DIY Kalk Stirrer?

[DatReefGuy]

Has anyone tried a DIY Kalk Stirrer? If so, what was your experience and does it work well? Any negatives?

 

[dz6t]

You can simply use a maxijet mounted 1/4 from the bottom of a bucket and put it on a timer.
Let the pump run several times a day with 5 to 10 minutes each.

 

[Kymot]

But shouldnt we only be dosing the clear part of the saturated kalk solution? Can you also dose the slurry?

 

[dz6t]

That is why the pump only runs a few short periods of time. So the Kalkwasser slurry has time to settle. Put the doser on timer as well and only dose when the slurry settles.
If you are using ATO to dose Kalkwasser, put the ATO on opposite times as the pump.

 

[dz6t]

Same practice holds true if you are using a mechanical stir.

 

[Cooper2]

I built an Avast DIY unit. I have several tanks and wanted a central vessel that would feed them all. The stirrer sits up at aquarium height and "overflows" into a 10 gallon ATO unit with dosers down at sump height and then out to the tanks. The stirrer is fed by a DOS unit. This set up has worked so well that I have yet even see any scale or crap accumulate in the ATO that holds it. I'm in Foxboro if ever interested in seeing it. I'm pretty sure I have another stirrer if you're in the market for one.

 

[Turbosnail]

I built an Avast DIY unit. I have several tanks and wanted a central vessel that would feed them all. The stirrer sits up at aquarium height and "overflows" into a 10 gallon ATO unit with dosers down at sump height and then out to the tanks. The stirrer is fed by a DOS unit. This set up has worked so well that I have yet even see any scale or crap accumulate in the ATO that holds it. I'm in Foxboro if ever interested in seeing it. I'm pretty sure I have another stirrer if you're in the market for one.

I have seen it it’s pretty cool.

 

[NeverlosT]

I think @Gardiner has a kalk stirrer you can probably buy for a steal if you dont want to DIY

 

[DatReefGuy]

I've been looking into them. I unfortunately only have room for a gallon jug or so. I'm wondering if I can get a big Ball jar and use a magnetic stirrer to mix it up. Seemed like a good idea to me seeing they are so expensive to purchase an actual stirrer. Very similar to this one.

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[Cooper2]

I have the tall skinny version called the A1 I think that I'd part with. It's factory built. The DIY I made is the shorter large diameter A2, It runs longer when filled.

 

[DatReefGuy]

I have the tall skinny version called the A1 I think that I'd part with. It's factory built. The DIY I made is the shorter large diameter A2, It runs longer when filled.

PM'd

 

[Kymot]

I’ve been just mixing 9 tablespoon of kalk in 5 gallon RODI. Stir it for 15 mins and let it settled overnight and extract the clear water portion and dose that. It’s a pain to do it every week now.
For the kalkstirrer, how often do you keep the kalk before replacing it? Is it by the gallon water mixed or when u see the pH not increasing anymore?
Thx all

 

[DatReefGuy]

I’ve been just mixing 9 tablespoon of kalk in 5 gallon RODI. Stir it for 15 mins and let it settled overnight and extract the clear water portion and dose that. It’s a pain to do it every week now.
For the kalkstirrer, how often do you keep the kalk before replacing it? Is it by the gallon water mixed or when u see the pH not increasing anymore?
Thx all

I mix 2 teaspoons to one gallon. I shake it up the best I can and stick the dip tube through the top and extract the clear by keeping the tube off the bottom a bit. I replace it when empty which is usually about once a week.