Fermenting 5 gallons question

[tarvisg]

So I am rather new to brewing and have 4 batches under my belt.
One Gallon IPA, all grain from a brew kit.
One Gallon Trippel, all grain from a brew kit.
Two Gallons pale ale, all grain recipe from a book.
Two Gallons Stout, all grain recipe from a book.
I want to start doing 5 gallons but don't necessarily have the room for some items in my apartment.
I currently use two one gallon jugs and do not do anything for a secondary, which I know I should.
So a couple of questions.
Are the tops for the 5 gallon plastic buckets reusable? How do you secure them? I bought a top remover for after already. Is it safe to just drill a hole in for the air lock?
If I went with a 5 gallon food grade plastic bucket for primary and then transferred to 5 1 gallon glass jugs for secondary would this work? Would I have to re-pitch due to breaking up the beer?
Then for my pot. I only have a 8qt pot that I can do a two gallon brew in successfully. If I were to brew a 2.5 gallon batch and sparge with 2.5 gallons of water to make a 5 gallon batch how would my ration of ingredients be affected? Would I brew with ingredients for a 5 gallon batch or a 2.5 gallon batch? Of course I don't want to water down the beer. But I have heard of people doing the 2.5 gallon batches but never got the full details on if they cut down the ingredients or not.
I know I have a lot of questions but I probably got more than that.

Thanks

 

[broadbill]

Don't bother with a secondary at all...you can do a complete fermentation, only in a primary fermenter.

How are you bottling?

You can do concentrated boils in your 2 gallon pot, then "top-up" to 5 gallons with cold water. It would be tight, but I think its doable.

 

[tarvisg]

I have been using honey for bottling but probably will switch to corn sugar once it is gone. I bottle age them for at least two weeks.
Do you suggest a glass carboy to ferment in rather than a bucket?

 

[maffewl]

I currently use two one gallon jugs and do not do anything for a secondary, which I know I should.

Not Really, more of a personal preference thing. Some do, some don't.

So a couple of questions.
Are the tops for the 5 gallon plastic buckets reusable?

Yes

How do you secure them? I bought a top remover for after already. Is it safe to just drill a hole in for the air lock?

Snap them on, and yep, drill a hole that you can snugly fit a drilled stopper into.

If I went with a 5 gallon food grade plastic bucket for primary and then transferred to 5 1 gallon glass jugs for secondary would this work? Would I have to re-pitch due to breaking up the beer?

I wouldn't mess with the secondary process for this situation. Let it stay in the primary for 3-4 weeks, it'll be fine. Also, no need to re-pitch. It's just like bottling... There will be yeast that transfers with the beer.

Then for my pot. I only have a 8qt pot that I can do a two gallon brew in successfully. If I were to brew a 2.5 gallon batch and sparge with 2.5 gallons of water to make a 5 gallon batch how would my ration of ingredients be affected? Would I brew with ingredients for a 5 gallon batch or a 2.5 gallon batch? Of course I don't want to water down the beer. But I have heard of people doing the 2.5 gallon batches but never got the full details on if they cut down the ingredients or not.

If you are seriously contemplating a 5 gallon boil, I would at least buy a 7.5 gallon pot. And, you'll more than likely need a burner since stove-tops usually can't handle such capacity.

I know I have a lot of questions but I probably got more than that.

Thanks

No prob

And for your other question... both are fine, and each have their pros and cons, personally I would go with glass... but have used buckets as well, so either will work.

 

[beergolf]

You should just get a bucket from your LHBS. They are 6 or 6.5 galllon. If you do decide to use a 5 gallon bucket you should brew a little less, say 4 gallons so there is some headspace during active fermentation.

 

[stratslinger]

One addendum to what maffewl said: based on my own experience, if you're going to step up to full boils and you go with a 7.5 or 8 gallon pot, invest in fermcap-s to save yourself from boil overs! My first couple brews boiled over just a little bit, despite lots of babysitting. I started tossing in the fermcap, and have had no problems since.

 

[tarvisg]

Cool, thanks for the info! If I have more questions I will post.