Simple Syrup Question

[rantcliff]

So, if I want to mix up a solution of 1:1 syrup - do I simply full my container half full of sugar and then fill it up with water to get the right proportions?

Likewise if I want 2:1 - fill up the container 2/3 with sugar and the rest with water? (I assume I will have to boil it to get this much sugar in solution?)

[randydrivesabus]

yes that will work...but i dont think boiling is necessary...heating a bit will help. i heat up my water to almost a boil then remove it from the heat and then add the sugar. for 2:1 i've been adding 10 lbs of sugar to 10 cups of water. this is not really a perfect 2:1 but close enough.

[riverrat]

when I mix 1:1 I mix 1 5lb bag of sugar to 1 gallon of water. 3 bags of sugar and 3 gallons of water will make a 5 gallon bucket. to get 2:1 mix 2 5lb bags of sugar to 1 gallon of water. somewhere recently there was a chart posted on an earlier thread maybe who ever it was that posted can repost it to this thread as for heating I do the same has randy I take the water to just below a boil and add sugar then I bring it back to just under a boil this helps desolve the sugar

[dickm]

>>>So, if I want to mix up a solution of 1:1 syrup - do I simply full my container half full of sugar and then fill it up with water to get the right proportions?<<<

No. Measure in a separate container, equal parts of dry sugar and water. Your system puts in too much water

Riverat
I gal of water is 8 pints. 5# of sugar is 5 pints. You seem to be a long way from 1:1.

Dickm
(Thinking, "a pints a pound, the world around.

[Jeff McGuire]

I was going to post the basics but Michael Bush does it so much better. Check this link
http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#when\

Keep it simple like Mike
Jeff

[riverrat]

dug around and found the chart sundance posted awhile back

http://www.beekeeping.co.nz/convert.htm#sugarmix1

[riverrat]

>>>So, if I want to mix up a solution of 1:1 syrup - do I simply full my container half full of sugar and then fill it up with water to get the right proportions?<<<

No. Measure in a separate container, equal parts of dry sugar and water. Your system puts in too much water

Riverat
I gal of water is 8 pints. 5# of sugar is 5 pints. You seem to be a long way from 1:1.

Dickm
(Thinking, "a pints a pound, the world around.

you are right
my mistake some how I had it in my head a 5lb bag of sugar was right at a gallon I fed the bees light this spring but they must not have minded they did fine but wouldnt want to make the mistake going into winter andmake them work harder

[buzzinjack]

I have been mixing 5#sugar to 2 1/2 pints water. Should yield 2:1 sugar water ratio I hope.

[Oldbee]

"No. Measure in a seperate container, equal parts of dry sugar and water". [dickm]. YES, I am glad somebody mentioned that: seperate container. For me, that seems to keep it simple rather than thinking in terms of pounds of sugar and then,... pints, quarts or gallons of water although I see that seems to work for some. Also, you can buy a 25 pound bag [or larger] of sugar which may be cheaper than only 5 pound bags at a time. For a 2:1 syrup the PARTS would NOT be equal of course. The amount of sugar would be TWICE the amount of water. I hope that's right.

[MountainCamp]

The ratio does not need to be perfect. The bees will use it no matter what the ratio, as long as they can sense the sweetness.
The lighter the syrup, the closer to nectar, and more drying required for storage, the heavier the less drying required for storage.

[randydrivesabus]

doesn't make sense to have to mix them seperate...if a pint's a pound then a pound's a pint. so for 1:1 or 2:1, as long as the ratio is correct then the mix is correct.

[MapMan]

I guess ratios for simple syrup aren't so simple!

It's a ratio, folks. Take out your math primer from 4th grade, and read it again!

Okay, now back to our regularly scheduled show...

MM

[Michael Bush]

>So, if I want to mix up a solution of 1:1 syrup - do I simply full my container half full of sugar and then fill it up with water to get the right proportions?

No. That will be about 2:1.

>Likewise if I want 2:1 - fill up the container 2/3 with sugar and the rest with water? (I assume I will have to boil it to get this much sugar in solution?)

