I purchased a bucket just like this from my local home brew shop. I noticed that this lid is secured by the metal hooks on it but it does not snap down and create a seal like my 6 gal bucket lids do. Since this is not air tight should I 1. use this as a primary fermenter (or return it)? and 2. install an air lock on it? I know that this will keep junk from getting into the beer but how important is it that it be air tight? I can also cut a piece of plywood and get some tie downs to put more pressure on the lid.
The bucket does not need to be airtight. It just needs to keep the nasties out. The production of CO2 by the yeast will help a lot too. You don't even need an airlock if it's not air tight.
I've been wondering lately... with that amount of beer in a container, is there a greater risk of creating too much CO2 and blowing the lid off? Or does the fact that it's not airtight reduce the risk since the gas is continually leaking out?