the best idea for homebuilt bright tank?

[brewstonian]

I have read about using a cornilius keg for a bright tank, but that seems so small. If I use a sanke (legally obtained of course), can I use the fermenter conversion and just shorten the racking arm? Also how do I carbonate then bottle out of the tank?!

 

[onthekeg]

You can surely use a sanke keg. Get a tap for one and hook your co2 tank to it. Carbonate in the keg at 35-40 degrees for a couple weeks. If you want to bottle out of it, add a bottling wand to the beer out portion of the keg and remove most of the psi from the keg pulling the relief on the tapper.

Bottle your cold carbonated beer with about 2psi tank pressure. I have bottled out of a corney with a picnic tap and my bottling wand inserted into the end.

 

[Scut_Monkey]

Why would a corny keg not work? I use it for this purpose all the time. If you are doing a standard 5 gallon batch it works perfect.

 

[brewstonian]

Yeah im doing 10 and 15 gallon batches. I guess I don't have to worry about head space cause ill be keeping it under co2. The bigger the better, you know what I mean?

 

[JuanMoore]

Yes, sankey kegs work great as bright tanks or fermenters. Many ways to use them as such, from simply removing the spear and sticking a stopper in the neck, to adding a spunding valve for pressurized fermentation. I would caution you cut very little if any off of the spear. For fermentation 1/2" shorter is plenty short, and I'd probably leave it full length if it was just being used as a bright tank.