I have used a 6 gallon BB for several batches now. Previously I have used both 5 and 7 gallon glass as well as plastic buckets.
Pros:
1. Lightweight. Makes it easy to store, easy to carry, easy to wash, and reduces weight of filled fermenter when placed on a shelf or when agitating.
2. Durable/Safe. No fear of breaking. I have two toddlers, carboy glass is not something we want to deal with.
3. Clear. Unlike a bucket which has the above properties, one can observe fermentation. I like watching yeast floc.
4. It can be written on with marker. This allows you to put volume markings on. I calibrated it from 3-5.5 in QT markings.
Cons:
1. Flexible. It will suck air. Even if you grab the neck the bottom will flex and still suck air.
2. 6 gallons is one gallon too small for a fermenter, IMHO.
3. Its very easy to shove a #10 stopper fully into the bottle neck. Ask me how I know. (use a crochet hook to retrieve..)
4. Clear. One must be careful of sunlight.
Comments
1. Keep your full BB in a milk crate so that it does not flex when carried.
2. One can use an S type airlock which will not suck airlock fluid in like a bell type lock will.
3. Always attach a blow-off tube. I tend to have 5-5.5 gallons and unless my fermentation is very slow I will always get blow-off. Not a big deal.
4. Like a previous poster, I just soak my carboy overnight in PBW and rinse. No brush, no scratch, no problem.
If you want a lightweight, safe, easy to store carboy these are fantastic.
If a 7 gallon bottle was put on the market I would buy it in a heart beat.
Chris
Pros:
1. Lightweight. Makes it easy to store, easy to carry, easy to wash, and reduces weight of filled fermenter when placed on a shelf or when agitating.
2. Durable/Safe. No fear of breaking. I have two toddlers, carboy glass is not something we want to deal with.
3. Clear. Unlike a bucket which has the above properties, one can observe fermentation. I like watching yeast floc.
4. It can be written on with marker. This allows you to put volume markings on. I calibrated it from 3-5.5 in QT markings.
Cons:
1. Flexible. It will suck air. Even if you grab the neck the bottom will flex and still suck air.
2. 6 gallons is one gallon too small for a fermenter, IMHO.
3. Its very easy to shove a #10 stopper fully into the bottle neck. Ask me how I know. (use a crochet hook to retrieve..)
4. Clear. One must be careful of sunlight.
Comments
1. Keep your full BB in a milk crate so that it does not flex when carried.
2. One can use an S type airlock which will not suck airlock fluid in like a bell type lock will.
3. Always attach a blow-off tube. I tend to have 5-5.5 gallons and unless my fermentation is very slow I will always get blow-off. Not a big deal.
4. Like a previous poster, I just soak my carboy overnight in PBW and rinse. No brush, no scratch, no problem.
If you want a lightweight, safe, easy to store carboy these are fantastic.
If a 7 gallon bottle was put on the market I would buy it in a heart beat.
Chris