Syrup Storage and transfer

[Kolbeez]

New beekeeper looking for a system to store syrup and fill cans to feed bees. I'm working from the garage. Been a hobby guy for the past 5 years and looking to grow from 35 to 100 during this year. Any suggestions? Was considering a 275 gallon tote and fill cans at home before leaving for the bee yard. Will the tote get too cold in the garage for syrup to flow into cans? I live in northern end of Sac. valley, CA. Thanks in advance for the help...Sean

[Rader Sidetrack]

Will the tote get too cold in the garage for syrup to flow into cans?

It appears unlikely that 1 to 1 syrup would not flow in your spring/summer/fall temperatures. Here is a average temperature chart for Davis, CA (Yolo County, but south of you):
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxcli...ly/graph/95616
The temperature of 200 gallons of syrup in a tote in a garage is not going to vary much over the course of a day, so it should maintain somewhere between the high and low temps on the chart. Plug in your zipcode to get a more localized temperature chart.

[Roland]

We used a tote to fill feeder pails when it was cooler, 60 deg F? HFCS came out fine, but the tote came with a 1 1/2 valve. You will have to find a way to raise the tote up high enough to get the pail under the valve. We set it on a short stack of pallets, and bought a PVC elbow for the valve.

Crazy Roland

[Kolbeez]

Is the tote the best, most efficient, method for can feeding at this scale? 100 this year and likely more the next.

[JCA Beeswax Processing]

I use a 2" pump with a tote and inside feeders. Efficiency will go up with a pump of some type instead of gravity. I have had syrup separate and not pump so well. Depends on what syrup you are using. A used honey pump can be configured for syrup and then used for extracting later. Cam-lock fittings are a bit expensive but pay in the long run.

[robherc]

Is the tote the best, most efficient, method for can feeding at this scale? 100 this year and likely more the next.

I don't have any experience with beekeeping on your scale (at least not yet), but I know the steel 55gal drums seal up nicely for storage, and it's VERY easy to get pumps that'll handle thick liquids for them (commonly used for transferring heavy-weight oils). It's prob. what I'll try first once I get enough hives to have any need for that volume of syrup.

-Hope it helps
Rob

[Kolbeez]

I'd like to learn more about the pump you're referring to. What is it and where can I find one. Thanks for the good idea

[robherc]

I've used rotary pumps on 55gal drums for transferring fuel when I worked in construction; and I've used rotary, lever & "plunge-type" hand-operated pumps to move JP8 (diesel) and various weights of oils while I was in the military. Here are links to a few pumps (of vastly varying prices) I found on a Google search, that might work for moving quantities of syrup:
--Rotary hand pump
--"Zee-Line" pneumatic pump...it's PRICEY, but for really large volume it might be convenient enough to pay for itself
--Hand lever pump (old-school well-pump style)
--List of 55gal drum pumps on Uline.com; the metal "plunge-type" piston pump looks fairly promising
--lubestore.com pumps page, I saw at least 5-10 models that were rated for thicker fluids in there
--Northern Tool Company barrel+hand pumps page (they have a MUCH less expensive pneumatic listed in there)


Hope this helps,
Rob

[Kolbeez]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. I'm wondering if the pumps for thick fluid would gum up with sticky syrup. I think I'll have to just have to try one out. I even found this air operated pump. http://www.harborfreight.com/12-gpm-...ump-93755.html

Reasonable price to see how it works.

[Roland]

Gravity never fails. If you need to fill feeder cans, and can raise a tote to get the can under, a tote beats a barrel hands down.

Crazy Roland

[BMAC]

Roland is right on. If you are not taking that tote to the bee yard and filling feeders on site just put your tote up on a solid stand and neck down your tote spout to the size for filling your cans. Just don't take your hand of the ball valve that opens the tote. Food grade totes are not free but you should be able to find one alot cheaper than a good pump. Generally gear pumps are used for heavy syrups that are food grade and they typically run 700 - 2200 bucks depending on what you want.

[hpm08161947]

If gravity doesn't work out for you, like trouble lifting a full tote that high, consider a trash pump.... it's what I use... HF usually carries plenty of them.

[BMAC]

Herb have you ever used a trash pump for pumping syrup? I have not but its my understanding it only pumps water.

Sean what kind of syrup will you use? Will you be making your own or will you buy HFCS?

[hpm08161947]

This is what I use to pump HFCS.

http://www.harborfreight.com/3-full-...ine-68370.html

[robherc]

3" intake, 212cc engine, how many tonnes of syrup are you pumping every day?!?
(How many hives does it take to "need" that kind of equipment? 5K, 9K, more?)

[Kolbeez]

Sean what kind of syrup will you use? Will you be making your own or will you buy HFCS?

I buy syrup from Mann Lake, Pro Sweet (% HFCS). I think for the cost and the # of hives (100), we could borrow a friend's forklift and set it off the ground in the garage the few times per year that we'll need to fill up. Thanks for all the suggestions. Big help.

[hystad]

http://sacramento.craigslist.org/for/2948317036.html

$125 for a tote

[hpm08161947]

3" intake, 212cc engine, how many tonnes of syrup are you pumping every day?!?
(How many hives does it take to "need" that kind of equipment? 5K, 9K, more?)

Actually I have a 2" port... which comes in very handy when moving syrup into a tote, probably about 15 min to fill it up. When putting syrup in internal feeders the port is stepped down with fittings to a typical garden hose size.

How many hives to justify such a setup... well we run about 320... how else would you feed 320?

[hpm08161947]

I, we could borrow a friend's forklift and set it off the ground in the garage the few times per year that we'll need to fill up. Thanks for all the suggestions. Big help.

A 275 GAL Tote of HFCS weighs 3660 lbs or there abouts. Take a pretty big lift to set it down from very high.....

[Tazcan]

We just got our first bees and the bee keeper had a 50 gallon drum with a spout at the bottom for freeding his hives. pretty cool