I prefer using whole cone hops since I boil with a false bottom and use the hops as a filter helper. My last batch was an English style and I just hate buying a pounds of leaf hops to only use a few ounces. My wife also has strong opinions about hop storage in the kitchen freezer! All hops used were pellets and I wanted to keep them out of the fermenters. Using the outlet pump, the bitter wort was recirculated back into the kettle and through a modified SS siphon tube. The tube caused a nice vortex which developed a large pile of hops in the center. After a few minutes, energized the counterflow system and almost all hop residue remained in the kettle. Only about 3 quarts of bitter wort was wasted. Guess I still like the big cones but may need to consider the storage capabilities and varieties of pellet hops. Always something brewing Rick Oftel