Stacking IBCs versus racking

[Sam Nightingale]

Hi there,

I am upscaling this years cider production and will be fermenting and maturing in IBCs. We don't have the floor space for 15-20 1000 litre IBCs, but being able to take advantage of vertical space makes complete sense.

I know some cider makers are stacking 2-3 full IBCs and either keep the caps loose or fit blow off valves running from the cap to the edge of the IBC. I use the Shultz IBCs which have a pressure valve built into the cap, would this be sufficient?

For taking samples for testing do you take cider from the outlet valve? (This would seem like a sediment heavy option) Or is the sample taken from the top?

Racking obviously makes easy access to the top of the IBCs for a valve to be fitted and for samples to be taken, but makes the whole process a lot more costly!

Any advice on this would much appreciated.

Warm regards,

Sam

Sam Nightingale

R.H Nightingale & Partners,

Gibbet Oak Farm,

Tenterden, Kent

Email: ci...@gibbetoak.co.uk

Phone: 07788 973 968

Twitter: @gibbetoak

[Early Red]

Sam,

I have been stacking my IBC's for a couple of years to take advantage of the ceiling height in my shed. I have several IBC's bought second hand that have a Vigo bukhead fitting to take and airlock which I use for sampling the cider and these are great as long as you maintain a good seal on them. http://www.vigoltd.com/Catalogue/Tanks-vessels-accessories/Tank-accessories/Airlocks-bungs/Airlocks/Bulkhead-airlock-adaptor-35202

I dont trust the Shulz valves they are nothing more than a piece of rubber set over a hole with a spring to keep the rubber down, if you were to get dirt in them they could leak and allow air in. I have replaced al the Shulz valves in my IBC's with a cork bung but you could get a proper blank for it as I reckon the thread is B.S.P.

I have had the odd problem with stacking, I have had to burst an IBC wth a hot nail in order to vent it once. I had overtightened the lid and as the pressure built up the lid became wedged below the IBC above, the hot nail was the ony way to vent without pumping the tank above.

If you decide to stack you will find IBC's on steel pallets are better as the plastic ones have a central bearer which sits right over the cap and generally have larger bases which make access to to a tank below awkward.

One final point, consider the ambient temperature in your shed over the summer and the fact that the air is hotter the higher up you go. Beneath the apex of my shed roof I have 6m but I wont stack the tanks more than 2 high as I dont want my cider in all that heat.

Denis 

[Sam Nightingale]

Hi Denis,

Thanks a lot for your reply.

I use the Vigo bulkhead adaptors, i'm curious, how you have them mounted on the IBC's? I've mounted them in the lids in the past, but this won't work now i'm planning on stacking. (and is arguably unnecessary, seeing the advice from others about just loosening the cap for gas release when free standing)

Would you consider an alternative to the Shultz IBC's? I rate them over the Werin rebottled ones i've bought for build quality and for the fact they have ball valve's over butterfly valves, though this certainly isn't a deal breaker! These are the only 2 brands I have any experience of, the Shultz new from Smiths of Dean, and rebottled Werin's from Delta.  These 2 options I've gone for for the larger openings for cleaning.

I see your point about the temperature in the top of the shed, but hopefully for over wintering, the shed temperature will be ok for triple height IBC's.

Warm regards,

Sam

[Martin]

Sam

I used to ferment in IBCs stacked two high with 'spacers' between them.  The spacers were made from cut-down sections of IBC cages so you have access to the bottom IBC.  This allows sampling, racking and even cleaning with a sprayball of the bottom container. I have about 10 spacers that I no longer use if any one is interested - £5 each?

I now use 6,000 litre water tanks for fermentation.

Martin

[Handmade Cider]

Sam,

the bulkhead adaptors are put in one corner of the tank its self, in far enough from the edge to allow the pallet of the one above to not interfere with it.

Denis

Denis France   www.handmadecider.co.uk   07590 264804  Company. No. 07241330

White Label – Champion Farmhouse Cider, Bath & West Show 2015, Joint Cider of the Festival, Chippenham camra Beer Festival 2013

Spring Surprise - Cider of the Festival Chippenham Camra Beer Festival 2015 & 2014

Crazy Diamond – Third Prize Chippenham Camra Beer Festival 2013

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[Sam Nightingale]

Martin, 

The spacers sound like a good idea, though, i'm still hoping to take advantage of 3 high IBCs for now. (which I guess would be too much weight for the spacers?)

Denis, 

I still can't quite envisage where you are mounting the airlocks.

Is this between the pallet runners? how is the clearance for forklift forks?

Do you by any chance have a photo?

Warm regards,

Sam

[Handmade Cider]

If I was fitting it, it would have been 150mm in from either edge so that any IBC would go on top. Where this one is makes it impossible to get ibc's on plastic pallets on there.

[Sam Nightingale]

Hi Denis,

Apologies for the slow response,  this image and your advice helps, thank you.

Kind regards,

Sam