Fermentation Question

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Hi all, great forum.

I started my first brews with 2 two Lt plastic bottles; one with red wine and the other with mead. I followed the instructions included to the letter. After just two days I started seeing the fermentation at the top of both batches indicated by a thin layer of very small white bubbles. Since this is my first time doing this I thought that the process seemed te be somewhat "stuck" so I read the forums and decided to add a bit more sugar and yeast.

I opened both bottles, very slowly since they both had a lot of pressure and added the extra ingredients, 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/4tsp of yeast. re-sealed and waited. After 3 more days the red wine has a tiny layer of very small white bubbles on top and the mead looks flat. Both bottles are hard and the EZ caps are "popped up" as before.

Have I ruined my batch? and What physical evidence can I observe regarding the fermenting process?

Thanks in advance.

From your description, it sounds like normal fermentation was proceding before you opened them and added additional sugar and yeast. The easiest way to see if the beverage is still fermenting is to look at it. In light, look to see if small bubbles are rising to the top. Use a flashlight if you aren't sure. If there are bubbles, the beverage is fermenting. Another way to tell is, if the area is completely quiet and your hearing is good, you can put your ear up to the bottle and actually hear it fermenting. It sounds a bit like "static".