school boy error in sugar calcs - ever tried 4:1

[citrus]

So the first batch I made up was 4 kg sugar dissolved in 2.5 litre

Then the other night on auto pilot I must have made up 4:1 in error ... as did 2kg to 630ml water

Then I wondered why it was crystalising in the bucket this morning ... and worse ..the rapid feeder was 'freezing' up (crystallised round the feeder) .. had to break the "ice" on it !

my questions are :-

bad for the bees this double thick stuff ?

I guess the rapid feeder is clogged so have to take it off and redilute ?

 

[For want of a better word]

depending upon your height above sea level it seems that 1kilo of finest cane sugar and 625.5 ml of pure water is the mix to use that bees like most!

I use 2kg of sugar ( Beet probably) and 1 liter of water..... mixed with paddle stirrer to make 300 liters a batch with water straight from the tap... 5hp dirty water pump ( external) used to help mix and to decant into 12.5 cans.

10ml of thymol lecithin mix to each can... job done.

 

[Beefriendly]

I guess the rapid feeder is clogged so have to take it off and redilute ?

That would be my plan of action.
Don't get too hung up on exact numbers here, bees will take anything down, but will take less time to remove excess water if the syrup is thick. And time is something they have plenty off now the forage is about over (Ivy flowering areas excepted).

 

[Erichalfbee]

If you are catering simply for a few hives
Large saucepan
Pour sugar in to three quarters
Add boiling water from the kettle to the same level
Add heat if required
Easy peasy....gives you 2;1 or as near as dammit

 

[drex]

@ citrus
2:1 is near the saturation point of sugar in water, at normal temperature. So anything stronger than this and the extra sugar will just crystallise out, especially if you used hot water to make it up in the first place, so this will just clog your feeder or deposit on the bottom of the container. in answer to your question to get it usable you will have to dilute, but the extra strong syrup ( that remains as liquid) will not hurt your bees as it will only be marginally stronger than 2:1

 

[enrico]

In the olden days we used to boil it into a solid candy block and put it over the feed hole. Never harmed the bees and they would lick it all winter! They will sort it out. No problem!
E

 

[For want of a better word]

In the olden days we used to boil it into a solid candy block and put it over the feed hole. Never harmed the bees and they would lick it all winter! They will sort it out. No problem!
E

My Grandfather used to dip a bag of Tate&Lyle in a bucket of water and stick it on the quilt... do not remember him ever loosing any bees to winter starvation

 

[Beefriendly]

Quite noticeable that all who are advocating above crown board are south of Watford.
Me thinks local advice might be more appropriate, rather than this southern biased BBKA type of advice.

 

[Goran]

When we are making invert syrup ( in process of fondant making), we use simple recipe: 5kg sugar+2L water+ 5g acid ( we use citric).
So You weren't too far of making invert syrup..

 

[Millet]

Quite noticeable that all who are advocating above crown board are south of Watford.
Me thinks local advice might be more appropriate, rather than this southern biased BBKA type of advice.

1000% Agree..

 

[enrico]

I don't advocate one way or the other. You just follow local conditions. They can vary between apiaries let alone between north and south!
E

 

[Gilberdyke John]

Quite noticeable that all who are advocating above crown board are south of Watford.
Me thinks local advice might be more appropriate, rather than this southern biased BBKA type of advice.

I successfully use inverted sandwich containers stuffed with fondant sitting over the feed hole and Gilberdyke is a long way North of Watford

 

[Beefriendly]

And the last time you had a bad winter in East Yorks?
It's a gamble I won't take as I've seen the effects in wooden hives when a severe cold spell sets in.
Although with poly hives it's perhaps less of an issue, but again something I won't gamble on. Onto the top of the frames goes the fondant (IF NEEDED).