1" scwd

rcmike

rcmike

Active member
Hey everyone. Has anyone tried one of the 1" SCWDs? I currently have an oceans motions 4 way that I am constantly messing with because the drum keeps getting stuck. I just ordered a 1" SCWD to replace it with. I tried the 3/4" ones and they did well for smaller tanks but when I tried it on my larger tank with a bigger pump it would switch way too fast. Also the smaller ones were nearly impossible to clean. Just curious if anyone has tried one.

I guess I should have asked this before ordering. :fun2:
 
Switching Current Water Director (SCWD)

Switching Current Water Director (SCWD)

p_15465_24527P.jpg



The most energy efficient wave maker available! SCWD uses your existing pump to create bidirectional water movement in your reef aquarium. Plumbed inline, SCWD directs incoming water to two alternating outputs, switching automatically at a rate depending on incoming pressure. Install the 3/4" SCWD with 3/4" tubing and system pumps with flow rates from 50 to 1,400 gph. Install the NEW 1" SCWD with 1" tubing and pumps with flow rates from 500 to 3,500 gph. Use clamps to keep tubing in place (use stainless steel for external locations; plastic for internal).
 
I seem to see more people with problems with SCWDs than I do with OMs, but that might be due to the fact that the OM is so much more expensive. Brandon ran one (3/4"?) but I believe he ditched it eventually. Definitely a cool idea though.
 
I got my OM used and it been through a couple of people before I got it. A new drum might fix it since it is worn some but I figured I'd try one of these out. Another possible problem is I have a 4 way and am only using two of the ports.
 
I tried the Squid on a closed loop type set up once and they don't hold up! went through several B4 giving up and going another route = Tunze W/controller = Happy tank...
Bill
 
i split the output of my iwaki 70 closed loop and send it to two 3/4" scwds that are pointed at right angles to each other causing either constructive or destructive interference. the waves at the top of my 300gal are as much as 1" although the scwds are 24" below the surface. love em.
 
Not Sure, But If the 1" are new It was most likely 3/4" They kept getting jammed up with Food stuff and Detritus and such and wound Up being Unusable and Chris said he was tired of replacing them!
Bill
 
Yeah, that is the problem with the 3/4" ones. The 1" ones can be taken apart and cleaned. They are also built to handle larger flow rates. I'm going to give it a shot and see how it does.
 
I'm tagging along on this one. I have a 3/4" one that I am using and I too think it switches way too fast. I think the 3/4" would be perfect for a tank with about 200gph or so. I am thinking about putting it on my 5.5 gal pico I am building. I then thought I would order a 1" for my 30 that the 3/4" is on now. For me, switching every 8-10 seconds is too fast. I think I would like it more like every 15-20 seconds. Just what I think, not sure. Mark
 
I really would like for it to have at least 30 seconds or so between sides. That way you can get a good current going before it switches. With the 3/4" I could get enough water going through it with a big pump but it switched so fast that it only moved things directly in the path of the outputs.
 
rcmike said:
I really would like for it to have at least 30 seconds or so between sides. That way you can get a good current going before it switches. With the 3/4" I could get enough water going through it with a big pump but it switched so fast that it only moved things directly in the path of the outputs.
Click to expand...

You really need to check into how much current you are going to try and put through it and how fast it switches for that gph. Here is what Marine depot has listed for the 1". I almost think I like these settings. They don't list an effeciency rating on the 1" like they do the 3/4". The 3/4" is very ineffecient, put like 240 in and get 180 out kinda thing. I will try it on my pico. Might work, then again, might not. From these numbers, looks as though you will get more than your 30seconds. Unless you have one hell of a pump on your tank. I could live with a couple of minutes. Cheers, Mark

1" SCWD, Standard Drive
Switching Rate GPH
30 seconds 3500
55 seconds 1800
80 seconds 1200
120 seconds 900
155 seconds 720
 
i have the 1 inch scwd now it is nice no heat. the gears locked up in mine but the guys had one out to me no questions asked the next day
 
I got the SCWD today and it didn't take very long at all to fit it into my existing plumbing.

Here is a picture comparing it to the 3/4" model. I cut the top off of the one I had to clean it out and glued a piece of acrylic on it.
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Here are the internals. It looks much more durably built than the 3/4" ones.
picture.php


Here is the OM I am replacing.
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Here it is installed.
picture.php


I basically just had to cut off the larger male adapter that went into the OM and glue a 1" adapter onto the pipe. Besides that I just hooked everything else up the way it was. I am actually getting more water through the SCWD than I was the OM. I am using a mag 24 and I have been having problems with the corals getting blown around. I had to turn down my pump some. It switches very slowly. I haven't timed it but it is so slow I was beginning to think it wasn't working when I first hooked it up. It comes with a small piece of pipe you can put under the impeller to direct more water through the impeller if it switches too slowly for your tastes. I may try it just to see how it works although I am very happy with the switching rate now. So far I am very happy with it. Hopefully it will last a long time.
 
Well, after about an hour I went downstairs to check it and it wasn't turning. I took the insides out and they seemed to turn just fine. I put it back in and it still wouldn't work. Took it out again and put it back in and then it started working again. It has been running fine since then. Maybe it had some trash in it, I don't know. There was a lot of junk stirred up when I first turned it on. Could be the gears were tight and need to be broken in a little. Anyway, I'm still cautiously optimistic. At least it took less than a minute to take it apart.
 
rcmike said:
Well, after about an hour I went downstairs to check it and it wasn't turning. I took the insides out and they seemed to turn just fine. I put it back in and it still wouldn't work. Took it out again and put it back in and then it started working again. It has been running fine since then. Maybe it had some trash in it, I don't know. There was a lot of junk stirred up when I first turned it on. Could be the gears were tight and need to be broken in a little. Anyway, I'm still cautiously optimistic. At least it took less than a minute to take it apart.
Click to expand...

Hey there, Please keep this updated so I can know how its going. I am thinking about getting one and will use your experience as a guide. How did you glue the adapters on it? Do they just glue on? I thought my 3/4" had hose barbs on them, did you have to cut them off or anything? Thanks much for the info. Mark
 
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