# Star San suck back **URL:** \ **Category:** General Homebrew Discussion\ **Created:** [November 27, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576 "2017-11-27T21:22:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BiggieBig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/94ad74/32.png) [@BiggieBig](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BiggieBig)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:22pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/1 "2017-11-27T21:22:44Z")
Was fermenting an Oyster Stout so the oyster flavor is a very subtle nuance.  I was fermenting in the upper 60’s and decided to reduce temps slightly and dropped 5 degrees.  Before I knew what was going on, my BO tube sucked back close to two cups of star san solution into the fermenter. Granted this is a small amount of diluted star san in a 5.5G batch of beer.  But I “think” I can taste the star san in the beer…of course I am subconsciously try to pick out the star san taste and make a big deal of my screw up.  Since this beer is so subtle, any off flavors can kill it. BTW, I read somewhere that star san may either float on top or sink to the bottom…anything to this or just idle talk? ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:26pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/2 "2017-11-27T21:26:16Z")
I can’t imagine why it would either float or sink. ---
**Author:** ![macbrews](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/macbrews/32/19_2.png) [@macbrews](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/macbrews)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:41pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/3 "2017-11-27T21:41:13Z")
When it happened to me, it formed a distinct clear layer on the top of the beer. Maybe it was supported by whatever remnants of a krausen that was left, but it was clearly demarcated.  I siphoned the underlying beer from the fermenter to a keg and it was fine.  I tried to be as non-turbulent as possible when I did that. In my case it caused no problems - it even won a medal in competition ---
**Author:** ![BiggieBig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/94ad74/32.png) [@BiggieBig](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BiggieBig)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/4 "2017-11-27T21:52:11Z")
> [@macbrews](#): > > When it happened to me, it formed a distinct clear layer on the top of the beer. Maybe it was supported by whatever remnants of a krausen that was left, but it was clearly demarcated.  I siphoned the underlying beer from the fermenter to a keg and it was fine.  I tried to be as non-turbulent as possible when I did that. > > In my case it caused no problems - it even won a medal in competition Wow, I have hope!  I rack off the bottom with a racking arm so I hope mine floats on the krausen layer too. ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 9:54pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/5 "2017-11-27T21:54:33Z")
Maybe the separation depends on where the beer is at in fermentation and with how much force the StarSan is sucked. Look at Black and Tans. They stay separate but the line gets fuzzier and fuzzier as the glass is moved. If fermentation is active, I’m sure it won’t be long before the liquids are just about homogenous. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [November 27, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/6 "2017-11-27T23:27:38Z")
As a side note I recommend making one of these the eliminate suck back. ![a49ec593ae341ce76186e43ee5b0e742.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/c5810e29bbe9aea7bfba1a380c376f31b2e17777.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![BiggieBig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/94ad74/32.png) [@BiggieBig](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BiggieBig)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 1:02am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/7 "2017-11-28T01:02:00Z")
> [@BrewBama](#): > > As a side note I recommend making one of these the eliminate suck back. > > ![a49ec593ae341ce76186e43ee5b0e742.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/c5810e29bbe9aea7bfba1a380c376f31b2e17777.jpeg) > > Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk That is awesome!  Did you make that anti suck back device or buy the drilled lids and fittings? ---
**Author:** ![ynotbrusum](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/ynotbrusum/32/10316_2.png) [@ynotbrusum](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/ynotbrusum)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 2:43am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/8 "2017-11-28T02:43:48Z")
That is totally slick - what simple ingenuity! ---
**Author:** ![brewsumore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7feea3/32.png) [@brewsumore](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/brewsumore)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 6:26am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/9 "2017-11-28T06:26:37Z")
I just remove the BO tube and stick in a rubber stopper.  I rack no more than 2 days later, and if I have to get under the lid for any reason - mostly to check gravity, then I’ll gas the headspace with C02 after the first 24 hrs cold crashing. ---
**Author:** ![bjanat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a8b319/32.png) [@bjanat](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/bjanat)\ **Post date:** [November 28, 2017, 9:57am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/10 "2017-11-28T09:57:48Z")
Two plastic coke bottles and aquarium tubes, and a 4mm to 7mm connection is cheap. Use these as caps. They can break, so it’s good to have a few extras. > **[淘宝网 - 淘！我喜欢](https://error.taobao.com/app/tbhome/common/error.html)** > > 淘宝网 - 亚洲较大的网上交易平台，提供各类服饰、美容、家居、数码、话费/点卡充值… 数亿优质商品，同时提供担保交易(先收货后付款)等安全交易保障服务，并由商家提供退货承诺、破损补寄等消费者保障服务，让你安心享受网上购物乐趣！ ![52cc2d607235015ffb8ac87f931f4f2c.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/2X/6/6c3b985b2b6f7c36868c41b58f1efe73f3caabdd.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 12:34am UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/11 "2017-11-29T00:34:21Z")
