The present invention relates to a chemical feeder that includes a support plate that is positioned within the housing chamber of the chemical feeder. The support plate includes a base plate that has one or more extensions that extend upward from an upper surface of the base plate. The extensions can, with some embodiments, be in the form of peg extensions, arcuate extensions that can together define an impeller pattern, or a spiral extension. The support plate also includes a deflection plate that is positioned vertically above at least one support plate aperture that extends through the base plate. The deflection plate also includes at least one deflection plate hole therethrough. A first portion of liquid passing up through the support plate aperture is horizontally deflected by the deflection plate and interacts with the extensions. A second portion of liquid passing up through the support plate aperture passes vertically up through the deflection plate hole(s). The first and second portions of liquid contact a solid chemical material that is supported above the support plate, so as to form a treated liquid that includes dissolved chemical material.