Hello, group!

I've come across a fixed volume SS container in the range of 30 gallons that
will work well for me when I do some refurb to remove some extemporaneous
fittings.

I've been searching high and low to buy simply a VVF lid with a diameter
around 18.25 inches and had no luck. I began reading past posts here and am
thinking I should consider leaving this as a fixed volume fermentor
utilizing the bolted lid that came with it.

If I use it as a fixed fermentor, the wine level will have to be right up to
the brim of the cylinder but how do I know if I have too much headspace, not
enough, etc. after primary has died down and I've less naturally-produced
CO2 to blanket? I don't want to buy a CO2 bottle to blanket and am having
little luck finding a VVF lid which would alleviate this concern (and I note
there are other concerns to be considered with VVF lids).

Any thoughts how I should proceed? Crush is coming in a month and I need
some thoughts.


Patrick

Patrick, I think stpats used to carry the smaller lids, but I don't see
them anymore on their site. MoreBeer has one that might fit you tank:
https://www.morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19635 ...you'll
probably want to call them about the specific size. I'm not affiliated
w/ any of these vendors...

If you're not going to use gas to blanket the headspace, then you
probably won't be able to use that tank. An option is to make more
than will fit into the tank, and put excess in glass...adding in the
glass portions when the wine volume is reduced after racking. Of
course, this assumes that you have a tight seal on the lid, or have no
lid at all (i.e. using a traditional fixed-volume tank).

Good Luck, -David

David,
Thanks for the input. I had checked MoreBeer but didn't find a lid; I'm
emailing customer support the diameter.

I am making much more than 30 gallons and have intended this container to
house blends from crush. My question still remains... how much headspace
will it want between the wine and the fixed lid, assuming I can get it air
tight?


Patrick

"David D." > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Patrick, I think stpats used to carry the smaller lids, but I don't see
> them anymore on their site. MoreBeer has one that might fit you tank:
> https://www.morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19635 ...you'll
> probably want to call them about the specific size. I'm not affiliated
> w/ any of these vendors...
>
> If you're not going to use gas to blanket the headspace, then you
> probably won't be able to use that tank. An option is to make more
> than will fit into the tank, and put excess in glass...adding in the
> glass portions when the wine volume is reduced after racking. Of
> course, this assumes that you have a tight seal on the lid, or have no
> lid at all (i.e. using a traditional fixed-volume tank).
>
> Good Luck, -David
>

Why risk the wine?
How do you know you have an airtight seal?

Just get a CO2 bottle and purge the headspace.

The Co2 bottle would be cheaper then a lid.


patrick mcdonald wrote:
> David,
> Thanks for the input. I had checked MoreBeer but didn't find a lid; I'm
> emailing customer support the diameter.
>
> I am making much more than 30 gallons and have intended this container to
> house blends from crush. My question still remains... how much headspace
> will it want between the wine and the fixed lid, assuming I can get it air
> tight?
>
>
> Patrick
>
> "David D." > wrote in message
> oups.com...
>
>>Patrick, I think stpats used to carry the smaller lids, but I don't see
>>them anymore on their site. MoreBeer has one that might fit you tank:
>>https://www.morebeer.com/product.html?product_id=19635 ...you'll
>>probably want to call them about the specific size. I'm not affiliated
>>w/ any of these vendors...
>>
>>If you're not going to use gas to blanket the headspace, then you
>>probably won't be able to use that tank. An option is to make more
>>than will fit into the tank, and put excess in glass...adding in the
>>glass portions when the wine volume is reduced after racking. Of
>>course, this assumes that you have a tight seal on the lid, or have no
>>lid at all (i.e. using a traditional fixed-volume tank).
>>
>>Good Luck, -David
>>
>
>
>

If you can maintain a constant temperature or you are using an airlock,
then there shouldn't be any headspace. If the temperature varies
greatly and the container is the closed lidless type, then you need to
consider the integrity of the container as the wine will
expand/contract which will exert pos/neg pressure on the tank. -David