tunze wavebox in action
- Thread starter bluereefs
- Start date
luvtolean
New member
If you could slow down the frequency (different than wave height) that device is exactly what I've been wanting in a tank. For an idea of a much more "normal" (IMO of course) frequency for average reef conditions, check out Monterey Bay aquarium's...notice the frequency is much lower. It's more aesthetically pleasing IMO as well.
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_hp/hp_kelp_cam.asp
Schöne Technik Tunze!
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/efc_hp/hp_kelp_cam.asp
Schöne Technik Tunze!
mikefish
New member
I doubt that there is much control over the frequency. It's probably determined by the size of the tank, and would be even faster in a smaller tank. Tunze reps are saying that it is variable, but what they seem to mean is that you can speed it up by creating multiple waves. You probably can't slow it down below it's natural resonant frequency, just like you can't make a pendulum swing any slower than its natural frequency without altering its length.
Mike
Mike
luvtolean
New member
My fluid dynamics education and experience are limited, but it seems to me that it should be theoretically possible to manipulate the wavebox to alter the frequency. You don't need to hit "resonant" frequency to get a big wave. If you have 2 (or multiple) waves converge properly, they create one large one.
The .pdf won't download for me and I don't know exactly how this thing works yet...so I'll hold off on saying if they can alter frequency or not.
The .pdf won't download for me and I don't know exactly how this thing works yet...so I'll hold off on saying if they can alter frequency or not.
Frisco
Premium Member
If I understand and recall correctly, I believe that Roger indicated that the unit does have variable amplitude and frequency adjustments. How would it work on different types of tanks (Ie, lengths) if it wasn't? When it's not at the resonant frequency, the pulses would just interact destructively and eliminate the oscillation effect that produces the wave action. Also, I think he indicated that the driver can only support first and second order resonant frequencies on a typical tank (typical length presumably).
OK, I spent the last couple days at a seminar with Claude and Axel and I took notes and have the full scoop on the wavebox. Here is what we know.
The shorter the tank, the faster the frequency.
Frequency is fixed by resonance and cannot be adjusted- you can tune the frequency but for alll but the longest tanks only one frequency is effective in prodoucing a wave. In a tank over 2m a double wave is possible, in a tank over 4m a 4x wave is possible.
Here are the wave sizes at full power- amplitude can be adjusted on the driver that is common to all Tunze Electronic pumps and does not affect controller function at 100% the following is known dimensions are in cm, F is freq in seconds, w is wave height (crest to trough in mm)
70-50-50 F=.45s W=40
100-70-70 F=.56 W=35
120-70-60 F=.63 W=35
150-100-60 F=.83 W=30
180-100-60 F=.86 W=30
220-80-50 F=1.10 W=25
200-80-65 F=1.15 W=25
Round and Triangular tanks create an elliptical wave pattern.
Rock layout and corals effect resonance and adjustments have to be made every feew months to acccomodate coral growth.
The Pros of the wavebox are
In a 2m tank you can move 100,000l/h of water with 30w of power!
The pressure and dynamic of the wave improves permeation in to the rock and sand bed improving bio function
Detritus is almost non existant- no dead spots exist
Cons
On a old tank it could cause algae problems as the detritus and opening of the structure to flow will liberate phosphates and drop redox
Tank life is shortened by the dynamic load. We approximate a tank constructed to DIN standards looses 10-20% of it's life when all other assembly and installation is 100% correct. (Unfortunately the US has no standard system like the Deutches Institute Normalization but we can estimate that a well made name brand US tank will have a 15 year life and the wavebox will reduce that to 12 at most if all other instalation is correct-i.e. it is level and properly supported)
The flow is not exactly natural, the natural wave would be much longer but given the size of the device and ultimate in energy savings it is the best that can be accomplished and is the most natural flow available to hobbyists.
So, the ideal flow system now is two Electronic Streams on opposite ends back corner aimed to the front center glass and operated on interval mode 2 on multicontroller 7095 with changes in pump operation every 6hrs or so. The wave box is coordinated and shuts off at night. This flow is a 50% approximation of what exists in the ocean and the best accomplished yet by any means.
Some details for the controller 6091:
The unit can run three ways- one box connected to the multicontroller or two boxes independent and run synchronously (same side for bigger tanks) or Inverse where to boxes are run opposite on huge tanks to boost the flow. Maximum freq is 1.4 sec- any longer and the box prodouces bubbles.
That is all the info I have and that is direct from Claude Hug the developer and primary tester of the wavebox 6212.
