Blow-off tube vs. appropriately sized fermenter

[Komocabo]

Oops. Double post

 

[YukonLT]

What's the best way to secure the blow off tube? Do you just stick it in a certain distance?

 

[milldoggy]

Just shove it in a bit, half in to inch

 

[Trox]

Just out of curiosity is there any disadvantage to using a blow-off tube compared to an airlock?

 

[milldoggy]

Just out of curiosity is there any disadvantage to using a blow-off tube compared to an airlock?

If your fermentation is real active, it will push out the tube vs blow up

 

[RainyDay]

When Im using my 6 gallon carboy, ill stick the 1" tube directly in, about half inch past the neck. When I use my 7 gallon carboy, ill still use a bung and stick the 3/8" (might be 1/4") tube in the hole, again about half an inch or so, just enough that it wont move.

 

[milldoggy]

For anyone using a bb, drill a stopper with a 7/8 speed bore bit and a 1" fits snuggly. Use the hollow plastic stoppers, not the solid rubber ones.

 

[Clonefan94]

I guess for me, I just follow the "better safe than sorry" mantra for my life. It's really no more difficult to set up a blow off than it is an air lock, so why not just do it? Chances are, I'm not going to get into a life threatening automobile accident on my 5 mile journey to work, but I still put on my seat belt, just in case.

 

[jpcourtney]

I always use a blow-off tube. If I would happen to blow Krausen all over the basement and make the whole house smell like beer my OL is not going to be happy!

 

[ddlr25]

When I read these threads about needing a blowoff I wonder.. I've made some reasonably big beers of the 5G size and I use a Speidel 20L (5.3G) fermenter.. there is not a ton of headspace.. but, either I'm lucky.. or possibly it might be that I control my fermentation environment to 65* with a water bath.

I'm going to try to build a thermowell out of SS tubing to get a better picture of my actual fermentation temperature.. but, I'd think that controlling the temp has a lot to do with it. I'll be brewing a 2x IPA soon and I will be adding a blowoff tube.. just in case.. but, I doubt I'll need it.

For the Speidel 20L, I know it says 5.3 gallons, but how much total volume do you think it will hold. I can't quite fit the 30L in my ferm chamber, but if the 20L is around 6.5 gallons like my carboy I don't think it will be an issue for fermentation.