No. That will be about 4:1

http://www.bushfarms.com/beesfeeding.htm#ratios

[BigDaddyDS]

The wife (who holds a degree in mathematics) and I went around and around with this one a few weeks ago. In a nutshell, here's what we determined:

You need to assume two things:
First, the saying, "A pint is a pound, the world around," and, understand that a gallon of water weighs 8 pounds (rounded), both of which are the same thing.

And, secondly, either by weight (which is proper bee feeding) or by volume (which technically is wrong), unless you're mixing up hundreds of gallons of feed, it doesn't really matter which method you use. But, if you're needing hundreds of gallons of feed, you're probably not mixing it up on your stovetop anyways. Understand, the difference in methods is in DECIMALS or fractions of gallons. And as most bees don't have a good understanding of math, as long as it's close, they'll eat it and be happy.

So, this fall, make your 2:1 heavy syrup by mixing 2 containers of sugar with 1 container of water. Or, take the time and weigh out your ingredients; 16 pounds of sugar with 1 gallon of water. It doesn't matter. Your bees will take it, and use it the way you intend, as long as it's close.

But, I DO suggest boiling your water first, BEFORE adding your granulated sugar! (Not adding water to the sugar. Right, Chef?) Stir, stir, stir. And don't boil the syrup once the sugar is added or you risk burning it and the bees won't take it. If you're making large amounts, use a boat oar, drywall compound paddle mixer, or electric outboard motor to mix the sugar into the water/syrup with.

Now, for the stuff rumors are made of! Please note that these are "folk-style" remedies, and I don't have any proof that they work or don't. Use at your own risk!: 1 part of chlorine bleach to 500 parts of syrup is said to stop that nasty looking black mold. Probably safer, but still unproven, is apple cider vinegar added to feed in the same concentration. And lastly, another unproven additive is Cream of Tartar (1 teaspoon per gallon) to prevent crystalization, although I've also read the some people feel it prevents mold also. (Never mind the fact that the mold doesn't hurt anything and the bees don't care either way, but everyone seems to think it shouldn't be there...)

So, make it and feed. Don't make it rocket science. As long as you're close in your mixing ratios, your bees will appreciate your efforts!

BDDS

[Bizzybee]

So you say Big Daddy! They often don't show any appreciation of my efforts at all. Ouch!! And I remind them of it, but they just don't seem to care!!

[Hampton]

I use the weight measure to mix a batch of sugar water. I boil the water and add the sugar. I also bring the whole thing up to 200 deg before putting it in storage containers. I find this kills any bad bugs in the mix and I have no problems with mold or fermentation.

[bluegrass]

1. You have to go by weight....volume is not accurate as sugar is more dense than water so it does not take as much to be that same amount as water.
2. Add the sugar to the water and stir... you do not need to add heat until the mixture is fully saturated which is up around 2:1.. The sucrose will form bonds with the H20 until the solution is saturated at which point sugar crystals will pile up at the bottom of the mixing container.... when that happens you need to add heat to increase solubility...but you should not be feeding bees anything that over 2:1 anyway.

[aidah]

I'm Reading this at 6AM and this is way to much math for me at this time of day. I'm thinking it wont get any better later in the day.

[Michael Bush]

>1. You have to go by weight....volume is not accurate as sugar is more dense than water so it does not take as much to be that same amount as water.

But it's not enough difference to be relevant.

>2. Add the sugar to the water and stir... you do not need to add heat until the mixture is fully saturated which is up around 2:1..

I can't get it to dissolve at 2:1 without boiling the water, adding the sugar and continuing to heat until it dissolves. You think 2:1 is just saturated? I think it's seriously supersaturated.

>The sucrose will form bonds with the H20 until the solution is saturated at which point sugar crystals will pile up at the bottom of the mixing container.... when that happens you need to add heat to increase solubility...

But if you start with boiling water, you save yourself a lot of the risk of burning the sugar.

>but you should not be feeding bees anything that over 2:1 anyway.

I'd be impressed to see someone succeed at making something over 2:1...

[bluegrass]

If you don't care what the mix is you can just mix sugar in until the solution is saturated and pour the solution off leaving the sugar on the bottom for the next batch. I don't see that there is any benifit to supersaturating your solution by heating; unless you think it kills microbes or something.