Blowoff tube: 'less' bubbling than airlock?

pointyskull · May 30, 2012, 4:53pm

Using a blowoff tube for the first time (along with a yeast starter of Wyeast 3724) on an NB saison on a batch I brewed on Memorial Day.

I was expecting a more aggressive initial fermentation than I’m seeing - there is some bubbling, but not nearly as “regular” as some of my 3-piece airlock batches - though I know that’s not always an accurate indicator of what’s going on inside the plastic bucket fermenter.

I can feel some pressure on the lid of the fermenter, and if I press down lightly I do get some bubbling out of my tube - which would seem to prove it’s not clogged. Temps are waffling between mid to upper 70s.

Do blowoff tubes generally provide less obvious bubbling than an airlock?

althiels · May 30, 2012, 5:23pm

How long ago did you pitch the yeast?

pointyskull · May 30, 2012, 5:33pm

Mid-afternoon on 05/28. It had been on a stir plate for about 24 hours and then cold-crashed over night.

gerald_weigel · May 30, 2012, 5:48pm

I’m not familiar with the yeast, but if you have pressure on the lid then the yeast is doing its job. Relax, let it go.

stormybrew · May 30, 2012, 6:05pm

Fluid dynamics: like water through a hose, small hose = fast and large hose = slow for same volume.

RDWHAHB.

:cheers:

micahkoll · May 30, 2012, 7:28pm

FWIW, I brewed a batch on 5/28 with a big yeast starter and am using a fairly large blowoff tube. I’m seeing pretty vigorous activity - a large bubble every 1 second or so.

as long as you’re seeing some action, I’m sure its ok.

tfrankmac · May 31, 2012, 2:52am

[quote=“StormyBrew”]Fluid dynamics: like water through a hose, small hose = fast and large hose = slow for same volume.

RDWHAHB.

:cheers: [/quote]

+1 I’ve used a blowoff tube for a couple batches and each yeast seems to react differently. Some produce the vigorous activity that micahkoll is referring to and some batches are fairly slow. I’m sure your fine!