StillSmart

Not sure if one of my washes is stuck/needs binning.

VodkaStar +5Kg Sugar made up to 25L doesnt seem to be doing anything.

VodkaStar 6Kg sugar made up to 26L working fine.

Now my bucket Im using was off someone 2nd hand, and was dirty, I thought I had cleaned/sterilised ok, but Im thinking possibly not now.

Is there anything I can try to see if it is working/can get restarted or should I just bin it all?

Is there a way to find out whether its infected?

Check the bucket is air tight, I've had new buckets in the past and no air comes through the airlock, turned out to be the lid was not an air tight fit, could also be a duff pack of yeast, even if your bucket was dirty it would still start to ferment, just might not turn out very well.

A hydrometer will tell you if it's stuck or not. No change for a couple of days...it's stuck.

Another factor might be the chilly nights we've been having. I know that the other fermenter is doing ok but if that got off to a flying start imo it's less likely to stop because of a few cold nights. A vigorous ferment provides its own central heating.

e2a: Forgot to say, if it was a hygiene problem, I reckon you'd have posted about the smell or mentioned the nasty slimy growths.

Can't hear any fizzing from it.

So is there a way to start it again if it's just stuck (will check in a day or 2 to check hydrometer movement)

A non-airtight bucket has nothing to do with it.I don't use airlocks and encourage airborne yeasts.

You might have been overboard in your sterilization and not got rid of all traces. A quick way to get a wash stuck. If that is the case your better off dumping and starting again, especially if everything else is in order.

If you used a white sugar the yeast will need some sort of nutrition. Has the SG dropped at all?

Agreeing with RJ here,why use an airlock on a destined spirit wash? ;and also chemical cleaning,if not properly rinsed could/may kill your yeasties.
Had a VS wash stall on me a few weeks ago; OK,I am (sometimes) tight and only use half packs.
I got bored and threw in half a tin of Allinson's bread yeast and a teaspoon of DAP.
It got to below 1.000,salvegable.
If you have the space,and the buckets,you can experiment to your hearts content.
Robert.

Also check the ph, it may have stalled due to low ph. Or experiment and add a couple tablespoons of baking soda to see if that restarts it at all.

Unless you have an infection that is toxic to yeast, you should be able to restart it by adding more yeast or nutrition or raising the ph.

Chuck

Bit confused, it seems like the hydrometer is showing almost 990 on the one I thought was stuck..which would explain it.

However the other one is still at 1.05 ish.

Is that because there was more sugar in more water so it takes longer?

Wish Id made proper notes, as I cant even remember what day I started the washes

Yes mate,you worked it out.
The first is (virtually) as done as done can be.
The second has extra sugar,-the extra water makes little difference;and so is taking longer, but nearly there.
Maybe remember the pen and paper next time?
May all your problems be so small!
ATB
Robert

I have a luggage label tied to the handle of each fermenter for writing the start date of the ferment.

I've never had any problems with Vodka Star washes. Lower temps take longer but I have enough fermenters to cover that. Full pack of VS + 6Kg of sugar = no worries mate.

I don't bother sterilising the fermenters. The lids are always on, complete with airlock, unless I'm making up the wash or syphoning it ready for distillation.

When it's time to make a wash, I give it a vigorous swill with about 4 inches of cold water, empty and repeat 2 or 3 times. When the last of the old yeast has gone, she's good to go.