If it took me 30 seconds to take a grav reading, i wouldnt be posting this question, Revv
Then maybe you need to
learn to be more efficient in how you take a grav reading then mucking about with ways to avoid it, eh????
If you can't do it faster, then the problem isn't with using a hydrometer and taking a sample,
the problem is the brewer's process.
This is what I use, and it works with both buckets and carboys. I replaced the plastic one a year ago with an extra long stainless baster from a kitchen ware store and it is awesome. But the plastic one from any grocery store works fine.
And
Here's what I do....
1) With a spray bottle filled with starsan I spray the lid of my bucket, or the mouth of the carboy, including the bung. Then I spray my turkey baster inside and out with sanitize (or dunking it in a container of sanitizer).
2) Open fermenter.
3) Draw Sample
4) fill sample jar (usualy 2-3 turky baster draws
5)Spray bung or lid with sanitizer again
6) Close lid or bung
6) add hydrometer and take reading
It is less than 30 seconds from the time the lid is removed until it is closed again. More like 15 if you ask me.
Probably less if you have help. And unless a bird flies in your place and lets go with some poop, you should be okay.
I have faith in your skills, that you can handle that.