DIY Wavebox Tutorial from start to finish!

[geologeek]

honestly you do not want to see the inside of my box as it is simply a muddle of wires that are all yellow.

i used a small breadboard and yellow bell wire using the diagram by Duce67 on page ten and reference to the one about a third of the way down on this page

http://www.doctronics.co.uk/555.htm

the box is just a small hobby box with the pot and led put through holes.

would put pictures but the wife has misplaced the cards

 

[rmsimpson]

Still pretty new to the hobby, but I built this box for a friend yesterday. Thanks to XTM and Deuce67 for making it pretty simple!

The Tunze is still on order, but I've hooked the unit up to a 9v battery and get pretty (and adjustable!) flashing lights, so I'm fairly confident I've wired it up correctly.

I went to my local Fry's Electronics to get all the parts. They were out of stock on variations of 500k POT's, so I had to get one a fair bit larger than I'd originally hoped for. They also had no 1k resistors, so I went with the closest thing I could find, a 1.2k.

Finally, the 555 IC wasn't available, so I went with the 955.

Finished (Large)

Topside (Large)

Backside (Large)
Backside w/ callouts (Large)

Parts List (Large)

 

[segaken]

Can 6091 directly plug into 6055 to be a wavemaker ?
If yes, do Tunze sell 6091 separately?

 

[aries70]

Yes and Yes

 

[segaken]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13403118#post13403118 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aries70
Yes and Yes

Thanks, just bought it and play with it now ~
Do you think 6055 can create wave without box in the 36" x 14" x 18"H tank?

And I also using the Sea Swirl, will it affect the wave tuning?
I try around a hour but still can't "make" a wave~~~~ How is the best way to tune that?

 

[EnderG60]

without an opposing pump on opposite timing, no you cant make a wave without the box.

With a box, you might be able to get a 1/2 to 3/4" wave going in that tank.

 

[aries70]

My tank is 48" and I get a easy 1" wave using a 6055 w/box

 

[w3ish3ng]

hey,

im trying to set up a 2ft tank and might make a external box for a 6100 to act as a wavebox. tank will be a acrylic tank. will there be any problem in this? will it be too strong?

 

[july865]

tag

 

[xtm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13434741#post13434741 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by w3ish3ng
hey,

im trying to set up a 2ft tank and might make a external box for a 6100 to act as a wavebox. tank will be a acrylic tank. will there be any problem in this? will it be too strong?

Might not be enough length to make a "wave"... how wide is it?

 

[w3ish3ng]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13441742#post13441742 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by xtm
Might not be enough length to make a "wave"... how wide is it?

its 2x2x2' 1/2" acrylic.

if let say i add another 6100 into it, how will that do? will my tank be able to take it?

 

[xtm]

Originally posted by coralfragger101
Just spent all morning reading this entire thread. GREAT thread and justifiably won ThreadOTM.

Thank you!

This got me all hyped up to give it a try until the question of stress on the tank seams entered the picture and seamed (pun intended) to go unanswered.

I have tried the wavebox in many tanks of different sizes (including a hair thin Petco 40 breeder). I think that all these concerns about the seams of a glass tank failing are non-justifiable. I mean, think about it-- exactly how many people have actually experienced seam failure using the wavebox? I am not dismissing the possibility of a failure but this claim is unsubstantiated. There is very little (if any) documented failure using the box.

Also, I feel that on a long tank, there really isn't a "true" wave that travels like a tsunami with tremendous force! The rise and fall of the waves on both sides of the tank are simply water levels rising up and down-- to compensate with the rapid emptying and filling up of the box. Bottom line- The tank seams are NEVER exposed to any substantial pressure!

On this DIY wavebox project, the main concern is how you build the controller. This is the weakest link.

Hope that helps.. I know I should be participating more on the discussion but lately I've been so busy.. and I will be out of the country for the next month or so (diving in the South Pacific! yea!)

 

[gotbags-10]

i havent been able to read the whole thread yet so if this has been discused my appoligies. I was wondering if anyone has tried any of the new koralia 12v powerheads in the wave box. Obviously the price on the pumps are awesome but not sure if the controller would be the same or not. Any input?

 

[july865]

tag

 

[cwklinge]

Here is a controller that my brother helped me build. Runs two pumps either opposite each other or independently. Right now I have about a 2 1/2 inch wave. http://www.kc9joy.com/Electronic Page Circuits/Fishtank Wave controller/Fish tank index page.html

 

[Deuce67]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13508160#post13508160 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cwklinge
Here is a controller that my brother helped me build. Runs two pumps either opposite each other or independently. Right now I have about a 2 1/2 inch wave. http://www.kc9joy.com/Electronic Page Circuits/Fishtank Wave controller/Fish tank index page.html

So cool! thanks for sharing!!

 

[gweeto]

DIY Tutorial Video For XTMs WB


Hey fellow ReefCentral Hobbiests

I was in the process of building a wave box controller with the help from this thread. while doing so I decided to make a tutorial for the people not comfortable with soldering and such.

Videos speak louder than pics so I hope this can help many people.

YouTube Video Tutorial click Here

Please rate and comment on my YouTube Video. The more I get, the more popular it will get allowing more people to find this video and direct them to reefcentral



Also I have some other good Reef videos.

Click Here for My YouTube Videos
My 2 popular ones are
- cheap way to hang your socks
- How to drill a tank

Rate thos too if you can, by doing so will help more people.

 

[Returnreefer]

for the wave box, beside the opening for the tunze, is there another opening some where?

 

[aries70]

only at the top is open beside's the opening for the pump

 

[Returnreefer]

is this opening where the water comes in and then pushed out via the opening on the tunze pump?