Does fermenter shape matter?

[chopps]

Hi all, per the title - does it? Buckets and conicals, they're all basically round.

I have a converted fridge and it would be nice to get two fermenters in side by side but I don't know if the material or shape is an issue.
Obviously both would be at the same temperature, but as far as fermentation goes would it matter if they were rectangular?

I can get 2 of these tall polyethylene tanks in my fermenting fridge comfortably, with room for airlocks. Is this a good idea? Thanks all.

 

[Clint]

Can't see why not. Only issue I can see is carrying them when full as there's nowt to grip.

 

[Galena]

It doesn't matter in Yorkshire

 

[TheOsprey]

Only issue I can think of is cleaning Krausen and trub out of the corners.

I'm currently using a wilko bird feed fat ball tub for small batches.

 

[trueblue]

I have read yeast will react different in different shape of fermenters. Some of the big breweries when they switched to mega conicals had to change their yeast as their traditional yeast did not like the new conditions. Brewers who use Yorkshire squares or Burton union fermenters would only use a yeast that likes those conditions.

 

[Brew_DD2]

I have read yeast will react different in different shape of fermenters. Some of the big breweries when they switched to mega conicals had to change their yeast as their traditional yeast did not like the new conditions. Brewers who use Yorkshire squares or Burton union fermenters would only use a yeast that likes those conditions.

Yeah. It does matter and it doesn't matter. At commercial level they are dealing with huge hydrostatic pressures. At homebrew level, not so much so.

 

[Leard]

Is your fridge just an undercounter one without a freezer compartment? That's what mine is and I'd like to be able to fit two fermenters in it. Where are you going to buy these from?

 

[foxy]

As mentioned by Osprey, comes down to cleaning for the reason they are round.

 

[cheeseyfeet]

Ideas galore here -

https://www.tanks-direct.co.uk/water-tanks/water-storage-tanks/10-50-litre-water-tanks.html

 

[chopps]

Hi @Leard It's actually a standard fridge freezer, but I leave the freezer part unused. There's no compressor hump in the fridge section, so it has a flat base.
These tanks are dimensionally great as they are 200 x 270 mm footprint and they will fit perfectly side by side with the narrower edge to the front.
They have a valved lid, but looks like I can knock/drill that out and get a bung and low height airlock in.

If you have that hump at the bottom, better get the tape measure out.

I found them here 28 Litre Tower Water Tank - Kingfisher Direct Ltd

 

[phildo79]

As mentioned, it matters to the big boys but it probably doesn't come into play on a homebrew scale. I wouldn't worry about having trouble cleaning them, just fire in some hot water and oxy, let it do all the work for you.