Secondary Fermentation Vessel questions

[HantsGaz]

Have read a little about this, and was wondering whether this really improves a brew or whether just leaving your brew in the primary for a few more days to condition (after reaching its FG) is just as good?

If transferring to a secondary fermenter is advisable, when should you transfer it from the primary to the secondary? Is it after a number of days or when it reaches a certain gravity?

Many thanks...
Gaz.

[Rookie]

As long as you don't leave it on the spent yeast for a realllly long time you don't have to do a secondary.
You can go to secondary based on gravity readings or time once you have a good idea of how long different yeasts work in your brewery.
In my set up I leave the beer in primary for a week then go to secondary unless I'm doing a big beer or a lager.

[HantsGaz]

OK thanks - can you embellish a bit on your comment about Lager as I have my first lager conditioning right now and will want to do more....

I will always now, having used them in my last couple of brews, use Fermentis Yeasts - either the S-04 or S-23. How long do you leave your beer in the secondary for? I currently have a Muntons Imperial Stout on its 4th day of fermentation and was thinking of transferring it to a secondary if I can pick one up is a few days.

Thanks.

[HantsGaz]

Interesting comments. Someone (not me due to lack of experience and equipment - brewing that is ) should do a test with two of the same kit and keep one in the primary and move the second to a secondary and see if they get a preferred result.....