Hydor Wavemaker - Any Experiences Out There?

[swjim]

Hi all,

I realize they haven't been on the market very long, but I was wondering if anyone had any first hand experience with the Hydor Wavemaker and adjustable pumps. I am in the process of setting up a new nano and would love to go with Tunze Streams and controller, but their cost is just out of reach right now. At approximately half the price I could probably swing the Hydor setup right away. Does anyone have any experience with them good or bad?

Thanks!

Jim

 

[guntercb]

Anyone tried the Hydor Wavemaker?

 

[noboddi]

I have one and it works very well. You adjust the low and high settings of each pump by dials, and the period as well. Not very complicated, never had a problem.

I do like the vortechs on my other systems better, so if you can afford an MP10 when it comes out, that may be a good choice as well

 

[Pohono]

We bought the 4 way wavemaker a few months ago, and run two 4s and two 2s on it in a 120 gallon tank. I've read many different things about people hooking up Koralias to much cheaper controllers, but all those methods seem to involve either rewiring something (electricity and me don't understand each other) or having the pumps turn off and on in some sort of pattern, which creates the famous Koralia 'clack clack clack'.
I have never owned any other controller, so I can't compare, but I am very happy with the controller overall. There is (I believe) 6 preset programs with the controller or you can program your own, to tell which pump to do what, when, and for how long.
Check out this link for the only vid I can find showing the controller in action:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n50IDa5_VI0
Controller is very quiet (can't hear it when tank running). It has a one touch 'food setting' that last 10 minutes or so which takes all the pumps down to their minimum setting (30% power....I do wish the minimum power was lower for some occassions).
Basically I am sure one day once I am upper middle class I will venture into TunzeLand, but until then I am very content with the investment made: quality food suspension, random flow patterns, a variety of programs that are easy to use, and most importantly, with the 4 way controller you get awesome LED graphic displays telling you what each pump is doing in real time

 

[swjim]

Maybe this can get nominated as RC's slowest moving thread.

Thanks for the reply!

 

[guntercb]

Noboddi,

Do you like the vortec or the hydor better?

Pohono,

Thanks for you response. I am glad you like your system. I really wish we could compare this system side to side with a Tunze.

Cheers,
Chris

 

[noboddi]

Both work well, I think the Vortech is a better product after using both. Easier to get flow patterns I like, and it develops an undertow which is great.

 

[guntercb]

NoBoddi,

Thanks for your review of the two units.

Cheers,
Chris