Aquarium Controllers and Wavemaker pumps Help?

[fishtk75]

I have Reef Keeper Lite controller and has the waver maker controller area.
What pumps out there that are a controlled pump? There are pumps that should not be turned off and on as a wave maker that they sale as wave pumps and make noise going on and off.

 

[fishtk75]

So no one uses the wave maker option if you have a controller?
If not what is a good pump setup for wave making?

 

[sirreal63]

The wave maker portion of the RKL is a misnomer, it is used to cycle a pump on and off, like a MaxiJet, but this does not really produce waves. This is different than a controlled pump, like Vortech or a Tunze that changes the pump flow, not just cycling the pump on and off. I don't know of any non-controlled pumps that are designed to be cycled on and off but I think the new Koralia's may be, as their smart wave "controller" is just a fancy on and off timer. I haven't played with these yet so I am not positive on if they make much noise on startup, which plagues non-controlled pumps. Bottom line, if you want to make waves, get a device that is actually designed to do that, like a wave box, which is the most efficent way, or use controllable pumps like Vortech or Tunze.

 

[fishtk75]

The wave maker portion of the RKL is a misnomer, it is used to cycle a pump on and off, like a MaxiJet, but this does not really produce waves. This is different than a controlled pump, like Vortech or a Tunze that changes the pump flow, not just cycling the pump on and off. I don't know of any non-controlled pumps that are designed to be cycled on and off but I think the new Koralia's may be, as their smart wave "controller" is just a fancy on and off timer. I haven't played with these yet so I am not positive on if they make much noise on startup, which plagues non-controlled pumps. Bottom line, if you want to make waves, get a device that is actually designed to do that, like a wave box, which is the most efficent way, or use controllable pumps like Vortech or Tunze.

Thank you for your reply. When you said about controlled pumps that change the pump flow so how do they work? They do not go on and off as said before.
You mean as slow down RPM and speed up RPM of the pumps impeller!

 

[Mark Bianco]

A Wave box (Tunze) is basicially an overflow box that goes inside of the tank it fills up with water then the pump is turned on and the water is pushed out the bottom of the box the pump is turned off. As the water / wave returns to the box the box is refilled and the pump is turned back on. That is the way a Wave box works. They are cool but, you have to tune them and the duration of the wave is not adjustable...

The way a controllable pump works is. The Tunze is controlled by a 1-10vdc signal. the higher the voltage the faster the pump will spin. So if you want a controllable pump you will also need to buy a controller.

 

[fishtk75]

A Wave box (Tunze) is basicially an overflow box that goes inside of the tank it fills up with water then the pump is turned on and the water is pushed out the bottom of the box the pump is turned off. As the water / wave returns to the box the box is refilled and the pump is turned back on. That is the way a Wave box works. They are cool but, you have to tune them and the duration of the wave is not adjustable...

The way a controllable pump works is. The Tunze is controlled by a 1-10vdc signal. the higher the voltage the faster the pump will spin. So if you want a controllable pump you will also need to buy a controller.

thank you I see what you said I found a page about the Tunze pumps.

 

[sirreal63]

Tunze and Vortech's do not completely cut power to the pump as they cycle, so you don't get that startup sound. Your RKL is just performing an on/off cycle and that is the difference.

 

[billwill]

I run Sicce Voyager 2800's on my RKL and they are totally silent switching back and forth. While it's true they don't literally create a "wave", they do a fantastic job of oscillating current. I tried it with my Korallia Evo 1400's and they made a noticeable clicking when they switched on, which I couldn't deal with. I tried an MP40, and it was just too loud for me while ramping up.

 

[kenghmoob]

I have a Hydro Mag 7 & a 5 on their smart wave. I don't hear the clicking noise that everyone is talking about. Maybe it all those years putting my ears next to the speaker that is causing me not to notice the clicking noise.

 

[symon_say]

Koralia magnun are suppose to work fine with wavemakers. I plan myself to get two 6 for my tank a cycle one to the other to get different flow.