Siphoning at Same Height/Level

[Neomich]

Do siphons work if both containers are at the same height/level? I want to move my batch from the glass carboy to my bottling bucket this weekend. I do not want to risk picking that up full and possibly dropping it. I have stone tile floors and I can guarantee it will break. I do not have one of those carboy haulers or milk crates at this point.

Will this just work slower or do I need to raise it a little bit like a foot or so?

 

[Scimmia]

Siphons work by gravity. If both containers are at the same level, there's no gravity to make it work. You need to raise it, the further, the faster it'll flow.

Edit, just noticed you said a foot; you'll need to get it above the level of the full bottling bucket. Otherwise, there's no gravity pulling the liquid into the bucket.

 

[Yooper]

If I can do it, you can! Just be really careful. I have a Better Bottle that I love for this, because it's lighter and non breakable. Still the glass ones can be dealt with. They are heavy, though. Make sure your hands are dry and the carboy is dry and put one hand on the bottom and one at the top. Then, let it sit for a while because it'll be mixed up and letting it sit for about 30 minutes will let it re-settle. I put mine on the kitchen island, with the bottling bucket on the floor.

 

[the_bird]

Siphoning with only a foot difference is going to be really slow, if you can even get it to go. Actually, it'll have to be even more than a foot, or I'm pretty sure that best-case, you'll only be able to siphon half of the carboy out; once the levels of the two liquids are the same, the siphon's done.. Buy a milk crate or a Better Bottle and be done with it.

 

[jezter6]

you'll have a difficult time starting it without an autosiphon, but it will work only until the volumes in each container are at the same level, at which point it will stop. Pick the darn thing up and at least put it up on a case of bottles or something.

 

[rdwj]

A foot isn't enough - 2 feet might be. Once the levels in both vessels are the same level (not depth), the siphon will stop.

 

[pahiker6]

Get a carboy handle, like these:
http://www.northernbrewer.com/pics/fullsize/carboyhandles.jpg
You can add them onto your carboy, and they'll aid you in moving the carboy off the ground. Be sure to support the carboy from the bottom. Move it to a counter, and let it sit overnight, then siphon the following day.

I've siphoned with a foot of difference before (carboy on milk crate, corny keg on ground) with an autosiphon. It went incredibly slow. Incredibly slow. I would never do that again. Did I mention it went incredibly slow?

 

[Neomich]

Okay, well I think I'll move a chair into the brew closet. The closet is carpeted at least. The chair will raise the carboy above the bottling bucket level.

I've got an auto siphon luckily. I've also got a better bottle in my shopping cart at www.austinhomebrew.com (shameless plug) so this won't be an issue any more.

Has anyone used those carboy strap carrying things? I might get one since they sound like they're sturdy and should last forever.

 

[olllllo]

If you get carboy caps and a CO2 tank, you can push the beer and be at the same level.

 

[jezter6]

I have one of the Brew Hauler strap things, and they are neat, they work, but they are a PAIN IN THE BUTT to put on and take off. Plus, they move around a lot and could cause you to drop a carboy because the straps aren't holding into place.

At the cost per each, I wouldn't bother getting another.

I carry glass carboys 15-20 feet from my closet to my kitchen to work on them and have done so for a year and haven't dropped one yet.

Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew!

 

[mr x]

If you get carboy caps and a CO2 tank, you can push the beer and be at the same level.

You can also just use an aquarium pump for this. I've never had a problem with using air to move wort.

 

[olllllo]

You can also just use an aquarium pump for this. I've never had a problem with using air to move wort.

You may not be having a problem but you do run the risk of oxygenation using air.
The natuaral blanket of CO2 may be mitigating the risk for you, but it's something to consider.

 

[rohanski]

Pump some iron.

 

[Neomich]

"Pump some iron"

I would imagine lifting weights would cause muscle fatigue and only increase the odds that I would drop it. LOL

I don't have any CO2 but maybe I could take it up in a space shuttle and transfer it in a zero gravity environment without the need for a siphon.

I'm just joking, I always appreciate new suggestions on accomplishing something and some people on here come up with good ideas.

Since so much time is spent on sanitizing everything, I wanted to minimize the risk of damaging my carboy and kitchen by just siphoning it in the closet. My g/f has cats and if I bust a carboy and they get ahold of some glass, I can guarantee I will not be brewing again.

I'll just lift it onto a chair and siphon into the bottling bucket from there. That will be easy enough.

 

[mr x]

You may not be having a problem but you do run the risk of oxygenation using air.
The natuaral blanket of CO2 may be mitigating the risk for you, but it's something to consider.

Yeah, I've considered that and I'm not sure if it is a problem or not. I don't know what oxidized beer tastes like. I have left half open Keith's (Canadian equivalent on BMC) in the fridge overnight, and tasted it in the morning and it didn't taste like anything - literally.

I always thought that with the non-agitation and short contact time it wouldn't be an issue. But now that I think about it, I might as well use CO2 - I purge the headspace while the beer is clearing anyway, might as well finish the job right.

 

[rohanski]

Since so much time is spent on sanitizing everything, I wanted to minimize the risk of damaging my carboy and kitchen by just siphoning it in the closet.

So your a closet siphoner eh?
You have a good sense of humor. You have to these days.

 

[DrunkTrucker]

I use carboy handles and put the carboy on the table or my counter and place the bucket on a chair. Old milk crates work real good too. They are a little bulky though but if you are broke you can always get one from the back of a store or something.

 

[Neomich]

So your a closet siphoner eh?
You have a good sense of humor. You have to these days.

Wow, I set myself up for that. Good one!

 

[Ender]

get a wort wizzard. Or better yet, get a waterbed filler/emptier.... same thing, without the fittings for much cheaper. I have mine, but havent made it yet. I will have to get it going since I want to move up to 10 gal batches.

There is a post in the DIY section showing how to make one.

Ender
-I'm smelling a lotta IF comming offa this plan