hydometer sinks

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Gman20
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hydometer sinks

Post by Gman20 »

i just bought a new hydrometer and it sinks to bottom. it ried my wort and tried water too and it sank to bottom both times...shoudnt it float??
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by RickBeer »

You need more fluid in the tube... until it floats
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Bottled 5 gallons of Ann Arbor Red on 4/18/17. Bottled 5 gallons of Michigan Red on 5/8/17.

Brewed in 2017 - 22.13 gallons (19.91 in 2012, 48.06 in 2013, 61.39 in 2014, 84.26 in 2015,46.39 in 2016)
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by Beer-lord »

In water, at 68 degrees, it should read 1.000. If it's off too much, I'd not use it but many are off a small amount and you can always adjust for the difference.
I would suggest that if you buy one in a local store, you ask to test it there.
I have one I've had since 1981 and it's accurate but I use a newer one which I can read better. They should last a long time if taken care of.
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by BlackDuck »

Just a note on Beer-lords comment above...double check the calibration temp on the instructions that come with it. Some are calibrated at 60 degrees. Other than that...proceed as directed by the above comments.
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by Gman20 »

i filled it as full as it can go..... and still sinks
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by BlackDuck »

Can you post a pic of what your doing please? It might help us understand better what is going on.
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by RickBeer »

Watch about 8 1/2 minutes into the video to see how to fill the tube. I suspect that you aren't using a tube though.

I have over 9,000 posts on "another forum", which means absolutely nothing. Mr. Beer January 2014 Brewer of the Month with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with it...

Certificate in Brewing and Distillation Technology

Sites to find beer making supplies: Adventures in Homebrewing - Mr. Beer - MoreBeer
My Beer - click to reveal
Currently using 6 LBKs.

Beers I regularly brew:
Bell's Best Brown clone
Irish Hills Red - I call this "Ann Arbor Red"
Mackinac Island Red - I call this "Michigan Red"
Oatmeal Stout - I call this Not Fat, Stout - Oatmeal Stout

Bottled 5 gallons of Ann Arbor Red on 4/18/17. Bottled 5 gallons of Michigan Red on 5/8/17.

Brewed in 2017 - 22.13 gallons (19.91 in 2012, 48.06 in 2013, 61.39 in 2014, 84.26 in 2015,46.39 in 2016)
Brewed in lifetime - 282.14 gallons
Drinkable beer on hand -  13.58 cases, with 6.11 cases ready in May and early June.
Average cost per 12 pack through all beer brewed - $6.27(ingredients only)
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by JimH »

Where did you buy your hydrometer? It might be defective...
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by MadBrewer »

Is the new hydrometer the same one you had before? If it's a different size as in wider, longer or heavier then you might need a bigger tube to be able to use the new one. If the tube is as full as it can go and it still sinks, that's all I can see wrong.
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by Gman20 »

Okay guys here is a pic remember this is the batch that stopped and restarted its all cleared up now and looks ready to go
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by Gman20 »

a lil blurry but it just under the word beer on the hydometer which is about at the 5 on the scale and temp is 70.6 degrees

so is that 1.050?... now wait a couple more days and test again?
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Re: hydometer sinks

Post by RickBeer »

Did you watch the video from start to finish? Picture is not usable.

The word "beer" on my hydrometer is at 1.000.

If you were at 1.050 you would be starting, not ending.

Watch the video. It explains how to use a hydrometer, how to read it, etc. It HAS to be floating. That video taught me, and thousands of others.
I have over 9,000 posts on "another forum", which means absolutely nothing. Mr. Beer January 2014 Brewer of the Month with all the pomp and circumstance that comes with it...

Certificate in Brewing and Distillation Technology

Sites to find beer making supplies: Adventures in Homebrewing - Mr. Beer - MoreBeer
My Beer - click to reveal
Currently using 6 LBKs.

Beers I regularly brew:
Bell's Best Brown clone
Irish Hills Red - I call this "Ann Arbor Red"
Mackinac Island Red - I call this "Michigan Red"
Oatmeal Stout - I call this Not Fat, Stout - Oatmeal Stout

Bottled 5 gallons of Ann Arbor Red on 4/18/17. Bottled 5 gallons of Michigan Red on 5/8/17.

Brewed in 2017 - 22.13 gallons (19.91 in 2012, 48.06 in 2013, 61.39 in 2014, 84.26 in 2015,46.39 in 2016)
Brewed in lifetime - 282.14 gallons
Drinkable beer on hand -  13.58 cases, with 6.11 cases ready in May and early June.
Average cost per 12 pack through all beer brewed - $6.27(ingredients only)
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