blow off tube vs airlock

[Stingo]

So I pitched a large amount of fresh ale yeast the other day, so much so that I thought I should use a blow off tube, something I have not done in years. Glad I did too, it really was aggressive.

So, now that bubbles are down, it seems as if I could put an airlock back on.

Would I be letting in too much air if I take this off to make my switch?

Should I just let it go as is with a long tube in a bucket of iodophor solution?

Thanks!

[fretlessman71]

When you can, do it. The same pressure that is pushing the bubbles out of your blowoff tube is keeping the wild yeastybeasties from getting in that little hole while you swap over. I had heard that there's a very good reason for not using a blowoff tube any longer than necessary, but I can't quite place it right now. Take a page out of the Nike rulebook: Just Do It. :)

[Stingo]

or as starsky said to hutch in the Ben Stiller Movie "Doo it"

Ok, thanks.

[Trogger]

I agree that there shouldn’t be any problems. I've had to clean off the bottom of an air lock in the past, and just put it back on... also, my brother had one blow the airlock off 3 times, and finally break the air lock, so he just left a grain bag over the mouth of the carboy. The beer turned out just fine.

[adbachtell]

Curious. Why should you use a blow off tube only as long as necessary. Very intrested in the answer. (Don't mind the spellin errors).

[I'mRocketMan]

I'm interested in the info as well!

[wild]

I'm usually too lazy to switch until after racking to secondary. I figure there's no harm in leaving my blow-off on for a week.

Wild

[HogieWan]

The only good reason I have ever seen for switching it out is that you get to clean the tube quickly so that the gunk inside doesn't have a chance to harden.

[fretlessman71]

Now, can that gunk get infected somehow and work its way back into the beer? Just a thought... but your reason ought to be reason enough, right?