White "Dust" At Top Of Carboy

[montanafos]

Quick question about a RJS Cellar Classics Cab kit I have in secondary. Everything is going fine and I see a very slight "residue" for lack of a better word around the top of the carboy, just above the wine level. Not right at the top of the wine...meaning like a ring around the film layer, but more around the inside of the top of the carboy. The best description would be like moisture collected and then evaporated and left this stuff behind. I'm not talking about a lot, more like small spots of it. I was very cautious with sanitizing...any thoughts?

 

[millwright01]

I have had that before. I didn't know what it was so just let it be and had no problems. Not really an answer to your question but want to see what some others might say. I wouldn't worry.

 

[sly22guy]

A picture i worth a thousand words. but sounds like you didn't top up your carboy and have to much head space. but please snap a pic.

 

[djrockinsteve]

Could be some sediment or sulfite that hadn't disolved. A photo would help but would you be able to take a paper towel with a little water/sulfite sprayed on it to wipe it away/off or is it too far for your fingers to reach?

 

[Wade E]

Have you added the fining agent. Ive seen this with the fining agent doing that from stirring and actually have that right now as we speak. If so dont worry about it and when the wine is clear just rack off and clean it good. Otherwise cpuld it possibly be that you are uing One Step or some other Oxygen based cleaner as tyat stuff can build up on carboys also and need a good scrubbing to get it off. If its that I wouldnt worry right now either and follow the instructiosn above.

 

[montanafos]

Here's a pic of what I am talking about . Was thinking that it was possibly bentonite residue. I read on another furm that this series of grape skin kits seems to do this for folks. The kit instructions said nothing about topping it up for headspace or I would have done that. My sanitizer is BTF. This has been in the secondary since 11/21/10 and instructions say to wait until SG of 1.000 or lower and I was not there as of 10 days ago. I pulled the bung and lock and used a sanitized wine thief to draw a bit for testing and did not put that back in to the carboy. I don't recall the residue being there 10 days ago, but could be wrong there. The residue is a bit further down than I can reach with fingers and paper towel. Based on the instructions around day 28 in the secondary I should be ready to rack it in to another carboy and add the sulphite and potassium sorbate and degass. It's after this step that the instructions recommend topping up the carboy. Thanks for the replies.

 

[montanafos]

Now that I look at this more, could it be from condensation forming in the area of the residue and the residue is what is left of that condensation that formed and dissipated?

 

[grapeman]

That could be, but I would top up an inch or two more. That will minimize problems.

 

[montanafos]

I am expecting that I am at a point where I will rack it to another carboy to degass tomorrow afternoon. Should I even bother with topping it in this one or just wait until tomorrrow? I'm assuming I'm ok to wait until tomorrow. Thanks...

 

[Wade E]

I wouldnt worry about that at all. I am positive that it is a residue left over from an addition like bentonite. Also, the product you are referring to about the kit that usually leaves a residue is Cellar Craft and not RJS Cellar Classic. I basically have the same situation with white stuff in one of my carboys as we speak from using a fining agent that a little stuck to the glass.

 

[JohnT]

Looks to me like dried k-meta.

 

[Lurker]

I have had similar stuff in my carboys even though they were properly topped. Not kits, juice buckets. Never used bentonite, just Super Kleer. I have no idea what it is, I just took a clean paper towel, coiled it to a point and touched the white stuff with it. It absorbed the stuff, no harm done. With me for some reason it is a frequent occurrence.