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**unionrdr** · 12-30-2012, 02:20 PM

The spigots on my fermenters def work better than my autosiphon. The autosiphon is easy to get streams of air bubbles in the tubing. Spigots elliminate this. And straining all into the fermenter lowers trub levels at the end,so spigots aren't plugged with it. Never once had that happen.

**Braufessor** · 12-30-2012, 02:25 PM

I use 8 bottling buckets for my fermenters and love not siphoning. Siphoning is not a huge deal, but, it is one more thing that can go wrong. Also, in my experience, 100% of the autosiphons I have ever had got "micro cracks" in the plastic in a relatively short amt. of time and that concerns me as far as sanitation is concerned. I still transfer from my primary bottling bucket to another bottling bucket if I am adding priming sugar and bottling. If not, then I just transfer straight to the keg. I also find buckets by far the simplest type of fermenter to clean.

**Braufessor** · 12-30-2012, 02:33 PM

also - if you do use a bucket or other fermenter with spigot - make sure you completely disassemble it when cleaning and sanitizing. I also put a sandwich bag over the spigot with a twist tie during fermentation to keep the spigot free of dust or beasties. Spray your spigot well with starsan in a spray bottle before transferring through spigot. If using a bucket, also watch that you leave the spigot turned slightly sideways if setting on the floor because some buckets have spigots that actually hang a little lower than the bottom of the bucket, and you don't want the spigot holding the weight of the bucket. Just some little tips I have used in case you go that route.

**unionrdr** · 12-30-2012, 02:36 PM

I agree. My ale pail & Cooper's micro brew FV's are easy to clean & work with with there large opennings. The spigots remove & clean easily,especially with aquarium lift tube brushes. I just could not get the autosiphon to rack without lil streams of bubbles consistently. I keep it for emergency use nowadays.