Beer Forum

So after switching to glass carboys a year ago I found myself stuck with two carboys in use and an empty plastic bucket. I made my first brown ale and decided to break out the old plastic fermenter. So I did the same old and sealed it up and set it aside to do its thing. Well the next day I saw the air lock with a little activity and usually after I get home from work it's usually going pretty good. Well i got home and it wasn't doing a thing. This is the first batch to have done this to me. It has been about 4 days and I don't really want to open the lid. Is this a normal thing or is it possible I have a fermentation halt? Should I check it or wait a few more days and take my normal hydrometer reading?

Thanks guys

Brian

what do you mean it's not doing a thing... no bubbles, or no krausen?
give it a few days and take a gravity.
and relax
BUB

EDIT:
Crack it open now and take a gravity, NEVER TRUST THE AIRLOCK BUBBLES

No bubbles.

The lid probably isn't sealed good.

Just took a gravity reading. OG 1.044 currently at 1.015

It's doing fine. Depending on style yeast ect, should be ready to bottle now or soon.

I use plastic to ferment and never see bubbles in the airlock. Everything I've brewed ferments just fine.

Like mentioned earlier, I think it has to do with the buckets not forming a tight seal.

After my first batch after switching from glass, I got used to not seeing airlock activity. Changes in gravity are what we're looking for. Bubbles in the airlock don't tell the whole story.

Probably just a loose lid. I never seal the lids on my buckets, as long as they are sitting square on top so nothing falls in, you'll be fine. Your gravity readings look good.