Hydrometer reading help please

[Jnay]

Hi if I can post a photo of the reading I just got is there any chance someone could talk me through it, I think I understand the basics but I want to be sure.

Thank you

 

[cmason1957]

You probably have to get much closer and just the hydrometer in the picture. What I can say from these is it looks nearly done fermenting. Maybe 1.010 or so.

 

[Jnay]

Post away. Someone week jump in and advise you.

Thank you, I have posted 2 photos , I hope I have done it right lol

 

[Jnay]

You probably have to get much closer and just the hydrometer in the picture. What I can say from these is it looks nearly done fermenting. Maybe 1.010 or so.

Hi,
Do you know why half of the fluid is clear and half is cloudy please?

Does it look pretty normal to you?

Smells lovely

 

[Jnay]

Hi

I have posted a third photo that is much clearer, the reading not the wine lol

Thank you

 

[cmason1957]

It looks pretty normal to me. I am guessing it is a white wine, maybe 5-7 days into fermentation. What I think I see as clear, is the fat part of the hydrometer.

Cloudy is normal at this stage. There are suspended particles of yeast in there, they will fall out as it clears. One of the first whites I ever made was almost opaque at this stage, I was sure it would never clear. After a couple of weeks you could read a newspaper through it.

What is it and what have you done with it so far? Knowing that kind of thing helps give reassurance all is well, but it looks like it.

 

[cedarswamp]

Looks like your test vile is too small for your hydrometer.

 

[Jnay]

Hi cmason,

It's elderflower wine, it's my first ever wine, so I'm a bit nervous

After making it, a few days after I added some nutrients.

I stir it twice a day

It's about 6 or 7 days old now.

Unfortunately or fortunately however you look at it lol I have to go into hospital probably Wednesday 24th

I was thinking of putting the wine into the demijohn on Tuesday and leaving it, I think from what I have read that the airlock needs to always have water in it.

My partner could see to that for me.

I will be in hospital for 5 days.

This was something we didn't expect, there was a cancellation and I got bumped up the list.

But once it's in the demijohn isn't it just a matter of being patient?

 

[Jnay]

Looks like your test vile is too small for your hydrometer.

Hi cedar swamp,
This is the vile that the hydrometer came with.

I will look out for a bigger one

 

[Sammyk]

That case is for storing the hydrometer not used for measuring the gravity.

 

[Jnay]

That case is for storing the hydrometer not used for measuring the gravity.

Hi Sammyk
Oh dear, another blunder!!!

Will it make an awful lot of difference to the readings I'm getting?

I live in the countryside and the homebrew store is in the next county, I won't be going there for a few weeks

 

[cmason1957]

Sorry to hear about the impending hospital visit. Never a fun thing. By all means move it to your denim and put it under airlock. The airlock will be fine for a fairly long time with no attention. That is one thing you won't have to worry about for a few weeks.

 

[Sammyk]

Yes it will because the hydrometer is sticking to the case rather than free floating. Perhaps you cannot find in your home something taller and wider than your hydrometer.

 

[Sammyk]

What is the wine in now? How many gallons?

 

[cedarswamp]

Hi Sammyk
Oh dear, another blunder!!!

Will it make an awful lot of difference to the readings I'm getting?

I live in the countryside and the homebrew store is in the next county, I won't be going there for a few weeks

Are you fermenting in a bucket? I just float my hydro right in the bucket if my must doesn't contain too many solids.

 

[Jnay]

Yes it will because the hydrometer is sticking to the case rather than free floating. Perhaps you cannot find in your home something taller and wider than your hydrometer.

Hi Sammyk
The hydrometer was definitely floating freely in the case, I turned it a few times to get rid of bubbles like it says to do.

I will look for something taller and wider though

Thank you

 

[Jnay]

What is the wine in now? How many gallons?

Hi Sammyk
The wine is in a new white homebrew tub, covered with clean muslin and ties with string

There are 2 gallons of wine

Thank you

 

[Jnay]

Are you fermenting in a bucket? I just float my hydro right in the bucket if my must doesn't contain too many solids.

Really? Excellent news cedarswamp, thank you

Yes it's in a new white homebrew tub, I cover it with a clean muslin everyday

Thank you

 

[Jnay]

Sorry to hear about the impending hospital visit. Never a fun thing. By all means move it to your denim and put it under airlock. The airlock will be fine for a fairly long time with no attention. That is one thing you won't have to worry about for a few weeks.

Thank you cmason, I'm glad I will be able to relax a bit and not Rory too much about it lol

 

[Sammyk]

If it is floating free, then need to leave some of the lees and rack to a glass container and airlock and let it finish fermenting. Leave the thickest stuff on the bottom of the ferment container. There will be enough yeast for it to drop below .99