Star San in Airlock??

[spook123_uk]

Hi All. Doing my first brew at the moment and have boiled water in the airlock which is bubbling away. When I come to check the SG, I have a big syringe and tube that will fit in the airlock hole to save me taking the lid off the bin to take a sample.
When I re-fit the airlock, Ive read about people using star san as the liquid in it. Anyone do this and what ratios do you use?

Thanks,
Rich

 

[ericmark]

I use kits and so use water unboiled out of the tap. So I just can't see the point in going OTT on the sterilising. Yes I use sterilising stuff with anything not going to be used for some time and anything that been stored for some time but only beer that went wrong was a lager where it sat at 12 degs rather than normal 19.5 degs so before the yeast made enough alcohol to stop it some bug got in.

In the main super cleaning is not required and water in air lock is ample. Main point is clean as you empty never store dirty.

 

[CreweBrewer]

I agree with what ericmark says. I only use Milton tablets to sterilise. Used it for years with no problems at all.

 

[Fil]

agreeing cleanliness is paramount i would also applaud the ocd approach - just use ordinary diluted strength starsan (8-10ml per 5l of water) and unless you get a blow out only a single dose is needed as it remains active..

if using starsan a cheap booklet of indicator papers is worth while investing in (50p ebay) as if your solution has been standing a few months or has started to go cloudy a simple ph test will indicate if its still potent.. fwiw ive used 5-6month old starsan solutions as the ph has remained low and active.
(going cloudy is only an indicator it MAY be spent ..)

also the starsan goes way further if applied via a misting trigger spray bottle

when bottling, kegging or doing anything cold side i have a small finger bowl of starsan to sanitise any small bits such as siphon taps, bungs, and my fingers .. great stuff and so economical.. :thumb:

 

[Hops_and_Dreams]

agreeing cleanliness is paramount i would also applaud the ocd approach - just use ordinary diluted strength starsan (8-10ml per 5l of water) and unless you get a blow out only a single dose is needed as it remains active..

if using starsan a cheap booklet of indicator papers is worth while investing in (50p ebay) as if your solution has been standing a few months or has started to go cloudy a simple ph test will indicate if its still potent.. fwiw ive used 5-6month old starsan solutions as the ph has remained low and active.
(going cloudy is only an indicator it MAY be spent ..)

also the starsan goes way further if applied via a misting trigger spray bottle

when bottling, kegging or doing anything cold side i have a small finger bowl of starsan to sanitise any small bits such as siphon taps, bungs, and my fingers .. great stuff and so economical.. :thumb:

I must admit I take the ocd approach too, doesn't take much more cost/effort and it's better than chucking beer down the sink.

+1 for Starsan.