The shorter the tank, the faster the frequency.
Frequency is fixed by resonance and cannot be adjusted- you can tune the frequency but for alll but the longest tanks only one frequency is effective in prodoucing a wave. In a tank over 2m a double wave is possible, in a tank over 4m a 4x wave is possible.
Here are the wave sizes at full power- amplitude can be adjusted on the driver that is common to all Tunze Electronic pumps and does not affect controller function at 100% the following is known dimensions are in cm, F is freq in seconds, w is wave height (crest to trough in mm)
70-50-50 F=.45s W=40
100-70-70 F=.56 W=35
120-70-60 F=.63 W=35
150-100-60 F=.83 W=30
180-100-60 F=.86 W=30
220-80-50 F=1.10 W=25
200-80-65 F=1.15 W=25
Round and Triangular tanks create an elliptical wave pattern.
Rock layout and corals effect resonance and adjustments have to be made every feew months to acccomodate coral growth.
The Pros of the wavebox are
In a 2m tank you can move 100,000l/h of water with 30w of power!
The pressure and dynamic of the wave improves permeation in to the rock and sand bed improving bio function
Detritus is almost non existant- no dead spots exist
Cons
On a old tank it could cause algae problems as the detritus and opening of the structure to flow will liberate phosphates and drop redox
Tank life is shortened by the dynamic load. We approximate a tank constructed to DIN standards looses 10-20% of it's life when all other assembly and installation is 100% correct. (Unfortunately the US has no standard system like the Deutches Institute Normalization but we can estimate that a well made name brand US tank will have a 15 year life and the wavebox will reduce that to 12 at most if all other instalation is correct-i.e. it is level and properly supported)
The flow is not exactly natural, the natural wave would be much longer but given the size of the device and ultimate in energy savings it is the best that can be accomplished and is the most natural flow available to hobbyists.
So, the ideal flow system now is two Electronic Streams on opposite ends back corner aimed to the front center glass and operated on interval mode 2 on multicontroller 7095 with changes in pump operation every 6hrs or so. The wave box is coordinated and shuts off at night. This flow is a 50% approximation of what exists in the ocean and the best accomplished yet by any means.
Some details for the controller 6091:
The unit can run three ways- one box connected to the multicontroller or two boxes independent and run synchronously (same side for bigger tanks) or Inverse where to boxes are run opposite on huge tanks to boost the flow. Maximum freq is 1.4 sec- any longer and the box prodouces bubbles.
That is all the info I have and that is direct from Claude Hug the developer and primary tester of the wavebox 6212.
Cody Ray
New member
Im a little lost. So what you are saying is that it is better to run two waveboxes on seperate ends of a tank at 6hr intervals. Is this to help mimic tidel conditions through out the day? And the system shuts off at night. Does this mean that you will need a seperate system for water movment at night?
melev
Well-known member
25,000gph is very impressive! :eek2:
Quick question. From watching the video, the water swells and ebbs, but the surface looks pretty stationary/stagnant. In a power shortage, where you simply run the least equipment possible, running the wave box at 30w per hour on a UPS would be ideal. However, is there oxygenation, or does that water have to crash over itself to attain that?
Quick question. From watching the video, the water swells and ebbs, but the surface looks pretty stationary/stagnant. In a power shortage, where you simply run the least equipment possible, running the wave box at 30w per hour on a UPS would be ideal. However, is there oxygenation, or does that water have to crash over itself to attain that?
Roger it would seem that useding one wavebox say on a 180 gal reef tank that you do not need any other pump it allso would look like that the tank would not need a sump. 26,420 per hour is a great deal of water how did thay chech the water flow? RGibson 30 years playing with water.
RedEyeReef
Active member
Roger,
How well will a Wave box work on a 96" x 36 ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œ x 24" tank that has 3 bulkhead over flows on one end of the tank?
Earlier I thought it was said that the Wave Box would not hurt a tank but now you are saying it will shorten my tank life by up to 20%? That is a little un-nerving.
Will overflows shorten the wave height and help not short the life of the tank?
How well will a Wave box work on a 96" x 36 ââ"šÂ¬Ã…"œ x 24" tank that has 3 bulkhead over flows on one end of the tank?
Earlier I thought it was said that the Wave Box would not hurt a tank but now you are saying it will shorten my tank life by up to 20%? That is a little un-nerving.
Will overflows shorten the wave height and help not short the life of the tank?
TANGBOY5000
Premium Member
Yes, shortening of tank life is a concern. Why can't we just have our cake and eat it too.
