syphoning

[hophit]

Stupid question but what technique do people employ for syphoning from fv to bottlng bucket? I keep getting the problem of gas/bubbles forming as the syphon progresses that float up the tube to the curve in the apex. This exascerbates the problem by reducing the flow rate so even more bubbles gather. Eventually the syphoning effect comes to a halt and I have to re-start it. A real PITA.

[bluezephyr]

Tonight I used my auto syphon for the first time, 2 meters of silicone tubing I have connected to it is nice and heavy and stays where I put it.
The only time I got any bubbles was right at the end when I tried to get the last bit out.

[mozza]

If you're getting bubbles it sounds like a leak or when you started you didn't have an air free length of tubing full of water

[Dave S]

It can also be because there is not enough draw for efficient siphon effect. Make sure the fv is at a good height above the bottling bucket.

And make sure that any excess tubing is not trailing below the level of the BB, such that the siphon is pulling the liquid down, then it has to go uphill again into the BB.

[crimsongarlic]

I have a little bottler tap on both my fermenters. This makes syphoning a simple process of attaching the tubing onto the tap with the included connector and opening the tap.

The full FV is placed above the empty FV (to use as a bottling bucket) and the tubing just drops straight into this meaning the beer just flows straight down into the bottling bucket - as Dave says, no uphill tubing.

[hophit]

I do have one of those taps but to avoid taking the sedimanet was using a syphon tube.

THe bubbles aren't from a leak I don't think, they are just CO2 coming out of the beer, collecting, growing, etc until they cause a bubble at the top of the uphill. I also have a good height between FV and bottling bucket. I am now wondering if I have too much flow, the turbulence from which is causing the bubbled formation!

Think I am going to try the tap or alternatively just buy an autosyphon, so I can easily 'restart' the syphon without the hassle, panick and need for five hands!

[crimsongarlic]

As the beer gets down to the level of the tap I slowly tip the fermenter forward. The yeast tends to slide toward the tap forcing the last of the beer out.

As the yeast gets close to the tap I just rock the fermenter back preventing it going into the bottling bucket. I usually don't loose more than hundred millilitres or so of beer doing this and It feels a lot easier than siphoning did to me. As you say two hands never seems enough when trying to siphon.

[Dave S]

I do have one of those taps but to avoid taking the sedimanet was using a syphon tube.

THe bubbles aren't from a leak I don't think, they are just CO2 coming out of the beer, collecting, growing, etc until they cause a bubble at the top of the uphill. I also have a good height between FV and bottling bucket. I am now wondering if I have too much flow, the turbulence from which is causing the bubbled formation!

Think I am going to try the tap or alternatively just buy an autosyphon, so I can easily 'restart' the syphon without the hassle, panick and need for five hands!

I can vouch for the auto siphon, they're brilliant. And even better if you get the large bucket clip to go with it.

[gibbiem]

I've used a syphon for the first time too, issue I have is syphoning into a keg. The hole is so small that I need to let the syphon flow then place the end of the tube inside so ends up splashing/oxidizing a bit...

[banjokat]

I'm now a convert to the auto syphon as well. Love it.

[Rick_UK]

I just fitted one of the basic fermenter taps and it's a huge improvement on siphoning up and over. Just need a couple of foot of 15mm tubing to bung over the tap and carefully tip FV near the end to minimise any sediment getting through. Warm the end of the tubing so it slides over the tap securely.

Rick

[hophit]

I did this too ths evening - much easier!.

[millmaster]

hophit - if your siphon is made from flexible plastic tubing pushed over some more solid pipe that acts as the dip tube into the FV, it might be worth pulling it apart, cutting an inch or two off the flexi and "solid" pipe and remaking the joint ( warming the flexi as Rick suggests ). Doing that fixed the bubble formation I saw in my siphon, although it was never bad enough to stop siphoning altogether

[hophit]

Thanks millmaster. I may just give that a go....

[Jambo]

Stupid question time... people say you shouldn't suck on a syphon to get it going... How else can you do it!?

Cheers