Upgrading fermenters

[drunde77]

hello all I currently have 2 buckets I am using for primary fermenter and two 5 gal glass carboys I use for secondary if I need to. my bucket's are looking old and grungy, I don't want to risk having infection if I get a scratch or something of that nature. can I use my 25 gallon carboys as primary fermenter see if I do 5 gallon batches. or should I go ahead and get a 6 and a half gallon carboy? I would like to stick with glass because it is easy to clean and it has longevity. if you were me what would you do?

 

[J187]

If you do it, I'd definitely use a blow off instead of an airlock. Personally, I wouldn't do it. It's just too little airspace and depending on what you brew, you could be losing beer.

Personally, I prefer buckets - cheap, easy to clean, lightweight and SAFE, stackable, versatile, no need for funnel, easy to pour back and forth, etc. I've lifted my carboy up into my sink exactly once, and never will again. I agree wholeheartedly on changing the buckets every so often.

 

[beergolf]

I prefer buckets. I do have glass carboys but rarely use them. If your buckets are looking grungy, just give them a good soak in Oxiclean for a few hours. Cleans them right up. Ad long as there are no scratches you are good. I brew a lot and a couple of my buckets have had a lot of brews in them and theyare holding up just fine.

 

[menerdari]

Buckets do last a long time and are not expensive. just don't use anything abrasive on them when cleaning.
you can use the 5 gallon carboys as long as it is not a big beer and you use an anti foam agent like fermcap and/or a blowoff tube

 

[ETCS]

6.5 Better bottles!!! I've been using them for years and wont go back to buckets or glass.

 

[drunde77]

I keep going back and forth on this buckets are easy to clean and they're cheaper yep a glass carboy would be a long term deal. I had a batch that got infected so I guess I'm paranoid about scratches. maybe I will just get twow new buckets

 

[stratslinger]

6.5 Better bottles!!! I've been using them for years and wont go back to buckets or glass.

The guy who actually makes 6.5 better bottles would make a mint. 6 gallon better bottles do work pretty darned effectively though, even if they do blow off like crazy when you ferment 5.5 gallons of wort in them most of the time.

 

[meadmazer]

I am about to try some 6 gallon better bottles for the first time, to go with my glass carboys. Glass is heavy, a bit more work to clean from the shape, fragile. But you can see the fermentation going on, they will last pretty much for your lifetime, they clean up "better" without scratching, imo.
I put the carboy in my brewpot until krausen has gone down, and lightly place a bubbler on top. I have another bubbler setup near soaking in idophor solution soon as krausen drops, if needed.
5 gallons in a 6 gallon carboy helps lose less beer, wether you will rack to a finishing tank or not. It took me a while to quit telling myself "but I can get more beer in there!"
I have a hard time trusting plastic, that is just me. I have used buckets a few times for primary for meads or beer with tons of fruit, other than that, I prefer glass. Maybe after a few batches the better bottles will help change my mind a bit about trusting plastic, we will see.

 

[unionrdr]

I have to agree with menerdari. I use plastic fermenters. I wash'em out with a spray wand I got for Christmas last year. Then pour in 3-4 TBSP of PBW & fill it up & stir well. Let it sit for 5 days or so,then drain into a homer cheapo bucket through the dpigot to clean that too. Then rinse it out,dry & store. I've been using them since jan las year,& still clean & white inside.