You just gave me an idea with the silly putty. I wish I would have thought about that instead of the chewed gum. LOL
I will try to get lids with pre-drilled holes. I'll try to wean myself from gum, putty, etc. LOL.

DoctorCAD, you made my day. That is too funny. LOL @ gross. Well, at least I don't "re-chew" the gum.

Rampage4all, I have read about leaving a cloth on top but I was afraid that it would rotten. So, how long do I do the 1st step covered with cloth? I think you answered my question. I looked again at your other post. Please confirm what "rack" means. (*hiding under a chair because I should know this)

saramc, thanks for explaining the air lock and the links. I will check them out now. I will check out the number that you are talking about and let you know.

Thanks for all of the explanations. I think I am slowlyunderstanding.

So, it sounds like I can use my buckets for the 1st vessel. And I can leave the tops off and put a cloth on top. I will check to make sure my mixture hits the necessary "numbers" before putting it in my 2nd vessel. Right or not? Oh, I know what I wanted to ask. So, when my mixture is in the 1st vessel, it will have already have the yeast in it right?

So, when the mixture goes to the 2nd vessel, that's when I will have all of the air locks and everything and this could be my bucket and hose set up? So, if I want to use the glass carboy, I can use the one I have just make sure that it has that rubber stopper top on it? If I have that, do I still need to run a hose from the carboy to a bottle of water or will the stopper be enough or do I need that airlock? (like the one in the pic)

Gosh, I LOVE this site!!!! You all are fabulous !!!!!!!

 

[LAgreeneyes]

A bung (drilled stopper) and airlock (bubbler) will easily replace your bubble gum-tubing-water seal setup. Granted many people use the tubing + water if they think the primary ferment is going to be violent, foamy and possibly overflow. But, as previously mentioned you can use the buckets, without lids snapped on, as primary as this allows access to oxygen--something the yeast want/need up to a certain point. It is ideal to get everything topped up & under airlock when your SG has dropped by 66-75%(2/3 - 3/4), and a carboy is really what you want for that step beyond the primary bucket. Though many people use a bucket the entire time, but you have carboys so let's get you using them.

You can buy drilled bungs in a wide variety of sizes (wine bottle to 5 gallon hedpaks & larger), but I prefer to use the 'universal stoppers' because they do not have the smell like rubber ones, plus they have a lip on them and they won't get sucked entirely into the container, they are tapered for snug fit and great seal & one will fit a variety of sizes of carboys. Example: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/small-universal-carboy-bung-drilled.html

Here is a decent visual/explanation of bungs and airlocks... http://www.stonehelm.co.uk/browser....bubbler&headerType=spc&file=lessonairlock.php

What is the plastic recycle number on your bucket?

**Sara**

PERFECT information to the link. This is what I needed to know.

An airlock is a device used by nearly all wine makers and some beer makes. Its purpose is to allow gases released from the fermentation to escape while preventing oxygen from the atmosphere from entering the container and potentially spoiling the wine / beer. It is essentially a one way valve.

So it sounds like (and correct me if I am wrong) when I put my mixture in to ferment and "finish" (2nd vessel), I can get this airlock and not have to worry about anything else. No tubes, hoses, etc. Right? And this will fit the large glass carboys like the one in the pic. (This is what I have but no tops.)

I am on my way to the local wine shop to get an air lock to fit on my carboy.

 

[Rampage4all]

Ya'll are too funny. LOL I LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!


Rampage4all, I have read about leaving a cloth on top but I was afraid that it would rotten. So, how long do I do the 1st step covered with cloth? I think you answered my question. I looked again at your other post. Please confirm what "rack" means. (*hiding under a chair because I should know this)

Rack is when you transfer your wine from one vessel to the other and leave behind the lees. You can come out from under the chair now.
Btw what part of La are you in. I'm about 50 miles south of shrevport.

 

[LAgreeneyes]

Rack is when you transfer your wine from one vessel to the other and leave behind the lees. You can come out from under the chair now.
Btw what part of La are you in. I'm about 50 miles south of shrevport.

Thank you.

I am from Opelousas, LA. I was in Bastrop on Friday.

 

[LAgreeneyes]

Ok everyone, I sacrificed my lunch break (doing a devilish chuckle) to go to the local wine supply store to get what I needed. With everyone's explanation, the links and the guy in the store that I always bother the mess out of every time I go in there, I think I'm ready.

Here is what I got and I got a few other things that I didn't have when I started my fig wine this weekend.

 

[Loner]

I hope you have a drilled bung (rubber stopper) to fit your glass Carboy. You need that in order to use your new airlock. As info the bungs come in many sizes. You can get them to fit in a fifth..liter..gallon etc and all will accept an airlock.

 

[LAgreeneyes]

I hope you have a drilled bung (rubber stopper) to fit your glass Carboy. You need that in order to use your new airlock. As info the bungs come in many sizes. You can get them to fit in a fifth..liter..gallon etc and all will accept an airlock.

The guy at the store said that I could put the carboy cap (orange top) on the carboy and then put the airlock in it. Is that not right? If not, please let me know because I need to go back and get a drilled bung. (*sigh*)

 

[jamesngalveston]

that glass carboy is exactly like you need, they will sale you a neoprene, are rubber stopper, which you will insert the air lock into.
remove the white cap on the air lock and fill with water to the line.
insert air lock in hole in stopper....
lol, jeesh...

the round cut out of a sheet needs to be 3 inches bigger then the top of the bucket, so it will drape down some, that will give you something to put the rubber band are elastic strap on.

what part of la you from, i do not think there will be a wine store in morgan city,dulac,rain,cocodrie......

 

[LAgreeneyes]

that glass carboy is exactly like you need, they will sale you a neoprene, are rubber stopper, which you will insert the air lock into.
remove the white cap on the air lock and fill with water to the line.
insert air lock in hole in stopper....
lol, jeesh...

the round cut out of a sheet needs to be 3 inches bigger then the top of the bucket, so it will drape down some, that will give you something to put the rubber band are elastic strap on.

what part of la you from, i do not think there will be a wine store in morgan city,dulac,rain,cocodrie......

LOL @ jeesh LOL LOL LOL

Well why did he sell me that darn orange thing. What is that for James? LOL

Oooooooooo, I gotcha on the round cut out sheet. I told you I'm slow. LOL I have some cheese cloths that I can use.

I'm from Opelousas, LA - 25 miles from Lafayette Louisiana or 60 miles from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The wine store is in Lafayette, which is the city that I live in.

So now I have to go BACK to the store to get the rubber stopper. This better be my last trip. Jeesh. LOL

 

[jamesngalveston]

wait...you were in bastrop...you messed up big time.
a short drive from there is where the biggest and juiciest peaches are grown.

 

[jamesngalveston]

the orange thing is a double bung, usually use for vacuum degassing are vacuum transfering.
hang on ill send you a pic.

 

[jamesngalveston]

both of these are air locks, i prefer the tall one.