Sap ice in bulk tank

[warners point]

I have about 8 inches of ice in a 500 gallon tank. We started with 300 gallons of sap and I figure there is at least 100+ gallons of ice. I tested the ice in one spot and got 0% sugar. Can I assume that the entire block is like this. The sap went from 2% to just over 3%

[Ghs57]

Pitch it if you can. I've been pitching my ice whenever possible, so long as the sap is to be boiled ASAP. It's in the 30s and raining here today, so spoilage risk is pretty low.

[motowbrowne]

Personally I like ice in my tanks. It usually sticks around for a while and keeps fresh sap cool. If I was drowning in sap, though I'd probably pitch it to save time.

[Ghs57]

Personally I like ice in my tanks. It usually sticks around for a while and keeps fresh sap cool. If I was drowning in sap, though I'd probably pitch it to save time.

Yes, that's what I meant by boiling ASAP. I dump it when I am collecting and ready to boil. I'll leave it if The boil is a day or two off, and the temps are not low enough. But, so long as it's just a layer and not frozen solid, and I'm going to boil, it goes. There are also situations where it can't, or it's impracticable, to remove it, like in an IBC tote with only the small 6 inch opening.

There have been many tests done on sap ice by Mapletraders which show that it has very little sugar content. But I won't throw away free refrigeration when I need it.:)

[Maple4444]

I leave ice in my tanks as well. I'm sure it keeps the sap fresh!

[maple flats]

Me too, I leave the free refrigeration in the tank, I concentrate with the RO. If I had no RO I'd likely dump the ice if it was cool enough to keep the sap cold enough not to spoil until I finished emptying that tank.