Tunze Wavebox vs. Vortech
- Thread starter ReefEze
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scottfarcuz
New member
whats the tanks dimensions?
Ive played with both, and IMO the wavebox properly setup on the right tank is way more flow.
Ive played with both, and IMO the wavebox properly setup on the right tank is way more flow.
Wrassemeister
New member
Imo if you have the room and your tank is long I would go with the wavebox
TCU Reefer
Premium Member
I have both on my 215 and the VorTech does nothing to interfere with the effects of the wavebox. Great combo IMO.
aninjaatemyshoe
New member
They are two separate types of devices. The Wavebox is designed purely to generate a back and forth wave resonance wave motion. It does not provide good circulation of water, which is what a Vortech does. With the controller, the Vortech can reproduce this resonance wave motion and still circulate the water well. So, I'd probably go with the Vortech as it does both. It also is quite a bit less of an eyesore. The only real advantage of the Wavebox is that it may provide a larger wave, but I'm not even sure if that is the case when stacked against the Vortech.
scottfarcuz
New member
huh?
Just adjust the pulse on the wavebox to not make a wave now it also does both.
As to the look my tank sets is a corner so to do the vortechs on both ends Id have to stare at the dry side on one of the viewing panels. That and the noise issues Ive seen with a few made me stick with the wavebox. If the look bothers you cover it with coral. Ive been saying I was going to attach some zoas, but never have.
Like I said I've played with both on several tank sizes. The wavebox will serve you very well in a 180/210. You will likely need some additional flow with the wavebox to get things moving to the overflow, but my experience has been it provides enough flow to keep coral happy anywhere in the tank.
Just adjust the pulse on the wavebox to not make a wave now it also does both.
As to the look my tank sets is a corner so to do the vortechs on both ends Id have to stare at the dry side on one of the viewing panels. That and the noise issues Ive seen with a few made me stick with the wavebox. If the look bothers you cover it with coral. Ive been saying I was going to attach some zoas, but never have.
Like I said I've played with both on several tank sizes. The wavebox will serve you very well in a 180/210. You will likely need some additional flow with the wavebox to get things moving to the overflow, but my experience has been it provides enough flow to keep coral happy anywhere in the tank.
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2crazyreefers
New member
I have the wavebox in my 180 with a 6060 and my corals are happy.
scottfarcuz
New member
I've seen some silent, and some not. Actually only seen 2 I would consider unacceptable in my living room, and both I played around a bit with alignment. If you look around RC you will see a few similar cases.
I'm not saying the pump is trash by any means. Two vortechs with controller is a lot more investment, and in a lot of cases would be no less of an eyesore.
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Wrassemeister
New member
also consider that the vortechs have been known to cause damage (crazing) to acrylic tanks due to the high heat the motor produces.
corals b 4 bills
New member
Iv'e heard that Wavebox's are not recommended for glass tanks because of the stress that they put on them is this correct? If not would it be O.K. to use it on a 155 bow front? and I have a 1,600 gph CPR external overflow, will this create a draining issue? Sorry if I HiJacked.
jrpdriver
Active member
I couldn't disagree with this more, have you ever seen a wave box working properly. Not only does it create he back and fourth wave movement but it generates a circular flow pattern in the tank. You can see the entire water column from top to bottom of the tank moving everytime the wave pulses. The wave box move a massive amount of water and keeps anything from settling on the bottom of the tank
scottfarcuz
New member
Tunze itself claims the wave action could shorten the life of a glass tank by as much as 10%. I've ran mine non-stop for over 2 years now. I've seen a lot of old glass tanks still around. If the tank only lasts 18 years compared to 20 I can deal with it. I'm sure to be upgrading, or quitting the hobby long before then anyways.
Kind of obvious, but using 2 vortechs to make the same resonance wave will cause the same tank stress.
To me it all boils down to what you like, want, and want to spend. I've had issues with my tunze pumps in the past also. I've known several with issues with vortechs. Both have awesome service, and will go way out of the way to keep you happy.
Your HOB overflow very well could be an issue. If you can center it in the tank it will have less effect of the wave action, and when the wavebox is tuned right the water line doesn't move up and down like it does at each end of the tank.
I always thought a sumpless 125 FOWLR with a wavebox on one end, and a tunze skimmer hanging in the center would be awesome tank. You can make huge waves in narrow tank without a lot of overflows or rocks to disrupt the flow.
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