Homemade RO pump question

[crowellsr]

I made a mattatuck madness homemade sap ro setup. I'm looking for recommendations on a pump for it. I know the instructions use an aquatech 8800 but was looking for other options.

[82cabby]

I used the aquatech. It's never let me down.

[Cjadamec]

Options to make it cheaper or options for more flow.

[needmoremaples]

Aquatec pump worked great for me too!

[needmoremaples]

I did series piping and I feel like that gives better flow. Pulling out more water faster makes sap less % in one pass. I did multiple passes or recirc it.

[Mark B]

I made through roughly 900 gallons of sap on my homemade r8o last season, but it was to slow for my liking. I bought 400gpd filters, but the 8850 aquatech really wasn't a great match for what I wanted to do. So out with the old and in with the new for 2019. Keeping my 400s (x3) and pairing them with a procon pump. Watching eBay I got a 100gph pump for 45 and a matching Emerson motor for 65. The pump will move about 100 gph at 140 psi. Pretty close to the specs on my 400 gpd ro filters. Gonna start a thread here soon about optimal setup. Mark

[SyncroScott]

Gonna start a thread here soon about optimal setup. Mark

Keep us posted on your next-level-up RO; I've got about the same system you started with and am also not thrilled (but still better than nothin'!).

[DRoseum]

I built a custom RO using an aquatec 8800 and 400 gpd membrane. Worked pretty well, seemed a bit slow at times, but it saved me a ton of boiling time and fuel! Planning to add a 2nd 400 gpd membrane for next season.

https://youtu.be/s106bSrcfno
https://www.sugartree.run/p/sugaring-diy.html

[MDR Maple]

Keep us posted on your next-level-up RO; I've got about the same system you started with and am also not thrilled (but still better than nothin'!).

I too am curious about how your procon pump performs with the 3x400 gpd RO setup. My Aquatech 8800 doesn't seem well matched to set and forget to get to 10%.

[bowhunter]

In general those aquatech pumps are too small for the 400 gpd membranes. You probably don't get enough flow and the membranes foul pretty quickly. The second major problem is the aquatech pumps don't really generate enough pressure to maximize the membrane you're using. The ProCon's develop more than twice the pressure. You need the higher pressure to overcome the cold sap temperature, the higher sugar content which means higher osmotic pressure you have to overcome. The pressure limitations on the pump make doing more than 5% on an aquatech setup nearly impossible.