Recent content by MarkMacQ

When you back sweetened did you pretty much do it just before bottling and add a little sugar at a time and taste test to get it where you wanted it? I've got a long way to go, in both time to back sweeten and knowledge in general.

The 6.5 bucket is filled to about 1" from the top so I'm hoping to pretty much fill the 5g carboy and if necessary would add a filler product to minimize headspace. I was trying to avoid mixing the 2 batches because the 2g bucket is without additives but realize it's no big deal and I may well...

I can always through some sugar at it downstream, thinking peach wine might not be so good that dry??

I only bought 50 balls as a backup for minor headspace adjustments. Any significant amount would be transferred to a different container (mason jars, 1 or 3g carboys, etc.). They are very dense and there would be extremely low absorption so I'm not worried about that. Marbles sometimes contain...

Whew, that's good news. The visual and audible signs have stopped, yet realize the only true indicator is the SG, yet with the 0.996 I didn't think there was anything left in the tank. The 71 degree temp on this particular bucket is probably working in my favor at this point. I'm a real WIP...

Another alternative if you choose not to add liquid is this https://www.usplastic.com/catalog/item.aspx?itemid=126144 The balls are food grade, extremely dense, heavier than water so they should sink, cheap and less back breaking

Meant to mention, it has been 18 days since I started it.

My 2 gallon bucket is ready to rack. Does the long auto siphon designed for 6g buckets work okay in a 2g bucket? I ordered a mini siphon but it's not arriving for ~4 more days and I'm a bit concerned I'm pushing it too long to secondary. I did not use a filter bag and I'm still stirring daily to...

I wrapped the bucket with two seedling heating mats with a thermostat control switch and for extra precaution through a timer on as well that runs an hour and cuts off for an hour and repeats. It's now averaging 75. I added 1/2 the recommended Fermaid O as a slurry. There was no date on it, they...

Fermaid O finally came in today. SG is currently 1.017 at 72F (struggling to get it to 75). Two days ago it was 1.021, two before that 1.029, so it's moving. Should I still use the Fermaid O at this point? If so, do I just add the recommended amount 9g for the 6 gallons or only introduce half...

Wow, great tips on cheap bottles. I'm with you on saving the back and will likely just do 1-3 gallon batches going forward.

I would use the white food grade plastic storage lids https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MVPPGRF?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share&tag=forumyield-20 instead of the conventional metal lids and rings, which should be easier to drill a hole into for the grommet...

I just ordered the Fermaid O and forgot that I picked up some Wyeast wine nutrient blend a little while back, made: May 22, 2019. Would this have been comparable?

Good idea with all the smaller sizes for that extra amount at times, and not having to deal with the filler element and cleaning it. I have a few 1g and a 5g, I'll grab a 3g too. I also have a bunch of 1/2g and Qt mason jars that I can adapt by drilling into the lid and adding a grommet and...

Oops, sorry, my reply shows as part of your post