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Thread: What water used for initially cleaning perserv.out of ro

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    West Branch mi
    Posts
    73

    Default What water used for initially cleaning perserv.out of ro

    So I'm wondering what everyone is using for their initial flush on there are R/O membranes prior to maple syrup season. Obviously I don't have R/O water and last year I just use tapwater. We have a well and the water is very good. I'm just wondering what everyone else is doing? I know you're not supposed to use tapwater but didn't have any choice.

    Thanks

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Fayston, Vt
    Posts
    122

    Default

    House water is usually good. No chlorine and iron in water. If chlorinated fill some barrels and let it sit for a few days. Chlorine will evaporate. Some people buy truck load. A lot depends on your size.
    2020 same
    2019 RB10 26 taps
    2018 RO Bucket RB5 taps 20, leg tank in shed w/2 5/16
    2017 18 taps
    2016 20 taps
    2015 21 taps
    2014 30 2 gravity line, 2 hotel pan concrete arch 35 g leg tank
    2013 LP hook up in shack buckets 12 taps
    2 burner cook top 2012 finisher on a bbq tanks
    2011 rookie 2+ gal
    8 taps w/ milk jugs
    turkey cooker
    50-60 up back maybe

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Lanark, ON
    Posts
    2,387

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    We run the first sap of the season through the membrane for 15 minutes to flush them out.
    4,600 Taps on vacuum
    9,400 gallons storage
    3 tower CDL RO
    3.5'x14' Lapierre Force 5
    Twitter & Instagram: @ennismaple
    www.ennismaple.com

  4. #4
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
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    6,391

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    We've used three different approaches depending on the year. All seem to work.
    1. Deionize/demineralize our well water (we have a lot of iron and manganese in our water).
    2. Get RO water from a large producer nearby
    3. Use sap
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    Essex VT
    Posts
    402

    Default

    I was told by a maple membrane dealer that if you have 600 gallon membranes, you should use 600 gal. of water for each membrane. Also use water that is low in iron and manganese. I was also told not to use sap because you will immediately foul your clean membranes with the minerals in the sap.
    2004- 470 taps on gravity and buckets
    2006- 590 taps on gravity and buckets 300 gph RO
    2009- 845 taps on vacuum no buckets, 600 gph RO
    2010- 925 taps on vacuum new 2 stage vacuum pump
    2014- 3045 taps on vacuum, new 1200 gph RO
    2015- 3104 taps on vacuum
    2017- 3213 taps on vacuum
    3' x 10' oil fired evaporator with steamaway

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,391

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JoeJ View Post
    I was told by a maple membrane dealer that if you have 600 gallon membranes, you should use 600 gal. of water for each membrane. Also use water that is low in iron and manganese. I was also told not to use sap because you will immediately foul your clean membranes with the minerals in the sap.
    All true. This is why we demineralize our well water if we use it.

    Using sap is a last resort, sometimes the only way to rinse for those sugarhouses without a clean water source (or any water source). It is often better to use sap than to use well water, as the water taken up by trees will be lower in many minerals. This approach is used only once at the beginning of the season, after which you have permeate to wash/rinse.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Fulton, NY
    Posts
    1,374

    Default

    I've always followed the directions to rinse/wash several times to start with. Is the general consensus that's unnecessary?
    Tim Whitens
    Willow Creek Farm
    Fulton, NY

    3000 on vacuum, 3hp 3ph Busch pump, 2567 Gast
    30X8 Leader oil-fired evap. w/ steamaway
    Airablo 1000 RO
    6 Alpacas

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