6.5 Gal Secondary

[Brownbeard]

I have only one glass carboy, it is my secondary. It is 6.5 gal. Is this too big for my secondary? Should I worry about oxidation with all that empty space above the beer?

[Payson]

Brownbeard, do you keg? If so, you could blanket the excess headspace with CO2 or better yet, fill the entire carboy w/ CO2. That way, excess headspace is just inert. Otherwise, I'd get it into secondary while it has enough activity to quickly displace the O2. It's quite doable.

[Brownbeard]

I am going to be kegging soon. I think I just need to purchase a 5 gal carboy. Then I can use my 6.5 gal as a primary. I have not really noticed anything that would leave me to believe it is getting oxidized, but I can't help but wonder.

[Tweek]

you can sterilze some marbles or something else that will displace the liquid bringing you up to volume, otherwise it will get oxidized.

[mmmBeer...]

I use a 6.5 for secondary all the time. I just make sure that I rack while the beer is still fermenting. I figure if I put the airlock back on and it still bubbles for another 3 or 4 days then the air should be displaced. If I leave it too late I will give it a blast of CO2 before placing the lock on.

I’ve never had a problem, but I also won’t leave it in secondary much past 2 weeks.

[Brownbeard]

Yeah, I never go past 2 weeks in secondary either. I guess I need to be moving to secondary sooner. I usually wait a week, by that time my ferment is generally done.

[chris1kanobi]

I use a 6.5 gallon carboy for a secondary and have for years. I make 5 gallon batches and have never had a problem with oxydization (to my knowledge). The beer is still releasing co2, I can tell by the airlock activity. Just the act of racking should release enough co2 to cover the surface of the beer. Co2 is heavier than air, and the only way air could get mixed with the beer would be if it was shaken or mixed. So just rack and move the carboy carefully and there should be no problem.

[toneyc]

Besides, one or two batches won't hurt, get a 5-gallon carboy in a couple of weeks, after Christmas settles down.

:)
Toney.