Controlling ferment temp

So I'm brewing my first batch and wondering what is the best way to control the temp. Planning on using a two stage system. And would a carboy or bucket be easier to control?

They would both be relatively equal. If you don't have a johnson controls box (or something equivalent) and a fermenting fridge, you can make a mini swamp cooler. Just take a keg bucket and fill with water to about the same level as your 5 gallons. Then take a t-shirt and cover your bucket. Next, add frozen water bottles to the water (you may have to change these out pretty frequently. You can also put a fan on the bucket as well to lower a few more degrees. All of these together can lower your temp by about 10 degrees.

What do you keep your air conditioning at?

I just put my bucket in a water bath and swap out ice packs throughout the day to stay at the temp I want.

seabass07 said:

I just put my bucket in a water bath and swap out ice packs throughout the day to stay at the temp I want.

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This has worked pretty well for me also. During the most active part of fermentation I had to swap out 2 frozen water bottles twice a day. After fermentation slowed is was only 1 bottle 1-2 times a day.