2nd fermentation question

[cris0728]

new member to this forum and new to making cider, and loving it. I started a batch of cider to then add cherries to it during my 2nd fermentation. when i filled the 1 gallon carboy i did not take into consideration having room for the cherries. is it ok to syphon off into 2 1 gallons and have the empty space in the top of the carboy or is it ok to go ahead and add more apple juice to fill the carboys and now have 2 gallons of juice. plan on fermenting for about 3 more weeks.

 

[CKuhns]

Welcome to the forum

Yes you can divide the batch and add more juice. But it will certainly restart a ferment. Nothing wrong with that.

An alternative might be that you could also rack from the lees (if you haven't already) and see what headspace you have after that. Some volume will be lost. If not enough volume loss to add your cherries or if you have already done that and then filled your gallon jug, I would be more inclined to remove some of the cider place it in a small sanitized container (limited headspace) with an airlock. Then add your cherries to your gallon. After secondary once you rack from the fruit then "top up" with your retained cider for aging.

 

[cris0728]

thank you so much that was very helpful. we'll be racking later today and i will see how much headspace i have left, i may just lose a little bit of the cider