That exact thing happened to me with a cheap plastic airlock from a kit. I lost a whole batch of pickles before I figured it out. Now I only use the three-piece airlocks, the kind you can take apart to clean. I've had the same three of them for about five years now and they've never cracked, even when I drop them in the sink. The balloon was a smart move to save your kraut.

Is it really that big of a deal? People have been doing it for ages.

That chicken fat trick @dakotae48 mentioned is a total game changer, but adding a lemon wedge to the basket with the veggies really brightens the whole dish up.