[flbrewer]

Couple of quick questions.
1) poured yeast in fermenter. Do I just let it sit on top or swirl carboy around?

2) rubber plug feels like it'll shoot out, doesn't stay in place

3) should i fill airlock with diluted Starsan all the way?

[majorvices]

Snake carboy off and on for half hour to aerate. Yeast need oxygen.

You can use star San or even plain water. Just fill so  it covers base of floating piece of airlock on 3 piece or half way in one piece

[hopfenundmalz]

1. Dry yeast?

2. If it and the carbon neck are wet,dry them with a paper towel fresh off the roll.

3. Star San foams up and you lose a lot. I use vodka. Fill half way, if full the CO2 will push half out.

[flbrewer]

Dry yeast.

[flbrewer]

One other bit...do I need that little plastic cap w holes in it on top of the airlock? Hot damn, I may have made beer today!

[majorvices]

This is going to freak you out a bit (maybe) but you really don't need the airlock. Aluminum foil over the top will be sanitary. Otherwise, yeah, use the lid.

And don't forget to shake the hell out of the wort, though with dry yeast it isn't quite as necessary.

[flbrewer]

Haha I know, heard that earlier. So how long do I periodically shake the carboy with dry yeast?

[majorvices]

Sit down in front of TV and just shake it off and on for 30-45 min. You can come back every so often and shake it until fermentation starts if you like. Yeast need the o2 to help build their cell walls so they can divide.

Don't introduce air after fermentation starts, however.