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Thread: Sap ice in bulk tank

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    McGregor, MN
    Posts
    135

    Default Sap ice in bulk tank

    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%
    2017 160 on 3/16th

    2x6 homemade arch

    2x4 copper drop tube flue pan

    sawmill shed converted to sugar shack

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Catskill Mts, Ulster County NY
    Posts
    603

    Default

    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.
    Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014

    175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
    12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
    2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
    7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    River Falls, WI
    Posts
    831

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    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.
    -Ryan


    Went off the deep end. Might be in over my head...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2015
    Location
    Catskill Mts, Ulster County NY
    Posts
    603

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by motowbrowne View Post
    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.
    Last edited by Ghs57; 03-25-2017 at 11:54 PM.
    Gary / Zena Crossroads / 42˚ 00' 24" N / Hobby in Early '70s, Addiction since 2014

    175+ taps on 3/16 (60 of which are on two Lunchbox Vac/Releasers)
    12x34 timber framed sap house w/attached 10x34 shed roof for storage
    2 x 6 Smoky Lake hybrid pan on Corsair arch with AUF/steam hood/preheater/concentric exhaust
    7.0 KW Sun Power PV System, Smokey Lake Filter Press/Steam Bottler, Modified NGMP RO - 2 4x40 posts 200 gph

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Tillsonburg
    Posts
    15

    Default

    I leave ice in my tanks as well. I'm sure it keeps the sap fresh!
    H2O Innovation Evap 2.5' by 12' with hood and preheater
    CDL 600 RO
    CDL 10" filterpress
    1000 taps on vac.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,547

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    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.
    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.

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