DIY Wavebox! (With modded MJ)

[northbay-reefer]

another way to get this kind of wave simmilar to the wave box is to use something simmilar to the ball float that push down into the tank to displace the water and then pull back up in a slow continuos motion. kind of like a pumping action of a bicycle pump but wider. The DC motor can be mounted outside of the water with a speed reducing gear set up or using a DC wave maker to controll the motor speed.

 

[BeanAnimal]

we had a HUGE thread someplace a while back about a plunger based setup. Nobody ever went through with building one though. The idea progressed very well too.

 

[smcnally]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8881067#post8881067 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rufio173
I think for years and years of use, DC must be the way to go. Only a few weeks of wavelike motion just isn't worth it.

Thanks for posting it though. Looks great. I really hope that yours will stand the test of time with the oceanflo kit.

Peace,
John H.

True, I guess only time will tell if this will last for the long haul. I'm ordering up a wave timer to run it off of because I know the relay system I'm using now won't cut it. For those of you interested, I made a new box today and slimmed it down to 4"x6"x12" and the waves it produced were just as nice. Here's a video of the new box. http://youtube.com/watch?v=dCfdVDEWVak

 

[saltwater4life1]

looks like it's working just as good I'd like to try this just gotta figure out how i should do it maybe once i get my sump set up i can figure someway out
GOOD LUCK!

 

[dragonforce]

I think your on to something great here, keep up the good work.

 

[Beenalongtime79]

Still looks great! Let us know in a few months and let us know if it is still working!

Peace,
John H.

 

[Covey]

As far as getting it to work in the long haul. There are a few design for the maxi-mod that use stoppers that don't hit the prop. The type of stops that hit down at the base could run for months in one of these and be quickily and cheaply rebuildable.

For what it's worth here was my thread on the topic of the Maxi-mod Wavebox for last spring. Again kudos to actually building it.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=809078

 

[lllosingit]

I've never seen one in person, Does the water go in and out thru the MJ?
Assuming that's how it works.
Could you attach the box externally at the same level that it would have been inside the tank and run PVC over the top into the tank and get the same effect without taking up so much room or drilling the tank?

 

[natual]

smcnally,

I am about to drill a 125 and putting in a wave-type box one of my goals I was just curious where is your overflow(s) located in relation to the back do you have dimensions? and How low is it from the lip on the plastic rim of the tank is the entrance of your overflow.
Is it a standard tank?
Lookin good!

 

[lllosingit]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8882969#post8882969 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by BeanAnimal
we had a HUGE thread someplace a while back about a plunger based setup. Nobody ever went through with building one though. The idea progressed very well too.

I was thinking something along that line but was thinking of using a externally mounted rectangular shaped box with a smaller rectangular box in the middle that would pull water in one end while pushing it out the other end at the same time. You could use a worm gear and a simple oneway motor and change the flow rate thru gearing.
One inlet/outlet on each end of the tank so as it would pull water from one end of the tank and push it in at the other end at the same time.
You would have the same wave action but the water level in the tank would remain constant since your removing and replacing at the same rate.
I wish I was able to do something with a cad program but I have much to learn LOL.

 

[xenon]

I am VERY interested in doing this myself.

I would rather wait to see how yours holds up and how it performs with the $34 Taam MVT Wavemaker. If all goes well I am so building one out of black acrylic.

 

[Daemonfly]

Hrm, for such short duration timing, I beleive a rather simple 555 timer (very cheap IC chip) circuit driving a 120v relay (or solid state relay..) would work just fine for the timing. 555 timers are very versatile and can easily be built adjustable, yet still very cheap.

 

[smcnally]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8883790#post8883790 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by natual
smcnally,

I am about to drill a 125 and putting in a wave-type box one of my goals I was just curious where is your overflow(s) located in relation to the back do you have dimensions? and How low is it from the lip on the plastic rim of the tank is the entrance of your overflow.
Is it a standard tank?
Lookin good!

My tank is a standard 125gal AGA with dual overflows in the back. I'm not sure of the distance from the lip of the overflow to the top of the tank, but I would guess maybe 1/2"

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8884249#post8884249 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Daemonfly
Hrm, for such short duration timing, I beleive a rather simple 555 timer (very cheap IC chip) circuit driving a 120v relay (or solid state relay..) would work just fine for the timing. 555 timers are very versatile and can easily be built adjustable, yet still very cheap.

I thought of this too, but I thought the TAAM timer looked easy enough and it is only $34. All I want is something simple that doesn't make a loud relay click everytime it changes state.

 

[RandyStacyE]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8882561#post8882561 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by scott324
Randy,

Thanks for the post. I didn't see any floats on the mod in this thread, did I miss something.

I also didn;t see any floats on the Tunze site...

Here is where I saw the float switches:
LINK

I found it on this page:
http://www.aquariumpros.ca/modules.php?name=Links&file=viewarticle&id=167&op=nextoldest

 

[funior]

helllo

what pomp You use ????

 

[rrodd89]

how is the pump doing i would think it would die real quick but you have had it for a few days how is it doing? any noise?

 

[crs751]

Just tagging along...great work on the box. Now I know what to do this weekend with some of my scrap acrylic.

 

[scrager]

what about using float switches in the box. high switch turns MJ on, low switch turns it off. no need for a timer at all and you always have the same levels even if the MJ performance degrades.

 

[smcnally]

rrodd89--I haven't had it in the tank for the last day. I need to get my new timer before I continue testing it. I'm not afraid of the MJ1200 failing. I think if anything fails it will be the propeller.

scrager--Using just float switches would be extremely difficult to calibrate. The timing has to be just right for it to produce waves.

 

[waverz]

Not that i know anything about electricity, but would a curcuilt similar to a strobe light has work? Wish strobes all you need to do is turn a knob to control how fast it turns on and off.

Kind of makes me want to tear apart my stobe light.....