20 Gal Fermenting Bucket

[rickr]

20 Gallon Fermenting Bucket & Lid - Buckets - Fermenting Equipment - Equipment

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.

Any comments or suggestions would be great!

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Amity]

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.

 

[hibbleton]

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?

 

[salzar]

The gas will leak out.. Airtight is an issue for long term storage.

 

[Otto_on_the_island]

I've got a couple of these that I use for big batches. They're great. Never had a problem with them. And, they're so easy to clean.

 

[ndoe22]

I just got a Brute to ferment in and plan on putting a blow off tube in. I've also seen that you can use a bike inner tube as a gasket for the lid.