4 waveboxes - Good idea?

[triggerfish1976]

Roger,

I was thinking about adding 2 more wavebox extensions increasing my total wavebox count to four including the master unit. I am just not 100% statisfied with the water flow I am getting now and wanted to experiment with the two additional waveboxes. My tank is 96"L x 30"h x 48"d. I currently have 1 box centered in the middle of one of the 48" sides with water flow aimed down the length of the tank. The second wavebox is located on the opposite end in the far back corner but it faces the front of the tank. I have tried placing them side by side and also directly opposite each other on the ends of the tank and I pretty much get the same results (about a 1" wave).
I was wondering if adding 2 extra boxes could get me bigger waves and possible a front to back and side to side wave if I put two on the back of the tank facing forward and two on the ends pushing the water down the length of the tank?
I tried running streams with the waveboxes originally and they seemed to cancel out the frequency of the waves.

 

[Bebo77]

4 boxes? get some streams....

 

[rvitko]

I would place both waveboxes on the same side and try that, try tuning it slowly and maximizing the wave height. I see no need for two and having waves come from perpendicular directions will not work well. I would add streams to increase flow.

 

[triggerfish1976]

I originally had them placed on the same end next to each other and it didn't get me a better wave. I was also running (2) 6200's hooked up to a 7095 and they were cancelling out the wavebox frequency no matter where I placed them. I was thinking about either getting (4) of the 6055 when they come out or getting (2) 6100's and place them on either end of the tank on a pulse mode and see if that helps.

 

[rvitko]

How tall of a wave are you getting? The cancellation effect should only exist if the Streams are against the waveboxes and even then it should not be more than a 1/2" reduction.

 

[triggerfish1976]

When I was just running the waveboxes only I couldn't get more than a 1" wave. When I ran the streams it barely registered any wave motion at all, maybe 1/4". I had the streams shooting diagonally from the rear of the tank toward the front in two different directions and the waveboxes were directed down the long axis of the tank.

 

[rvitko]

Try using one 6200 blowing down the same direction as the waveboxes, this should not compromise the wave height. Are you using the same controller for both boxes? Did you change the jumper inside the wavebox?

 

[triggerfish1976]

I did switch the jumper inside the controller and yes I do having them running off of the same controller.
I will try just a 6200 and see how that works.

 

[Jar*Head]

Roger, what is the Jumper in the wavebox? I also have two wavebox and 2x6200 in my 4x4 cube. they work very well.

 

[rvitko]

Inside the controller is a jumper, like on a hard drive, and you have to set it for inverse, synchron or extern mode.

 

[triggerfish1976]

It is used if you situate the waveboxes next to or opposite each other in the tank. I believe inverse is when they are opposite so one is blowing water out and the other is pulling it in and synchron is when they are side by side so what is blown in and out at the same time.
Roger - What happens if they are set on synchron facing each other and what is the extern mode for?

 

[rvitko]

If set onb synchron and facing each other you are using only one wavebox, actually worse, they are essentially canceling each other out. Extern is if you only have one and want to connect to the multicontroller and run the wavebox only part of the day.

 

[triggerfish1976]

I know you recommend getting a stream to increase water movement but wouldn't adding 2 more waveboxes get me a stronger wave? I am really pushing for a 2" wave (tank was built to accomodate this). Why do you recommend not doing this?

 

[rvitko]

Because the rocking motion of the wavebox is a good adjunct to flow but is not in and of itself a flow solution, the debris just washes back and forth a directional current is needed to sweep it away.

 

[triggerfish1976]

I picked up a 6100 and I really see a huge different in the amount of waste it is kicking up but I currently have it running on 100% speed with no pulsing. Can I get a y-Adapter and hook it up directly to the wavebox controller so it is can sync up with the boxes or do I have to get a seperate single or 7095 controller and run those through a y-adapter and then to the wavebox controller?

 

[rvitko]

You could connect it to the 6091 but it would be more effective to get a 7091 controller and run the wavebox independently.

 

[GSMguy]

this thread is sooo confusing