I had the sucking air and nasty blow off water back in the fermenter problem with my lagers. Never could figure out why even when I slow cooled.
Now I simply empty the blow off container when ready to crash, wash, sanitize and replace without water but with a rag drenched in star san over the tubes. Never a problem again....
And +1 to Hoosier for making sure you are at FG. If you are making a lager I always crank it up to 65F for a couple of days to burn it out. I know lager makers, not necessary if you pitched enough yeast, but I like it.
Man, my first posts in like 2 years.....
Dave