Sealing FV

[phildodd]

Hey, this might be in the wrong forum, move away if need be...

So I just put my second brew on, after barreling the first the other day. For this one, I bought one of these aquarium heatersto keep it warm (I have an old house that gets pretty cold). I didn't have any tools handy to put a hole in the lid of the FV so I've just kinda snapped the lid on around the cord. The cord seems pretty sturdy so shouldn't have a problem with this set up, but the FV is now not airtight, so my airlock is no longer bubbling like it did with the first brew.

I don't think this is really much of an issue, as some people seem to just leave their lid open a crack anyway, but I'd just like confirmation that I shouldn';t worry too much.

Also, does anyone have any ideas for how I could seal this up better?

Cheers

[Garth]

I have rarely used a totally sealed fermenter, as long as it's closed/covered so insects cannot get in (more so in the warmer weather) and dust and crap cannot fall into the beer then it's fine. It's nice to see/hear an airlock bubbling away and it lets you know fermentation is happening but it's not necessary, unless you are fementing in a really dusty, dirty enviroment, which is prone to small insects.

You could drill a small hole in the lid, take the plug off and pass the wire through and either use Blu-Tak to seal the hole or use a grommet from somewhere like Maplin, if you use a grommet the hole will have to slightly bigger.

[jrugman]

I use an aquarium heater and always leave the lid open a crack. But I do keep the FV covered with a cloth - old towels or somesuch - just to make sure that dust or small insects can't get in. Never had any problems with this arrangement. No real need for the FV to be sealed.

Cheers,

John

[mickhew]

Some people don;t even use a lid, but a towel. No need to worry (as others have already said). The Co2 that is produced is heavier that air, so an invisible blanket will protect the beer to a degree.

[phildodd]

Cool, thought I had nothing to worry about. It really is just reasuring to hear the airlock bubbling...