Oxalic acid

Just wondering what is the best concentration to make up the oxalic acid. I have read different things online suggesting making it up 3% and then dissolving that in sugar syrup. Am going for that treatment as can order the solid cheap through work!
Cheers Steve

3.2%

Disolve 1kg sugar in 1 litre of water. This produces 1.67 of 1:1 (100%)syrup. Add 75grm of Oxalic Acid Dihydrate. This gives a 3.2% Oxalic Acid (weight/volume) solution which is more commonly expressed as 4.5% Oxalic Acid Dihydrate solution.

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100 g water + 100 g sugar + 7.5g OA.

That is for 5 one box colony and 3 two box colony.

7.5/208 = 3.6%


1 kg water + 1 kg sugar is for 50 hives

in different countries "best" percent varies from 2.8% to 4.0%.

The inventors of trickling Nanetti and Stadi started with 4.2 OA and 60% sugar 1997 and after 6 years experiments the solution got its recent formula.

.http://www.apimondia.com/apiacta/articles/2003/nanetti.pdf
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Beeks calculate percents very sharply but when giving the syrup they tend to give over dosages compared to original advices.

In original recipe it is 3 ml/seam for one box colony and 5 ml for 2 brood colony. But this shows that bees stand many kind of calculations.

Finman said:

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In original recipe it is 3 ml/seam for one box colony and 5 ml for 2 brood colony. But this shows that bees stand many kind of calculations.

Click to expand...

It also shows that you don't have to be uber anal and measure precisely 5ml OA mix for each seam

jenkinsbrynmair said:

It also shows that you don't have to be uber anal and measure precisely 5ml OA mix for each seam

Click to expand...

A smaller dose of the correct concentration is more effective than a large dose of a weak concentration. The proscribed dose is harmful to the bees (cruel to be kind) any overdose is more harmful and no more beneficial ergo, best practice is to follow the recommendations with concentration and if anything to err on the low side with the volume, especially if you have a smaller hive than the recommendations were formulated for.

By now you would have seen the replies on Oxalic Acid dilution. What should be emphasised, for the owner of a few hives, and therefore low quantity of mixture, is the accuracy in weighing the Oxalic Acid crystals. I have bought low cost, but accurate scales
(Smart Weigh) that weigh to fractions of a gram. Well worth it for peace of mind.

Great thanks. I have accurate digital scales (also borrowed from work) so will do with due care and accuracy. Only have one small hive this season.
Have a great Christmas all!