Homemade kalk stirrer

Wayofthereef · Aug 7, 2023

So like many of you I try to either 3d print, make, retrofit anything I can to save a buck. So like an idiot i used to put kalkwasser in my ato and it has gotten way to unpredictable. So i looked up kalk reactor's and 400$ was nuts for what it did. Magnetic stirrer, an acrylic cylinder a lid and 2 bulkhead connections.. so amazon parts, 3d printed lid and a few hours worth of goofing around i made my own for 75$ So I got a magnetic stirrer for 35$ and 18in x 6in acrylic flower vase 17$ and 2 part epoxy 20$ all from Amazon.

So the flower vase had a curve to the bottom that wouldn't let the stirrer spin so i mixed up 2 part and poured it in the bottom till it was level. Then 3d printed a lid with an opening for a ph probe. But you can order a 7 in acrylic disc and a 5 inch and glue the 2 together and make a lid. Then put a 1/4 bulkhead about 1 in from the bottom and a 3/8 1 inch from the top and set the apex to turn on the stirrer for 20 minutes a day or if the ph drops to 12 . And done.. hope this inspires someone who wants one but needs it on the cheap

Wayofthereef · Aug 7, 2023

Also it just stirred in these pics, normally it settles out and is clear at the top

Moe K · Aug 24, 2023

That looks great! Nice and clean. I have been working on one to manufacture small scale and was hoping to keep it around the $100 mark. Turns out kalk is some nasty stuff so it limits the materials that can be used. Pricing out everything (motor, container, little bits and pieces) it was cutting close to $90. Didnt even calculate time and labor yet. Now I see why reactors can cost a bunch but yeah, $400 for one is a stretch.

Wayofthereef · Aug 25, 2023

Moe K said:
That looks great! Nice and clean. I have been working on one to manufacture small scale and was hoping to keep it around the $100 mark. Turns out kalk is some nasty stuff so it limits the materials that can be used. Pricing out everything (motor, container, little bits and pieces) it was cutting close to $90. Didnt even calculate time and labor yet. Now I see why reactors can cost a bunch but yeah, $400 for one is a stretch.

Ya i think with the bulk head i went with 3/8" up top and 1/4 at the bottom and spent a total of 82$.. then set my apex to come on at 9 pm and it stirs til 930 and the doser stays off til 1030 to let it settle.. my ph drops to like 12.2 by 9pm and its back up to 12.3 to 12.35 after.. its honestly amazing how well it works.. i honestly thought of manufacturing my own as well after this.