Bulk sap storage below RO

[Joel M]

If one was able to have bulk sap storage in a refrigerated basement below the sugar house, would it make more sense to keep the RO on the heated main level where you could keep an eye on it much easier and be sure it would never freeze, but have to find some way to pump sap up to feed it. Or keep RO in the basement where it is more inconvenient to check on and maybe need to keep it in a small heated room to be sure it won't freeze, but you could gravity feed it from storage tanks?

Thank you for any insights you may be able to provide.

[BreezyHill]

I have an old system. Memtek. It has its own insulated and heated cabnet that it was built in. This has been a plus for the 34 years it has been on the farm. The supply pump that it has will pull from remote tanks after the system is primed and flowing. So if yo had a pump that could prime the supply pump and then be bypassed you would have the best of both worlds. I use bulk tanks for sap and concentrate storage. Concentrate is used the day it is made since it has not kept well unless it is frozen for me.

If you put the RO in your basement it will increase the temp there so it will cost you $$$ to heat the RO and chill the sap. Where as the pump will cost the initial investment and a tiny amount of elec to prime the RO. The larger cost will be in running around checking on the RO and run the risk of a burnt pan or some other catastrophe that occurs when we leave the rigs to themselves.

[Wanabe1972]

Can you just put your feed pump in the basement lower than the tanks and feed up the upper story. My feed pump on my RO has a manifold and it use it to feed the RO, head tank and i can pump from my truck tank to any of my tanks. Even if you had to put it in an insulated box with a light bulb to keep it from freezing.

[Joel M]

Thanks for the advice, these are really great ideas!