better bottle sanitizing and air lock

[irishwater]

What are people using for an airlock on a better bottle? Is it a #10 bung? San star is bad on plastic for long periods of time is there any cleaners and or sanitizers you should not use on a better bottle? Can you do long fermentations in a better bottle?

 

[BlindLemonLars]

I use a regular 3-piece airlock, with an orange carboy cap. Some say the carboy caps don't fit well, but I have no idea what they are talking about! I clean by soaking in oxiclean for a few hours, and rinsing thoroughly several times. To sanitize, I just slosh a half-gallon or so of Starsan around and drain.

I've gone as long as five weeks in a better bottle, and I'm sure you could go longer.

 

[Eves]

I use a regular 3-piece airlock, with an orange carboy cap. Some say the carboy caps don't fit well, but I have no idea what they are talking about! I clean by soaking in oxiclean for a few hours, and rinsing thoroughly several times. To sanitize, I just slosh a half-gallon or so of Starsan around and drain.

I've gone as long as five weeks in a better bottle, and I'm sure you could go longer.

Having a private well I prefer to save as much water as possible, so when you say "soaking in oxyclean for a few hours" do you mean you fill up the better bottle all the way (5+ gallons) with water and oxyclean or would just swishing around oxyclean and 'some' water work as well?

 

[raceskier]

I use the BB closure with a 1/2 inch OD hose for a blowoff and a BB airlock for secondaries. Others have reported good results with the orange carboy caps. I was not happy with them. A heavy krauesen during fermentation is going to leave some serious sludge in the BB. I fill mine with hot tap water and add 2 scoops of Oxyclean, then soak overnight. Sometimes, even that, is not adequate and I need to repeat the process. The sloshing around with a rag inside works as well. BB published some data of various sanitizers and cleaners in contact with the bottles for extended periods of time with either no or minimal effect.

 

[BlindLemonLars]

...do you mean you fill up the better bottle all the way (5+ gallons) with water and oxyclean or would just swishing around oxyclean and 'some' water work as well?

Yes, I fill it right to the very top and let it soak for at least a few hours, sometimes overnight. Generally I thrown in a scoop or two of oxyclean with a gallon of water and give it a good shake before topping off with more water. The critical bit to clean is the stuck-on krausen ring at the 5 gallon mark, and since you can't use a brush with a BB, a long oxyclean soak is the most practical approach. I've never tried the "swishing with a rag" method, haven't needed to.

If saving water is that critical, perhaps a bucket would be a more suitable primary for you.

 

[Seabee John]

I use a regular 3-piece airlock, with an orange carboy cap. Some say the carboy caps don't fit well, but I have no idea what they are talking about!

I know exactly what they are talking about. I live close to both midwest and Northern Brewer. I actually took my better Bottle to the LHBS to fit test the caps. Only 1 out of 5 that I tried fit to my liking.

I originally purchased two caps from Midwest and they both would not seal tightly. I took them back and found some that fit really well.

 

[irishwater]

Will a #10 bung fit? Does anyone use the better bottle blow off dry lock deal?

 

[BlindLemonLars]

I know exactly what they are talking about. I live close to both midwest and Northern Brewer. I actually took my better Bottle to the LHBS to fit test the caps. Only 1 out of 5 that I tried fit to my liking.

I originally purchased two caps from Midwest and they both would not seal tightly. I took them back and found some that fit really well.

I guess I'm just lucky...I've got five orange carboy caps. They all fit my 6 gallon better bottles very tightly, just as snugly as they fit my 5 gallon glass carboys. They snap right on, and seal perfectly.

Maybe I should go buy a lottery ticket!

 

[wedge421]

#10 BUNGS fit the BB's. I use PBW to clean out my Carboys. Throw some PBW iin and fill the carboy up all the way and in about 20mins you will have a clean carboy.