[patricksull]

Hello

I know there are lots of opinions on the different ratios of granulated sugar/water feed. I would like to make my own mix in a metal 55-gallon drum. I have a band heater that will help bring the sugar to solution. I have access to 25 pound bags of sugar. How much sugar and water should I plan to use?

I will place straw on top and place 100 yards from hives.
I have 10 hives that I want to feed in a single day.
I have done this before in 5-gallon buckets successfully.

Thanks in advance...

 

[JWPalmer]

To make 50 gallons of 1:1, you will need 250 pounds of sugar and then fill the drum to within a few inches of the top with water. Stir until dissolved. Add around a 1/2 cup of bleach to keep it fresh.

 

[mgolden]

A US gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs per gallon. 50 gallons would weigh 417 lbs.

So 400 lbs of sugar for 1:1.

 

[JWPalmer]

A US gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs per gallon. 50 gallons would weigh 417 lbs.

So 400 lbs of sugar for 1:1.

And that is supposed to fit in the 55 gallon drum? Me thinks about 25 gallons will end up on the floor.

 

[RangerLee]

I was making syrup like this, unfortunately my exact calculations are at home. But if I remember correctly 1 gallon of water and 8 pounds of sugar makes about 1.5 gallons final volume. So I was doing ~35 gallons of water and 300 pounds of sugar per batch. I used a submersible sump pump to mix.

 

[Bdfarmer555]

A US gallon of water weighs 8.34 lbs per gallon. 50 gallons would weigh 417 lbs.

So 400 lbs of sugar for 1:1.

Wonder how this worked...lol

3 gal of water and 25 lbs of sugar make about 5 gal of syrup. I'd just multiply each by 10, gets you close.

 

[patricksull]

Thank you all for your input. I should be able to make this work. Really appreciate it.

 

[cconnell]

Well, I made 5 gallons of 2:1 syrup yesterday. 2.5 gallons of water and 40 pounds of sugar filled the 5-gallon bucket to the brim. So, multiply by 10: 25 gallons of water and 400 pounds of sugar to make 50 gallons or so.

To make 1:1, you could probably use 30-35 gallons of water and 240 pounds of sugar to get pretty near a full container; 35 and 280 would probably be near the brim.

 

[mgolden]

Please ignore my comments, didn't think the ratio through well at all at 5AM.

 

[JWPalmer]

Please ignore my comments, didn't think the ratio through well at all at 5AM.

Your ratios are fine, the finished product volume is off just a teeny bit.:lookout:

 

[chainsaw101]

Fill barrel to 1/2 with water, while stirring add sugar to water till full, stir till dissolved.

 

[snapper1d]

Fill barrel to 1/2 with water, while stirring add sugar to water till full, stir till dissolved.

Thats what I do.A free trolling motor comes in real handy! And a cup of bleach keeps it from fermenting also.

 

[myrdale]

I am not sure I am sold on the feed supplements and other essential oils.

Is it beneficial to add salt to the mix? I'd seen a reference a while back they preferred 0.1% weight salt in water, so 1/2 a pound in your 500 gallon drum.

 

[JWPalmer]

Bleach degrades into salt so if you add bleach, no additional salt is necessary. In the winter, when I feed 2:1 and no bleach is required, I add Vitamins and Electrolytes Plus per Lauri's recommendation. Add essential oils if it makes you feel good. My opinion is that the bees do not need them and it is a waste of money.

 

[snapper1d]

I have fed for 40 years and I tried the essential oils for a couple years.The only thing that I have ever seen was the wintergreen in grease patties did get rid of tracheal mites years ago.I thought it was helping with beetles but not using it now and I have less beetles without it.