> [@BiggieBig](#): > > > [@BrewBama](#): > > > > As a side note I recommend making one of these the eliminate suck back. > > > > ![a49ec593ae341ce76186e43ee5b0e742.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/c5810e29bbe9aea7bfba1a380c376f31b2e17777.jpeg) > > > > Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk > > That is awesome!  Did you make that anti suck back device or buy the drilled lids and fittings? I made mine but the kit is avail online if you choose not to. > [@bjanat](#): > > Two plastic coke bottles and aquarium tubes, and a 4mm to 7mm connection is cheap. > Use these as caps. They can break, so it’s good to have a few extras. > [http://s.aliexpress.com/yUVn2Iny](http://s.aliexpress.com/yUVn2Iny) > > ![52cc2d607235015ffb8ac87f931f4f2c.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/2X/6/6c3b985b2b6f7c36868c41b58f1efe73f3caabdd.jpeg) There ya go. ---
**Author:** ![klickitat\_jim](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/klickitat_jim/32/6601_2.png) [@klickitat\_jim](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/klickitat_jim)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 1:20pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/12 "2017-11-29T13:20:53Z")
I’m curious why one wouldn’t just remove the blow off tube from the bucket of starsan before Crashing? If it’s still fermenting so active that you need a blow off tube, why are we crashing? ---
**Author:** ![Hoppy1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/898d66/32.png) [@Hoppy1](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/Hoppy1)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/13 "2017-11-29T15:12:21Z")
Just use cheap vodka in your airlock ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 3:24pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/14 "2017-11-29T15:24:02Z")
> [@klickitat\_jim](#): > > I’m curious why one wouldn’t just remove the blow off tube from the bucket of starsan before Crashing? If it’s still fermenting so active that you need a blow off tube, why are we crashing? > > Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk Too easy…😉 ---
**Author:** ![skatz](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/skatz/32/6982_2.png) [@skatz](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/skatz)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/15 "2017-11-29T16:02:02Z")
The OP wasn’t crashing. He lowered the temp 5° ---
**Author:** ![denny](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/denny/32/13092_2.png) [@denny](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/denny)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 4:56pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/16 "2017-11-29T16:56:31Z")
> [@](#): > > The OP wasn’t crashing. He lowered the temp 5° Details, details…😉 ---
**Author:** ![klickitat\_jim](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/klickitat_jim/32/6601_2.png) [@klickitat\_jim](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/klickitat_jim)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2017, 10:57pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/17 "2017-11-29T22:57:13Z")
> [@](#): > > The OP wasn’t crashing. He lowered the temp 5° . ![6681a427069e6e27fe6f1053c9b4dbcf.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/2X/c/c9c3234338b89bf3999ff061c36e26eb7ba1c19d.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![rdunphy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9de053/32.png) [@rdunphy](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/rdunphy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 4:30pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/18 "2018-01-04T16:30:27Z")
> [@BrewBama](#): > > As a side note I recommend making one of these the eliminate suck back. > > ![a49ec593ae341ce76186e43ee5b0e742.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/c5810e29bbe9aea7bfba1a380c376f31b2e17777.jpeg) > > Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Question…Can you still get suck back into your fermenter once all the star san has been sucked into the first container from the second container? I imagine it would take a lot of force, but is it possible? ---
**Author:** ![mchrispen](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/mchrispen/32/46_2.png) [@mchrispen](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/mchrispen)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 5:00pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/19 "2018-01-04T17:00:26Z")
As long as the volume of star san in below the level of the lid, it should not. It would simply create a vacuum in the headspace of the first connected jar. Assuming the connector to the blow off tube is at the level of the lid, and is not touching any of the liquid volume. ---
**Author:** ![BrewBama](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/user_avatar/forum.homebrewersassociation.org/brewbama/32/21184_2.png) [@BrewBama](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/u/BrewBama)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2018, 7:11pm UTC](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576/20 "2018-01-04T19:11:44Z")
> [@rdunphy](#): > > > [@BrewBama](#): > > > > As a side note I recommend making one of these the eliminate suck back. > > > > ![a49ec593ae341ce76186e43ee5b0e742.jpg](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/brewersassociation/original/1X/c5810e29bbe9aea7bfba1a380c376f31b2e17777.jpeg) > > > > Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk > > Question…Can you still get suck back into your fermenter once all the star san has been sucked into the first container from the second container? I imagine it would take a lot of force, but is it possible? There is no way as long as it is lower than the lid. The liquid simply moves from one jar to the other [Next page](https://forum.homebrewersassociation.org/t/star-san-suck-back/26576.md?page=2)