Power head or wave maker for 60 gallon cube

[Chicagoreef2016]

I am new to this cool hobby and will be picking up a 60 gallon cube here and am slowly researching every part that I could need. I plan on a reef tank, softies in the beginning with some clown fish (cuc and additional fish as well) and then graduating to soft corals as my tank becomes more established. That being said anyone have a recommendation on power heads or wave makers for this style of tank and rough plan?

Thanks!

 

[Bent]

I have a pair of RW-15s on a JBwave and its real nice.

However, I think the next time I'm going to institute a little more strategery with my powerheads. I'm going to try using multiple smaller powerheads instead of fewer larger ones to try to pinpoint dead spots in the tank. So it might be something you want to look into.

Lots of people love the gyre style pumps too, though I've never used them.

 

[ca1ore]

Wave maker is mostly marketing run amok as you cannot actually generate a natural wave in a small container of water. You can get that rapid slopping back and forth, but that's always looked stupid to me. What you're looking for is random, chaotic flow, and that is best accomplished IMO with speed variable powerheads like the Jebao, tunze or vortech units.

 

[GimpyFin]

I kinda agree with ca1ore as I've never really been into wavemakers either. Just makes me think of a big ship rocking back and forth. I currently have a gyre 150 and another small powerhead on my tank. Having used the gyres on both cube and rectangular tanks, I have to say they work best on longer tanks but are nice regardless. The Vortechs are nice too, but they are definitely pricey for what you are getting. Both have various settings to adjust however you see fit.

 

[Chicagoreef2016]

Great info, thanks. I have been told the jebao for the price, and my tank, is a decent option.

 

[Scottshopinc]

I'm thinking of upgrading to the rw4 for my tank, tired of the linear flow I get with circulation pumps.

 

[BigEZ77]

I kinda agree with ca1ore as I've never really been into wavemakers either. Just makes me think of a big ship rocking back and forth. I currently have a gyre 150 and another small powerhead on my tank. Having used the gyres on both cube and rectangular tanks, I have to say they work best on longer tanks but are nice regardless. The Vortechs are nice too, but they are definitely pricey for what you are getting. Both have various settings to adjust however you see fit.

I also have a Gyre...love it!

 

[flooddc]

I would go with 2 jebao pp-8.
I used a jebao wp-40 on my 93 cube (just a bit bigger than yours), works fine for me, but I would have gone with 2 smaller powerheads if I had to do over.