Why buy a 5 gallon fermenter is 6.5 gallon same price?

[rjolin01]

I am planning on transitioning from gallon batches to 5 gallon batch. I been researching fermenters and see most time 5 and 6.5 are same price. So what's the point other than size constraints of getting a 5 gallon? With 6.5 you get the little extra head space for aggressive yeast and I doubt air contamination is an issue if your not moving all around.

 

[CervezaMaLa]

Lots of people use 6.5 for primary and 5 for secondary (so they can fill to the neck and minimize surface area for air)

 

[blizz81]

I do 5 gallon batches and if I use my 5gal carboys, it's generally only for lagering or if for some reason I find I "need" to rack something off (generally if I'm pitching a new batch directly onto a yeast cake and don't want to do anything else that brewday, etc). Would be ineffective as primary as I generally have 5.5gal - 6gal going into my primary to achieve 5gal - 5.5gal of beer in the end.

 

[Psylocide]

I am planning on transitioning from gallon batches to 5 gallon batch. I been researching fermenters and see most time 5 and 6.5 are same price. So what's the point other than size constraints of getting a 5 gallon? With 6.5 you get the little extra head space for aggressive yeast and I doubt air contamination is an issue if your not moving all around.

Go with the 6.5, you probably won't need a secondary at all for some time, so... 6.5 is the way to go.

You try to do 5 gals in a 5 gal fermenter, you're gonna have a bad time.

 

[Gavin C]

I am planning on transitioning from gallon batches to 5 gallon batch. I been researching fermenters and see most time 5 and 6.5 are same price. So what's the point other than size constraints of getting a 5 gallon? With 6.5 you get the little extra head space for aggressive yeast and I doubt air contamination is an issue if your not moving all around.

I've two 6 gallon glass carboys. That's all I use except when I make Apfelwein.

5 gallon carboy that came with my starter kit gets a use then. (No headspace is needed for Apfelwein). Otherwise it's a pretty useless piece of kit for my needs as I don't use secondary vessels.

I guess if you make 4 gallon batches a 5 gallon carboy would be ideal as an FV.

 

[Hello]

My 5 gallon just gets used now when I do cider. Otherwise, it was a pointless purchase.