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Thread: Wash tank options?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default Wash tank options?

    Hey all,

    I am adding another 4x40 tower to my single 4x40 and believe I need to increase my wash tank size. The tank is currently ~5 gallons. I have a 10 gallon old aluminum pot. Would this work?
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2018
    Location
    St. Johns, Michigan
    Posts
    101

    Default

    With my Micro 2 from Leader which is a two post RO it still uses the 5 gallon bucket.
    2022 - 157 taps, 40 gallons of syrup
    2021 - 171 taps buckets and tubing, 41 gallons of syrup
    2020 - 225 taps bags and tubing, 45 gallons of syrup
    2019 - 180 taps buckets and bags, 50 gallons of syrup
    Lapierre 2x8 Vision with reverse flow, hood & preheater
    Leader Micro2 RO
    Lapierre 10" short bank press

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2009
    Location
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Center, Underhill Ctr, VT
    Posts
    6,413

    Default

    Aluminum is not a suitable container for RO soap.
    Dr. Tim Perkins
    UVM Proctor Maple Research Ctr
    http://www.uvm.edu/~pmrc
    https://mapleresearch.org
    Timothy.Perkins@uvm.edu

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oneida NY
    Posts
    11,564

    Default

    You can get a SS pot in 10 gal, or have a tin shop make one big enough for 10 gal using SS. RO soap will etch/eat up aluminum.
    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.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
    Posts
    1,086

    Default

    The wash tank is essentially an open spot in a wash circuit. Once you have been circulating and everything is pretty well mixed a larger tank is not needed.
    Smoky Lake 2x6 dropflu pans and hoods on homemade arch
    Smoky Lake 6 gallon water jacked bottler
    Concentric Exhaust
    250 Deer Run RO
    325 taps

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Barnet, VT
    Posts
    2,580

    Default

    My wash tank is the bottom half of a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Has worked fine for years
    William
    950 taps
    3 X 12 Thor pans on a Brian Arch
    CDL 600 expandable

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by wiam View Post
    My wash tank is the bottom half of a 55 gallon plastic barrel. Has worked fine for years
    I actually have a few of these around. Thanks for the idea.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Super Sapper View Post
    The wash tank is essentially an open spot in a wash circuit. Once you have been circulating and everything is pretty well mixed a larger tank is not needed.
    I guess my biggest concern is having enough soap for washing both membranes. Here is how I had been doing the wash on one membrane -

    Fill up the wash tank with 5 gallons of 115* permeate
    Mix in enough soap for the proper PH wash
    Initially set my valve to drain coming off of the membrane to get out any cold water and keep the wash water as close to high PH as possible
    Once I feel the warm water coming out of the drain line, switch the valve to circulate for a wash cycle.

    In doing this, the tank is less than half full when the valve gets switched to circulate. I also don't have anything to reheat the wash water once in circulate. I may have to look into adding something. If I leave everything as is, I think it would work best for my setup to have a larger wash tank.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2015
    Location
    Peoria, IL
    Posts
    634

    Default

    Thanks Dave and Tim for the info on aluminum. I will avoid this option.
    Camp Wokanda
    Peoria Park District

    2023 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, sap storage shack w/ 1100 gallon tank - 123 gallons
    2022 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, homemade vac filter & water jacket canner - 104 gallons
    2021 - 215 on 3/16 shurflo, added 2nd membrane to RO - 78 gallons
    2020 - 210 on 3/16 shurflo, upgraded hp pump on RO - 66 gallons
    2019 - 150 on 3/16 shurflo, Deer Run 125 dolly RO - 73 gallons
    2018 - 120 on 3/16 shurflo, 2x6 raised flue w/hood, homemade arch w/ AUF & AOF - 34.5 gallons

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