Cider fermentation issues

[jaquiss2005]

Had my first attempts this year at making cider from 100% apples this year. Put some into demijohns and left to ferment naturally and look, taste and smell fine and have bottled today.

However, had around 12 litres in a fermenting bucket, fully sterilised and rinsed which again left to ferment naturally, but on checking tonight has what I can only describe as a layer of what looks like flakes of white paint on top and is very cloudy. Smells ok and no off flavours as yet.

Any thoughts as to what this is and is it likely to end up going down the sink?

 

[YeastFace]

Can you take a picture?

Sounds like a pellicle which can occur with wild yeasts and or lactic bacteria. It actually protects the cider from ozidisation despite looling weird.

Did you pasteirise your juice at all? If not, then it's normal for a farmhouse-style cider as the apple will have wild yeast and bacteria living on it.

 

[YeastFace]

Sorry, didn't read properly but still believe it's a pellicle. A plastic fermenter will allow more oxygen ingress than glass demijohn which would explain why only the batch in the bucket has it.

 

[jaquiss2005]

No pasteurisation done. Literally pressed and put in bucket or demijohn. Sounds like all is not lost