Bubbler on the side?

[garthlandbrew]

Hi!

I've recently acquired a bunch of buckets I want to use as my FV, and I noticed that all buckets supplied by stores in kits and whatnot always have the airlock/bubbler on the top. I live in a small flat, so space is of the essence, so I wanted to drill holes and fit o-rings about 2cm from the top, but on the side, such that I can stack the buckets on another and save space. I'm rich in vertical space, but not horizontal so it seems like a good solution.

Are there any precautions I should take? Is there a reason we never see airlocks on the side? I'd love to get a second opinion before I proceed.

Thanks!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Is there a reason we never see airlocks on the side? I'd love to get a second opinion before I proceed.

If you have a vigorous fermentation its going to get messy as the airlock will be lower.

Make a blow off tube like the one below you don't need much height and you get the plus that if it does blows through the airlock its much easy to deal with.

https://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/threads/how-to-make-a-blow-off-tube.48970/

 

[garthlandbrew]

Make a blow off tube like the one below

View attachment 71095

This seems like a good solution, but the entry is still at the top. Will it be an issue if it's off to the side, just slightly below the top of the bucket?

 

[Chippy_Tea]

This seems like a good solution, but the entry is still at the top. Will it be an issue if it's off to the side, just slightly below the top of the bucket?

It is still at the top but you don't have the height of a standard airlock to worry about.

Airlocks are designed to work vertically how are you going to keep it that way?

If you have no space at all put the lid on but dont snap it shut all the way around leave a small gap so CO2 can push out but bugs cannot get in or use cling film over the top of the FV many members use all three methods with no problem.

 

[garthlandbrew]

It is still at the top but you don't have the height of a standard airlock to worry about.

Airlocks are designed to work vertically how are you going to keep it that way?

If you have no space at all put the lid on but dont snap it shut all the way around leave a small gap so CO2 can push out but bugs cannot get in or use cling film over the top of the FV many members use all three methods with no problem.

I guess my idea was to stack 3+ buckets vertically in an effort to conserve space. Hopefully my diagram helps

 

[Chippy_Tea]

46 KG of liquid in the top two FV's sat on top of a flimsy lid of the bottom FV is not going end well.

 

[Session]

This seems like a good solution, but the entry is still at the top. Will it be an issue if it's off to the side, just slightly below the top of the bucket?

I can’t see any reason why this wouldn’t work. I would suggest running a blow-off tube as opposed to an airlock however just in case you need it.

Either way, you could use something like this:

https://www.johnguest.com/gb/en/pro...ings/push-fit-plastic-fittings/bulkhead-elbow
Bear in mind it is a very large diameter fitting, measuring 15mm. This would not be an issue if using a blow off tube as you would simply connect 15mm OD tubing, but you would need an adaptor in order to attach an airlock.

The other option would be to combine a more typical 3/8inch bulkhead like this one:

https://filterflair.co.uk/products/...AfpV-jPEE82O-ShI1F9fNWNLOx6Yx9QRoCzKEQAvD_BwE
With one of these:

https://filterflair.co.uk/products/...jNYl-AqcjmvROyU3IuLOc8MjiZh9fIWRoCWaAQAvD_BwE

 

[Buffers brewery]

I think I’d make a shelf unit to hold the individual buckets rather than stack one on top of the other. It will save having to lift the buckets to get to the lower one/s.

 

[Nottsbeer]

Could you make a simple frame to stack the FVs, giving room to have blow-off tubes from the top and also not having FVs stacked on top of each other? Saves space and a potential disaster?

 

[Nottsbeer]

I think I’d make a shelf unit to hold the individual buckets rather than stack one on top of the other. It will save having to lift the buckets to get to the lower one/s.

Lol...beat me to it

 

[Buffers brewery]

Lol...beat me to it

Great minds

 

[garthlandbrew]

A shelf is a better long-term solution.

"46 KG of liquid in the top two FV's sat on top of a flimsy lid of the bottom FV is not going end well."

This made me realise the idiocy of the plan! Thanks for speaking some sense into me, fellas!