Scwd

kevan

kevan

Member
I am replacing tank due to a crack in side panel (growing) my question is I have a 10000 litre pump as a return my sump is remote so I suspect about 7500 to 8000 at the tank , I am thinking of using a one inch scwd to the inlet so I can have multy directional flow on the return.
I also have thee power heads two of which are controllable (Tunz) .
can anyone see any problems with this ?
SCWD is a Switching current water Director
 
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any idea's

any idea's

on the above is it a good idea and has anyone used a one inch SCWD?
tank size is 187 Gal with remote sump .
 
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I've never used an Scwd but I've been thinking about trying the 1 inch version. I think it would be useful for simulating shifting tides using nothing more than a return pump.

I don't really see a downside. Go for it and report back.
 
will do it's going to be a while as replacing tank and want to decorate wall behind while doing swap , so wife has to work out wall paper first.:spin2:
 
I had some on a tank a long while back. They rob lots of flow and the switching mechanism gets jammed easily.
 
I'm running a 3/4 inch on my 80 gallon. I bought it back in the early 2000s and it's still doing just fine. I do want to note that I took it out of service for quite some time when I was relocated for work for many years. Anyway, it's back in service and flawlessly pushing alternating flow through two nozzles I run behind my live rock (left and right side).

It does indeed rob a lot of flow so always plan to use a larger flow pump than otherwise needed. The 1" version had a bad reputation for jamming. However, the good news is that it is allegedly serviceable. If it does get jammed up (and not broken), you can pull it apart and see what is going on. My 3/4 inch can not be serviced but is yet to stop working. I used a 200 micron filter sock and run a very clean sump, which probably helps.
 
I used to use the smaller one on a 29 gallon years ago and it was great. At the time it was the cheapest and easiest way to create surge in a tank. Used a Mag 7 pump if I remember correctly and although at the time I only had softies and lps, they liked it.
 
I too used a 3/4" one in a 25 gallon cube, powered by an old MJ1200. it worked pretty good, it was mostly lps and softies as well. I still have it, but it's not in use since I tore that tank down.
 
Those are SO old school, I'm surprised they are still around too.
Loud clunky and in need of regular maintenance were the most comments from my memory, but they were the ticket back in the day
 
Look into the oceans motions 4 way... It seems pretty reliable the motor just turns at a slow speed so it makes random currents slowly... There around $500 I believe, I just put one on my new system and I like it so far but time will tell.... There's also a newer one out of Europe a little more pricey but seems very sweet! Someone in large tanks section is using it on there build I'll have to look it up for u .... I wouldn't used the scwd I heard a lot of bad things about them getting jammed and things, and I heard there loud. Oceans motions 4 way is dead silent
 
I still use a 3/4 on a Eheim 1260. Tank is in the living room and I don't hear it. I run my return line with as much flexible pipe as I can, I wonder if its the hard pipe people are hearing from the switching mechanism vibrating.

All that said I am setting up from a new tank now and won't be using one. Vortech and Gyre "powerheads" have sort of made that way of randomizing flow obsolete IMHO
 
tried it out and does take a lot of flow out but just had my tank crack so have got my new tank in temp location next to sump (tank lives upstairs ) and worked ok but no head height as temp set up next to pump (10000 litre per hour ) up stairs was about 8000 .

Had to do emergency move on Friday
 
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