Kalk Reactor or Stirer and Cost ?

427HISS · Mar 13, 2019

After watching a BRS video, they made the low cost stirer's are not really worth having (like Julian's etc) but the cost of other well known one's are very expensive for what it is. I mean $200-$350, come on...there has to be a low cost way of adding kalk.

I thought of a DIY stirer, so let me know good or bad.

Use a plastic jug, like a 1 to 3 gallon juice container, buy a hospital IV line with adjustable thumb wheel. Cut a hole in the bottom of the jug, insert the IV drip body and use either silicone, epoxy or even frag, rock type glue, fill with RO/DI water, add the correct amount of kalk powder, stir very well, let sit for a few hours, or just wait until the slurry is at the bottom, clear above that. Hang or mount the jug above the tank or sump. Adjust the volume to the tanks calcium needs and/or drip as evaporation water.

Sod Buster · Mar 13, 2019

Avast marine works has a really nice one you can assemble for $160.

427HISS · Mar 13, 2019

Really, I'll check it out.
Thanks

Sod Buster · Mar 13, 2019

The K1 I believe.

427HISS · Mar 13, 2019

Sod Buster said:
Avast marine works has a really nice one you can assemble for $160.

BRS had, them for $209

What do you think about these few reviews ? (haven't looked up others)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/k1-kalk-stirrer-avast-marine.html

Mastiffsrule · Mar 13, 2019

I have a Tunze ato that pumps into the avast stirrer. Work perfect. Had the avast years or so. Only issue was had to replace the pump in top once. Easy to use, easy to clean

Justfebreezeit · Mar 13, 2019

What you are describing as DIY is a Kalk dripper and a lot of people do that to

The problem is space. If you have room to hang a large container above your tank or sump and drip it in then thats much more cost effective. The problem is if you can only use a small container you pretty much have to mix it up every day or every couple days.

Also you can just siphon out of the top of the container you dont need to drill a hole in the jug/container.

acro-ed · Mar 13, 2019

I have an Avast K1 on my frag tank. I'm very happy with it so far.

I only intend on using it temporarily but feel it's far more consistent that just putting kalk in the top off bucket (unstirred). I'm keeping LPS and softies in the tank now as it matures and it's working great for that purpose. Later this year I intend on converting the tank over to SPS as a way to better manage frags from my main tank. Once I do that I will throw a doser on it; only because experience has shown that I will overrun the replacement rate just from kalk saturated top off water.

Sod Buster · Mar 13, 2019

Looks like they are a week behind on them from browsing the website. High demand. The reviews on the site are pretty stout. I plan on one when my tank demands it. I see how people could get a plugged barb if the ATO only came on a few times a day, it is gravity fed. I have mine set super sensitive, fires 10 or more times a day.

gfox · Mar 13, 2019

427HISS said:
BRS had, them for $209

What do you think about these few reviews ? (haven't looked up others)

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/k1-kalk-stirrer-avast-marine.html

Go to the Avast Marine site.They have the K-1 that you build for 159.99.Pretty easy to build.

427HISS · Mar 13, 2019

Justfebreezeit said:
What you are describing as DIY is a Kalk dripper and a lot of people do that to

The problem is space. If you have room to hang a large container above your tank or sump and drip it in then thats much more cost effective. The problem is if you can only use a small container you pretty much have to mix it up every day or every couple days.

Also you can just siphon out of the top of the container you don't need to drill a hole in the jug/container.

But I'll still need to drip it into the tank or sump. I can make up the amount needed, say a gallon, stir then let sit until the slurry is on the bottom, suck out the clear solution into the container adjust the drips using the wheel.

Justfebreezeit · Mar 13, 2019

427HISS said:
But I'll still need to drip it into the tank or sump. I can make up the amount needed, say a gallon, stir then let sit until the slurry is on the bottom, suck out the clear solution into the container adjust the drips using the wheel.

Yes correct. Brs sells a dripper kit also but its cheaper to make your own.

ca1ore · Mar 13, 2019

Been using the avast k1 for years, flawlessly. I’ve had none of the problems cited in the BRS reviews. Always a chance of getting a duff unit, otherwise I’d chalk it up to user ‘error’. Easy enough to make one. Plenty of cheap, low rotation motors to be had.