Fermentation Won't Start

[sdelli]

All - no obvious signs of fermentation this morning but I only re-inoculated last night so that's seemingly normal.

I will say that the yeast starter was night and day compared to the first one (which showed zero activity). Lots of bubbles/foaming (see pics) so that's encouraging and possibly my culprit in having originally pitched something that may have been inactive.

Oh ya! That is what you are looking for!

 

[joshjacobsen]

Hi all - just wanted to provide an update in that fermentation has officially begun! See attached photo depicting bubble/foam and cap formation.

Thank you again to everyone who chimed in w/ questions and advice, this was my first non-starter/stuck fermentation and it was extremely valuable having perspective from the collective community.

 

[garymc]

I learned the hard way that having the fermentation vessel on the floor is the coldest part of the room. If the floor is a slab or concrete basement floor, even worse. I use buckets, so it's easy for me to have them on a table or counter. If your tank is sitting on a cold floor, next time, if nothing else, you might try putting a couple of 2x4s or something under it so it gets some of that 75 degree air on the bottom instead of a 60 degree slab that pulls the heat out faster than you can administer it by warming the surrounding air.

 

[joshjacobsen]

I learned the hard way that having the fermentation vessel on the floor is the coldest part of the room. If the floor is a slab or concrete basement floor, even worse. I use buckets, so it's easy for me to have them on a table or counter. If your tank is sitting on a cold floor, next time, if nothing else, you might try putting a couple of 2x4s or something under it so it gets some of that 75 degree air on the bottom instead of a 60 degree slab that pulls the heat out faster than you can administer it by warming the surrounding air.

Definitely a good reminder @garymc, though that was actually one thing I did anticipate as I've had the tank placed on a wooden palette from the get-go.