Cube aquariums - Wavebox or not?

[Crab Rangoon]

I've got a 36x36x27" aquarium that currently utilizes a Vortech pump. I don't actually use the wave function very often, and my primary goal was to do a good job of keeping my barebottom glass clean. I've decided that just the one Vortech is not an acceptable solution, and I must either buy a second one, a larger one, or switch over to a Wavebox.

I borrowed a Wavebox for the weekend (6215 I believe), and under no circumstances could I succeed in producing the ideal wave. First, I removed the Vortech from the aquarium, and tried the Wavebox placed in the center of my back glass. After no success there, and suggestions that "it must be in a corner," I moved it to the back corner, opposite of my overflow. I experienced even less success there, as my inverts ~18-24" to the side of the Wavebox were practically still.

My main concerns are:
- Is a Wavebox (or Nano Wavebox) suitable for a 36x36" area?
- I've read that the longer (and presumably skinnier) the tank, the more dramatic the wave; should I expect a tiny/minimal wave if this is true?
- Do I place the box in the center of my back glass, or does it truly need to be in a corner?

Thanks!

 

[rvitko]

I think most of this has to do with properly tuning the controller. All wavemodes work on the same principal which is resonance frequency, as a result, the shorter the tank, the shorter the frequency and the shorter the wave, and also the wider the tank, the shorter the wave. This also means there is one exact frequency that will produce a wave, until you hit it, nothing will happen. This will be in the far counter clockwise range of the controller. Cube tanks are less than ideal for a wave as a result. I would imagine that when tuned precisely a wave of 1/2-3/4" would be possible, on a tank this wide it should be near the center and have a relatively unobstructed shot at the far wall. I would be sure it is a 6215, 6215 is about 20% stronger than a 6212 (older model). Also an older 6212 may not be able to pulse fast enough for such a short tank, older 6091 controller had a range of .40-1.60 seconds and this was changed to .30-1.50 seconds in 2008 for the Nano Wavebox and they all share the same controller. Given the tank width, the full size wavebox would be preferable to the Nano Wavebox but you will need the faster timing of the later controller.

 

[Crab Rangoon]

Thanks for the info, Roger! I'll hear from my friend soon on the model #, but I know it is the newer of his 2 boxes that he loaned me. This controller has a dial, rather than a small screw that must be turned with a screwdriver - so that may help ID it?

I'll go ahead and adjust it some more today and try to find the perfect spot - I didn't really know which end to start on for adjustments. Should I be turning the dial ~ 1/32 turn each time? Or trying to even smaller, finer adjustments than that?

 

[rvitko]

The controller has always had a dial, however the oldest ones had a driver with screw to set the pump power, this is different though from the controller interval, basically this screw set amplitude and the controller set frequency, the new ones work the same, with small knob on the junction block controlling amplitude. A 6215 has a round ball shaped pump, 6261 is more squared.