Head Space for hard cider

[jsaaz2]

I have a 7.5 gal carboy and I have 5 gal on fresh apple cider. My question is will this be too much headspace? I'm looking at using the 7.5 gal carboy for primary then racking it to a 6 gal carboy for secondary after a couple weeks in the primary. Just looking for some good ideas as this is my first cider batch. Thank you!

 

[JonM]

7.5 is fine for 5 gallons in primary, but you will have too much headspace if you put 5 gallons into that 6 gallon for a secondary.

Can you get another gallon of juice? You can easily go 6 gallons in that primary and then have the secondary nice and full when it's time to transfer.

 

[jsaaz2]

I wanted to stick with the fresh cider. I may have to run back to orchard and see if I can get some more. (Apple season has been over for a while, the 5 gal i have has been frozen for a few months) Otherwise i may just bite the bullet and use a gal of store bought stuff.

 

[EpicCider]

Try to fill that 6 gallon up as much as you can. The primary isn't as big of a concern, the secondary is more so.