Aquarium Heater to Warm Sugar Water

[SawBee]

Has anyone every tried using a Submersible Aquarium Heater to warm sugar water inside a hive feeder? 
Would the bees take the warm sugar water even on cold winter days?
Would the Aquarium Heater located in the sugar water also help to warm the hive?

Any comments appreciated.

[Michael Bush]

>Has anyone every tried using a Submersible Aquarium Heater to warm sugar water inside a hive feeder?

I haven't nor know of anyone who has.

>Would the bees take the warm sugar water even on cold winter days?

If it's close to the cluster, yes.  If it's far from the cluster, no.  But it would certainly help on those warm days and cold nights where the syrup never warms up enough during the day.  But it would also cause the syrup to evaporate causing moisture in the hive.

>Would the Aquarium Heater located in the sugar water also help to warm the hive?

Probably.  But the humidity wouldn't be a good thing.  Your climate may affect how well or how poorly this works.

[SawBee]

Thanks for your comment Michael.  I hadn't considered the moisture problem.  Sounds like it might be good for the sugar water, but bad for the hive.

[Finski]

.
When the feeder have wide bottom, the hive heat keeps the syrup warm.
I put news paper sheets over the feeder that syrup does not become cold at night.
That system works near freezing point.

If you use aquarium heater and syrup is finish, the heater will be in dry and  burn you hive :)

[Michael Bush]

The other issue would be that warm syrup ferments more quickly...

[ScituateMA]

Add little bit of honey bee healty, no more fermented syrup

[edward]

New Life in an old post

If you need to feed bees and its getting Cold you can put a pail of warm syrup under the frames with a box around to keep it and the hive warm.

If the syrup is 40oC or normal hive temp the bees  will move the feed from the pail to the frames.

Sort of a hail Mary beefore the Winter starts.


mvh Edward  :-P