Closed system yeast harvesting

[BFCbc]

Any special tactics needed to harvest yeast as sanitary as possible?

I would like to start reusing yeast and currently I don't have a decent way to harvest. I was thinking of using a 1.5" to 3" reducer (7" long) with a cap to act as a trap. I use 1.5" and it would go from the valve on the fermenter to valve on the trap (maybe a tube in between) to reducer trap. So when I wanted to harvest the yeast I would just close the valve on the trap and on the fermenter, then remove the trap. Pour the contents into a sterilized container and get the yeast.

would look kind of like this... x is a valve, = is a tube, < is the reducer trap

x=x<I

Any other ideas?

Cheers.

[a10t2]

So the idea is to use the reducer itself as a container? If I'm calculating the volume correctly, that's going to hold ~700 mL of yeast. How big is your system? That would be enough to pitch into, at most, 2 bbl of ale.

At any rate, that isn't a closed system. Since you're pouring the yeast into an open container, why not just harvest into that container using a hose from the fermenter? No need to reinvent the wheel if you aren't looking to buy or build an actual brink. Clear plastic food service containers with volume markings work well. Just get one for each strain, and use them only for yeast.

[BFCbc]

I'm nano. 1bbl from a conical.

[Junkyard]

Your going to need about 1000-1500 ml of slurry for a 1bbl pitch.

Buy some silo nalgene bottles, they are 1400 ml, and are polypropylene so they can be autoclaved. Either autoclave them or sanitize them and then purge with Co2. Open the top and fill with harvested yeast off the fermenter valve making sure to lower the valve into the mouth of the nalgene.

That system is as closed as it needs to be

[BFCbc]

Thanks for the sanity checks guys. I thought I might be over thinking this.