I apppreciate the replies. THank you everyone
3x12 drop flue.
1000 taps on 24 inches of vacuum, and 200 buckets.
Bought a used springtech 500 GPH RO
Shooting for 29" of vacuum, less than 5 taps per line, and 2 quarts per tap.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lown-...4713586?ref=hl
Although, Yes micro organism consuming sugar and degrade sap quality, the sap will have spoiled by the time there would be a significant drop in sugar content. If the sap is still good enough to boil then the loss to micro organisms would be fairly small. That said, all experts agree the sooner you boil your sap the better.
Maple Rock Farm
www.Maplerockfarm.ca
400 taps on Vacuum
18”x60” Lapierre propane evaporator with Smokey Lake auto draw off
Homemade 3 post RO with MES membranes
Ford TS110 tractor sap hauler
Thankfully someone discovered RO for removing water. My trees are second growth with narrow crowns, few lower branches and other competing hardwoods. Poor sugar producers. RO,RO,RO.
I think in my case this year's low sugar is directly related to the lack of freeze thaw cycles. While I've had as many or more days of sap flow compared to many years, this year the thaws last a few days and then the freezes last a few, rather than most night freeze and then followed by a warm day. Since mid Jan, when my first woods was tapped I have not had even a single freeze thaw day, they have all been long stretches. I believe the sugar would come up some if I had a few days with a daily freeze thaw in a row.
Have the rest with low sugar had the same patterns?
Dave Klish, I recently ordered a 2x6 wood fired evaporator from A&A Sheet Metal which I will be converting to oil fired
Now have solar, 2x6 finish pan, 5 bank 7x7 filter press, large water jacketed bottler, and tankless water heater.
Recently bought another Gingerich RO, this one was a 125, but a second membrane was added thus is a 250, like I had.
After running a 2x3, a 2x6, 3x8 tapping from 79 taps up to 1320 all woodfired, now I'm going to a 2x6 oil fired and a 200-425 taps.
2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
2024: 17 taps, 5.3 gals
All on buckets