Different tpyes of airlocks

[MgMt_Home_Brew]

Hey guys I have been fermenting in buckets with plastic wrap over the top and a rubber band with good results. However I am starting to want to leave beers in a secondary for an extended period of time so I picked up some 5 gallon carboys.

So I was looking online at airlocks and the site said that the 1 piece airlock is preferred over the 3 piece airlock for secondary purposes. Is this true? Is there any reason why I should use a 1 piece airlock instead of a 3 piece airlock on my secondary fermenter?

 

[Alemaker]

I have both kinds, and I always use what's either clean at the time or the closest one to grab. It's not really an issue.

 

[Mirage]

I have read that the 3 piece is much easier to keep clean. I own one, and no problems with it so far.

 

[EvilTOJ]

It's not that 1 piece airlocks are better for clearing tanks, it's more like they shouldn't be used on a primary since they get full of crap easier. I use three piece airlocks only.

 

[MgMt_Home_Brew]

Alright sounds good 3 piece it is. Easier to clean is always a big

 

[devaspawn]

It's not that 1 piece airlocks are better for clearing tanks, it's more like they shouldn't be used on a primary since they get full of crap easier. I use three piece airlocks only.

That's exactly it. If you can avoid the 1 piece do it. It's not that their bad just a more difficult to clean.

 

[BigKahuna]

It's not that 1 piece airlocks are better for clearing tanks, it's more like they shouldn't be used on a primary since they get full of crap easier. I use three piece airlocks only.

I have about 20 airlocks of different types and shapes. the S type with the 3 bubbles on each side seem to work well for secondary, as they do not suck back nearly as bad as the 3 piece.
I do like the 3 piece on active ferments that have a chance of coming through...as like EvilTOJ says...they don't plug up as bad...especially once you cut that damn plastic off of the bottom.

 

[Sherpa FE]

The 3 piece air locks are easier to clean, therefore since the possibility of them getting filled with gunk is greater, they are used for the primary.
The 1 piece air lock is better for a secondary, due to the exact opposite, there is hardly ever a chance that it will get stuff inside.



Hey Evil glad to see you didnt lose your leg, and that you are back on the forums and outta the hospital.

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

I use only 1 piece S-style airlocks because they look cooler. I use blowoffs for active fermentation, so thats not an issue for me.

 

[NoNothing]

+1 to blowoff tube. I used one, my krausen only got to about an inch thick, but Im glad I had it, better safe than sorry.

 

[Homercidal]

+2 on blow-off. Remind me to pick up a hose the right diameter for next time...

 

[MgMt_Home_Brew]

I probably wont use a blow off since I am using plastic buckets with no lids. I use plastic wrap on the top with a rubber band and a little bit of the plastic wrap not under the rubber cand to let the CO2 press it's way out. But I will be using 5 gallon carboys for long 2nd stage so then I will need an airlock.

 

[BigKahuna]

I probably wont use a blow off since I am using plastic buckets with no lids.

IF you build enough foam to blow off, it's going to do it weather you have a lid or not. With Plastic wrap on the top it's going to be real hard to contain.

 

[MgMt_Home_Brew]

IF you build enough foam to blow off, it's going to do it weather you have a lid or not. With Plastic wrap on the top it's going to be real hard to contain.

Yeah I thought of that. Hopefully I wont run into this or maybe I will just buy a lid and be on the safe side.

 

[flyangler18]

maybe I will just buy a lid and be on the safe side.

An excellent idea. $3 for a lid is cheap compared to loss of beer to either infection or massive blowoff.