Top off secondary?

[1KD1]

I have an Irish red extract kit that has been in primary for two weeks. Today I am racking to secondary so that I can use primary for new batch.

My question is, should I top off the secondary fermenter? Level of wort in 5 gal Carboy (secondary) is approx. 1 inch below fat part of Carboy.

 

[Revvy]

I wouldn't, not once fermentation has completed.

 

[1KD1]

Thanks for the quick reply.

 

[user 4295]

After fermentation, volume discrepancies should be noted and dealt with on your next batch as you refine your process and techniques.

 

[Revvy]

There's no problem topping off before you pitch the yeast. Even in all grain brewing I sometimes mis judge boiloff and end up short in the fermenter. I top off then.

 

[Zalf]

There have been several recent posts about people thinking they should top off secondaries. I wonder if there is bad info or bad set of instructions in some kits going around.

I know AHBS instructions still recommend a secondary but their only mention of water at that point is making sure the air lock has enough.

 

[1KD1]

I didn't get bad info or instructions. I just recalled someone mentioning headspace and I thought the secondary would be "fuller" than it is. Just curiosity from a new brewer...

 

[helibrewer]

I work hard on pre-boil and post boil OG's then take whatever volume I get. I top off all headspace with CO2 instead of liquid.

 

[1KD1]

I don't have the funds for co2 right now. I'll just try to calculate the extra amount of wort I can fill the 5 gal Carboy closer to the top.

I just made a batch of hop and king scotch ale and it appears to be half gallon more in the primary to maybe I will have secondary topped off nicely this time around.

Guess I could sacrifice some cash and buy bucket fermenters so I don't have to kelp racking to secondaries (I have one glass 6.5 Carboy and one 5 gal glass Carboy and one 6.5 gal ale pail fermenter). Glass is nice but to get a pipeline built up, it cost a fortune.

 

[JLem]

...
Guess I could sacrifice some cash and buy bucket fermenters so I don't have to kelp racking to secondaries (I have one glass 6.5 Carboy and one 5 gal glass Carboy and one 6.5 gal ale pail fermenter).

+1

If you've got the homebrewing bug, you'll eventually end up with an assortment of plastic buckets, glass carboys of various sizes, 1 gallon glass jugs, 1/2 gallon growlers, and bottles of all shapes and sizes. You'll look at every glass juice bottle you're about to recycle and wonder if you could use it for a small "experimental" batch. You'll stockpile glass in your cellar like a squirrel stockpiles acorns.

You might as well start now.

 

[jamoke]

You'll stockpile glass in your cellar like a squirrel stockpiles acorns.

So true....and then your beer friends and family start bringing you more.

 

[Balto]

+1

If you've got the homebrewing bug, you'll eventually end up with an assortment of plastic buckets, glass carboys of various sizes, 1 gallon glass jugs, 1/2 gallon growlers, and bottles of all shapes and sizes. You'll look at every glass juice bottle you're about to recycle and wonder if you could use it for a small "experimental" batch. You'll stockpile glass in your cellar like a squirrel stockpiles acorns.

You might as well start now.

LMAO!!! If that ain't the truth!!!!! Looking at sauce jars to see if they would be good enough to wash yeast!

 

[hwilshusen]

And when at the grocery store looking at the container not the contents.

 

[JLem]

And when at the grocery store looking at the container not the contents.

+1,000 to this - good to know it's not just me

 

[Zalf]

I don't have the funds for co2 right now. I'll just try to calculate the extra amount of wort I can fill the 5 gal Carboy closer to the top.

I just made a batch of hop and king scotch ale and it appears to be half gallon more in the primary to maybe I will have secondary topped off nicely this time around.

Guess I could sacrifice some cash and buy bucket fermenters so I don't have to kelp racking to secondaries (I have one glass 6.5 Carboy and one 5 gal glass Carboy and one 6.5 gal ale pail fermenter). Glass is nice but to get a pipeline built up, it cost a fortune.

I think you might be overly concerned about headspace. Moving the beer to a secondary stirs things up enough that you will get enough activity to get a co2 layer. Also, many agree that using a secondary at all is an unnecessary risk. So if you are concerned about headspace, just leave the beer in the primary.

I don't have a co2 canister and I have used 6.5 carboys and buckets as secondaries without ever having a headspace oxidation problem.

Edit: any of the containers you have listed can be used for a secondary or primary. The 5 gallon carboy might have some blowout issues as a primary depending on the beer. Don't let what the retailer calls them limit how you use them.

 

[1KD1]

The only reason I purchased the glass 5 gal Carboy was just to free up the 6.5 for another batch.

I think from this point forward, I will just buy the 6.5 gal stuff (carboys and ale pails) and save the 5 gal for secondary racking where I would be adding fruit or hops (seasonal experiments maybe).

I am all about taking the easy route. If I don't have to touch it, I ain't gonna!

 

[the-red-hill]

I've got a similar dilemma. I brewed a five gallon batch a week and a half ago, and had more water boil off than I had anticipated. I ended up with a tad over 5 gallons in the primary fermenter, and after racking to secondary, I have just a little over 4 gallons. This was supposed to yield 5 gallons, and my OG was 1.063 (the target for the recipe was 1.061).

Would adding more (boiled/cooled) water at bottling time or while still in secondary, really be a bad idea?

 

[Hang Glider]

adding water AFTER fermentation only waters down your beer. After fermentation, it is now BEER! Would you add water to a bottle of craft brew because there was too much headspace???

We all have losses due to siphoning, leaving trub behind, etc. No worries. Adjust if your evaporation numbers are off, but leave that for the next batch!