To much headspace in carboy? Solution!
- Thread starter Morten
- Start date
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Ohio Bob
Senior Member
Might need a few more pictures to see what you’ve done. My old eyes can’t see what’s going on. Looks like 4g of wine in a 5g carboy.
Hope it doesn’t leak or you’re going to have some watered down wine. I think you’ll have to siphon the water out of the bag first to remove it.
I think some of the commercial tanks might use a floating bladder. I can see it working better in a bucket or tank than a carboy.
I think some of the commercial tanks might use a floating bladder. I can see it working better in a bucket or tank than a carboy.
Not all plastics are designed to handle the acidic nature of wine. Beyond leaking, the acid can leach things from the plastic.
for creative thinking!
I top up with wine.
Not easy to do that with the first batch
Use a commercial wine.
When I first started, my go-to was an inexpensive Chardonnay. I figured it wouldn't influence the flavor too much, and it was kind of nice in my pear wine. Now I try to size my batches so that I will have several smaller containers for topping off my main carboy. That's something I learned from the old hands here.
I add a similar commercial wine, so that I end up with more wine.Not easy to do that with the first batch
I agree. As a newbie I didn't want to chance changing the flavor because I wanted to learn how everything tasted on it's own. I have 1-gallon and 1/2-gallon jugs that take airlocks that I'll use for topping. Some times it looks like a fermentation family.
Same here. If I’m shooting for a six gallon carboy I use a 10 gallon primary and make 7 gallons. If it’s a wine with lots of lees like apple I’ll make 8. Between tasting and racking I hope to get by with no added commercial wine.
Dave, you can also use 1500 ml and 750 ml bottles (and 375 ml for that matter!) for the same purpose. The universal stopper with an airlock works fine when installed upside down over the top of the bottles.
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TurkeyHollow
Turkey Hollow Winery
...I learn something new every time I visit this site... I've been making wine for years and never flipped that sucker upside-down! I didn't even know they were called "universals". I purchased stoppers made for the bottles I use for top-off (also and swing-top bottles). Now I know if I'm in a pinch, I can use those. Thanks @Rocky!
In my wine "closet" made of towels -keeps the light away from them. 
What on earth is the green wine?
blood?
OH NO I CAN'T!!!
I have the 1500, 750, AND 375's along with the universal stoppers.
Some times I'm anal retentive. Some times super anal retentive! Some times super mega anal retentive!
Those bottles wouldn't look "right" with my assortment of jugs!
Close! Key Lime SP just after first racking.What on earth is the green wine?
There are also these types of lids that fit pint and quart wide mouth mason jars:
I've used juice bottles when I empty them. Drill a ½ hole and insert a rubber grommet that has a hole in it large enough for an air lock to fit it.
