Keeping sap cool

[Ken18621]

I'm planning on making a walk in cooler to keep sap in until I can boil on the weekends using a coolbot type system. I scored a deal on used cooler panels and I'm going to fab something up this summer for next season.

I currently use 275 gallon IBC totes for storage (about 500 gallons/week).
What would be the best way to cool sap once I put it in the 36* cooler?
Do you think some sort of agitator or circulation pump to mix the sap?
Maybe cut off the tops of the totes to let heat escape?
Or a SS dairy tank.

[Bucket Head]

Ken,

Your last sentence is the way to go. All the other ways are going to be a lot of work, the results will be varied and you might not get the temp. low enough for "safe" storage.
Bulk tanks can be found reasonably and sometimes come with the refrigeration unit. Call a dairy refrigeration outfit, they will get it going- or may have a used refrigeration unit they could adapt to your tank.
About ten years ago or so, I got a bulk tank operational and it has been a game changer for me. You'll have to go way back on some of my posts, but they were some of the most heavily trafficked ones on here. Little by little, many past and present forum users did what I did and have been extremely pleased. You won't regret the investment, trust me. You'll wish you did it sooner.

Steve