Built in Waveboxes

[46bfinGA]

Ok guys I am seriously considering having some Acrylic Waveboxes built on my tank instead of sticking the Tunze 6212's in my tank. Any Ideas out there in how to better Implement this. So things to consider would be......

1. Size/Location of the Acrylic Wavebox
2. Pump Removal for Maintenence
3. Water inlet location

So all things considered my Idea was to build the boxes a bit bigger then the Stock Tunze Wavebox so the pump could be removed from the top of the Box. I was figuring around 6"x6"x10-12" would work. The hole for the pump outlet would be the same size as the Tunze. Now could water be introduced back into the tank thru the same hole,or would I need to add some additional holes to aloow the box to fill backup.

Heres a pic of the tank Im using. It is a 600 gallon tank that BLFuller123 was building.The external overflow is on one side and I was thinking the Waveboxes could be installed on either side of the overflow. The tank is 8'x4'x30" and the overflow is 36" wide so that leaves me 6" on each side. Any thoughts?

I also have four 6101's that I would love to hide but I cannot really figure out a good way to do that and still be able to aim and change locations if need be.

 

[Elliott]

jnarowe and Steve Weast, I believe they may be able to shine some light on the subject of built in, hidden waveboxes. I think it's a great idea and plan to explore it as well for my next tank.

 

[46bfinGA]

I remember JNAROWE mentioning he was looking into doing this. I look forward to some ideas on how to better execute this. How do you feel about the location I am considering? Do you think that overflow will effect the Waveboxes?

Im trying to keep the back wall empty so you dont see any thing but Blue background. So if I put both waveboxes on either side of the overflow. That means I am forced to put my 4 6101's on the opposite side opposing the Waveboxes to keep my back wall clear.

I could also put one wavebox in each corner on opposing side and then install the 6101's with 2 on each side. Kind of hard to decide without trying them in advance. Problem with building in the Waveboxes is they are permanent.

 

[Jar*Head]

I am currently work on my new tank 480g with 2 dual waveboxes. Each dual waveboxe will house 2 tunze pump. If you look at my thread with the top view, you should be able to see my ext wavebox location. I know people have been worrying about the wavebox on the same size with the overflow. You will get the gurgling sound if you don't do it right.

I have two waveboxes in my old 240g cube on the same side with the overflow. At first i had the gurgling problem but after i raise the durso a bit higher, all the gurgling problem going away.

With the new tank i slightly mod the overflow box a bit. The teeth is 2.5" deep vice 1.5".

My ext wavebox is 12x6x14, My water level is about 2" from the euro brace to avoid splashing and enough room for me to play around with the durso.

 

[Harleyguy]

I am having my tank built with Tunze stream boxes on the outside of the tank... 8 total

 

[46bfinGA]

What size Waveboxes were you planning on using? Have you though about how your going to get the pump out to Clean it? Also how you were going to mount the pump in the box?

 

[Jar*Head]

Everything will go through the top. That is why i have the box 1" larger than the normal wavebox.

 

[Jar*Head]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11616147#post11616147 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harleyguy
I am having my tank built with Tunze stream boxes on the outside of the tank... 8 total

You want to run 8 boxes? hmmm, i thought i was crazy .

 

[EnderG60]

There should be no problem doing what your talking about. For that size tank you will probably want to build the boxes to have a volume abuot 2x that of the standard wavebox, and use two 6201's in each box. (6xAxB) to fit beside your overflow. Then just make sure you have enough room front to back to remove the tunze, and make a bracket to hold the pumps in place.

Should be able to run them all off one controller as well, and having 4 of them at one end should keep things nice and clean(sine im guessing that tank would be setup as a penninsula)

Only two things I would make sure of, are that the boxes are deccent thickness and have some extra bracing(since they will be getting hit constantly) and that the tunze's make a decent seal to the side of the tank.

 

[Harleyguy]

EnderG60, I assume you’re typing to me... I will be running 8 6201's off of an Aquacontroler III Pro. The tank will be viewable from 2 sides (front and left side) the back of the tank will house 6 of the streams and the side will house 2 more. The boxes will be made from 3/4" acrylic.

Sorry to hijack the thread.

 

[EnderG60]

nope wasnt talking to you but that will work as well. Last I read in your thread you didnt like waveboxes.

 

[erics3000]

lookd like ther will be some good ideas here

 

[46bfinGA]

Im only going to be using two waveboxes on my 600 gallon. One pump on each side of the external overflow. Along with 4 of the 6101's that should be plenty of flow for my softie tank. My tank will not be setup as a peninsula. It is going to be inwall with only one side being exposed to the Basement. My fish room is going be painted blue so I dont have to put a background on my tank. I want to be able to see in all four sides on my tank from my fish room.The reasoning behind the one sided overflow is so it will not be seen from the viewing room,only the blue wall behind it will be visible.

So you guys thank that 6"x6" box should work fine? The stock waveboxes are 4.5"x4.5" x 12".

Anyone see why these boxes next to the overflow will not work? Thats what Im worried about,once I mount these boxes and drill a hole in my tank they are somewhat permanent. Only way to relocate would be to plug the hole and try again. Where would you guys put the 6101's in the tank?

 

[46bfinGA]

Only two things I would make sure of, are that the boxes are deccent thickness and have some extra bracing(since they will be getting hit constantly) and that the tunze's make a decent seal to the side of the tank. [/B]

I was figuring using 1/2" acrylic for these boxes,I may have some 3/4" leftover from the tank but It seems that would be way overkill. I was going to try using some type of foam at first to stuff behind the pump to make up the extra 1"+ behind it. That way it would be sandwiched between the tank and the back of the wavebox. I was hoping that black gasket that comes with the wavebox would seal it up enough. I dont think the seal is really the concern but yet the stability of the pump against the tank.

 

[EnderG60]

bigger box is fine, just will change the tune settings on the wave controller. If your only going to use two like that should be fine, just get a box and extention, and hang on to the old boxes in case you change your mind or something. I personally would contact a tunze rep about just getting some 6200's with a wave controller and making or asking them about the gaskets, but im cheap

and like i said make an acylic bracket for the pumps(you can make a channel for them to side down into or something)

 

[46bfinGA]

I allready have the waveboxes. But I was thinking about just buying the pumps,etc... and selling my waveboxes.
FWIW the pumps,controller,etc.... are not much cheaper then what I paid for the Waveboxes in the first place.

 

[46bfinGA]

and like i said make an acylic bracket for the pumps(you can make a channel for them to side down into or something) [/B]

Thats a good idea. I'll look into doing something like that. Dont want to make this too complicated though.

If I route out a slot in the back of the overflow box for a bracket to slide down,I would still need a way for the pump to move forward at the bottom of the box,and still be stable. Any ideas on how to accomplish this ?

 

[EnderG60]

I was ment get some used stuff but whatever.

for the bracket I would say make a channel down to the pump(on the tank side of the box. then put the pump in. And the part that slides down the channel is a shaped kina like this

_|
|

so it the back of the pump

 

[46bfinGA]

Well the pump would need to go down in the box then move forward about 1.5" so that it would be sealed against the side of the tank. Then I need something behind the pump to keep it moved forward. Im not sure Im following you how your bracket would work. Could the pump still move forward once the pump slid down the box?

 

[EnderG60]

something kinda like this (all hail my awsome paint skills)

Anyway thats what I was thinking of, maybe with some rubber on the back of the tunze to help with vibration.