Magnetic stirrer for water movement?

[Anonymous]

Has anyone ever tried to create water movement in a small tank with a stir bar like the type used in Nilsen kalk reactors? It seems like it would be incredibly simple to construct. A small AC motor, a magnet, and a stir bar is all that would be required. The stir bar could then be hidden behind some rockwork and screened off so snails and the like wouldn't impede it. Any reason why this shouldn't work? You could even do it on the side wall of a tank.

 

[Anonymous]

For a little nano, it may work, but the problem is that stir bar only create roational force, which is fine for kalk reactor, but not for fish tank. If a snail get in the way, it may knock off the stir bar, or the bar will kill it.

 

[Anonymous]

why not just a micro jet or a mini PH Matt??

 

[Len]

I suppose it can work, but it seems like over-engineering to me A closed loop or simple powerhead would be a lot simplier and effective. Note, if you're using a stirrer on acrylic, it will eventually wear the acrylic away. That's why in properly designed Nielson reactors, they have a replacable teflon (or acrylic) plate where the stirrer sits on.

 

[Anonymous]

For a little nano, it may work, but the problem is that stir bar only create roational force, which is fine for kalk reactor, but not for fish tank.

Rotational forces work fine for powerheads right? It could also run on AC and be switched in direction every few minutes right? The intention is to use it for very small tanks needing a lot of circulation.

If a snail get in the way, it may knock off the stir bar, or the bar will kill it.

Easy to prevent. Put a little cage around the stir bar's radius. This could fit in an area about 1.5" wide right?

 

[Anonymous]

why not just a micro jet or a mini PH Matt??

Because they take up a huge amount of space in a very small tank, and can only push flow in one direction. Even on a wavemaker it's still just pushing water in one direction.

 

[Anonymous]

how small of a tank?

 

[Anonymous]

I think it could work on a tank up to around 5 gallons. I'm going to build one, what the hey.

 

[Unarce]

I can see it now, "The Wandell NanoWave".

 

[Anonymous]

I can see it now, "The Wandell NanoWave".

...sounds like a dance move from the 1950's.

Peace,

Chip

 

[Anonymous]

or a disco dance..

 

[Anonymous]

>...Rotational forces work fine for powerheads right?...

There is one output opening for powerhead, which direct the flow. Some powerhead can be operated without the impeller cover (some german powerhead, for example), but the speed is a lot faster than what you want.

>..That's why in properly designed Nielson reactors, they have a replacable teflon (or acrylic) plate where the stirrer sits on.

If it is properly engineered, it would never need replacement plate. I used to worked in an organometallic lab where there are a few stills that runs 24/7 for years with telfon stirring bar (on Pyrex) and the Pyrex does not have any issue. I don't see why they can get a glass shop to cut a watch glass or something for the kalk reactor.

 

[Anonymous]

Pyrex is glass right? I wonder why no one has just placed a glass circle under the stir bar in Kalk reactors...

 

[Anonymous]

Does the pH of kalk solution dissolves glass :? Probably ok...

Yes, pyrex is one type of glass. It is designed for thermo-shock resistant, so you maybe able to use regular glass in this case.