Carboy Size Question

[CDEEZ]

Hi all,

Can someone please tell me if placing a 5 gallon batch in a 6 gallon secondary poses any harm to the brew?

 

[helibrewer]

You always want to minimize head space but sometimes you have no choice. I use my CO2 bottle to fill the headspace before I stopper the carboy. If you don't have a CO2 bottle you could use that canned CO2 they sell in wine shops to keep opened wine bottles fresh but that will get expensive over time.

What kind of beer is this?

 

[brewingmeister]

I don't fear the headspace, unless it's for an extended period of time....and then i don't sweat it. especially for brew, if its just for a little while it will be ok.
For long term storage it helps to have a lesser headspace.
-cheers

 

[CDEEZ]

I currently have a seasonal ale in there, but moving forward didn't know if I should invest in a 5 gallon carboy. I am far from a scientist, but I would 'think' that fermentation would absorb the oxygen, thus the bubbling from the airlock, thus creating a 'vacuum' in a sense, but I have heard also that air space is 'bad'...

 

[paraordnance]

I had 5 gal Maibock lagering for 4 months in 6.5 gal carboy. Thats all I used to have, 6.5 gal carboys for all my primary/secondary/aging/lagering. Never a problem here, so I would not sweat much about headspace.
And I don't bother filling headspace with CO2, it is unnecessary, beer will do it for you

 

[lowtones84]

The only thing to consider is that when moving to a secondary fermentation should be finished or nearly finished, so the yeast won't be creating as much or any co2. Still, the process of racking will probably get some co2 out of solution and fill that small amount of head space. Why do you want to secondary anyhow? A lot of people dry hop, spice, or whatever right in the primary.

Just stuff to think about, I'm sure you'll be fine either way!