3/16 natural vacuum

[Wanabe1972]

Well as if I dont have enough going on this fall and winter. (sugar house rebuilt, RO expansion, and evaporator upgrade) Ive decide to throw my hat in the ring for about 70 trees on 3/16 natural vacuum. I tap my dads property now and use a couple of aquatec pumps on 5/16 for about 100 taps. I didnt want to add more taps to these on 5/16 line and did not want the cost of another vacuum pump and releaser for this property. The area to the trees is going beyond where the existing taps are which are at the base of a steep hill. I would have to run between 6 and 7 hundred feet to get to the new trees i want to tap. The first tapped tree nearest the tank would be arount 150' out and about 25 to 30 feet higher than the tank and the rest would go up in elevation. If im understanding this i would have to run 2 lines from the tank to the trees to accomadate 70 taps. I would probably split these into a left and right side. It seems that unlike normal systems (up to 5 taps per lateral and then to the main line) but with 3/16 all taps run directly back to the line going to the tank is this correct? I would like to run these in the next few weeks as it would be tough if we have a heavy snow year. Thanks jeff

[mountainvan]

I would do 3 or 4 laterals as to not overload the tubing. CDL has 1,000ft rolls of 3/16 for $57. Pretty cheap vacuum.

[motowbrowne]

I'd probably also do 3 lines. Like mountainvan says, it's cheap. But yes, run the lines from tree to tree ideally maintaining some slope the whole way, then down into your tank. That's it.

Oh, then be ready for lots of sap...

[Wanabe1972]

Thanks guys I ordered 3 800 foot rolls this morning to get started.

[TRAILGUY]

3 lines and 3 55 gal drums and more a may run over in good 24 run

[Wanabe1972]

It will be interesting to see. I will have to see for myself these flow rates, as i cant picture that much sap out of 70 taps. Im running 26in of vacuum on another bush and never see much more than 1 to 1/2 gpt. So we will see. There is the potential for another 5 acre plot of land directly behind my fathers. At this point a couple of extra gallons of sap per run would make me happy. Id like to double my syrup production as i have secured a few places local for bulk and wholesale sales.