Two 6040s Connected in Wave Mode

[fraggin corals]

I have just received my second 6040 for my 40 breeder. I was wondering if when connected can I set each to run opposite each other in wave mode? If the one controller is controlling both pumps, do I need to run the auto wave mode on the second to set up my standing wave?

 

[rvitko]

OK, I have never done this so this is just my understanding from reading the manual.

1) Connect the two pumps with a cable.

2) Hold he food timer button on the second or slave pump for 5 seconds, the foodtimer LED will blink indicating it is in inverse mode.

3) On the first pump start the wavemode auto tuning and the second pump should be in the opposite synchronization.

 

[fraggin corals]

So I will need to redo the wave auto tune again?

 

[rvitko]

You can try it, but according to the manual, they won't sync if auto tune is active. Not having done it, it is hard to say for sure.

 

[fraggin corals]

So to be clear, the controller that is already set in wave mode would be the master controller and the second should be synced to it and the slave controller's 'feed' button would be the one pressed and held in order to inverse the slave. Sounds about right?

 

[rvitko]

Correct.

 

[fraggin corals]

Finally had a chance to install the second pump and sync both....amazing flow! Syncing both was very easy and exactly as discussed above with one exception. When it came time to inverse the pumps, the feed button on the master controller is the one that needs to be pressed and held for 5 seconds. With both pumps dialed in and inversed sync, I am seeing a standing wave that is reaching about 1.5 inches in my 40 breeder. Love these pumps!

 

[rvitko]

Thanks for the feedback, when the controller came out I felt the manual was overwhelming and made it seem very complex and while I have only used a single 6040, I found it was fairly easy to use compared to how complex the manual makes it seem.

 

[fraggin corals]

I agree. I would make two suggestions to Tunze, one would be to mold some type of impeller guard into the shroud and two perhaps a quick guide with just the highlights of what the full manual has.

 

[smatter]

As a German I find the manual very concise and straightforward. I can see how it might be complicated for regular people though :beer:

I too am quite impressed by this tiny pump. I just transferred it to an 8.6g framless tank from a standard 5.5g. I had a nearly 2" wave in there last night and without the frame you can really appreciate it. The very sturdy bookshelf the tank is on was even rocking a little. My wife got scared and even though I laughed at her, inside I was a bit alarmed as well. This is with the flow deflector on. I bet I could go even bigger without it but I'm leaving it on so I can enjoy all of the other flow options the 6040 offers with the push of a button from my arm chair. I have since dialed it back because I want to keep the water level a bit higher, and in the tank

 

[rvitko]

We have a new graphic designer/ editor and she is fluent in English and I have seen her new manual revisions and they are a dramatic improvement.

The issue with a guard for the 6040 was we wanted the most flow we could out of this small pump, the guard would reduce the flow too much. Instead the 6040 has fairly sensitive electronics and should stop for any obstruction.

I restored a 1967 Mercedes 200D several years ago, German manuals are always very dry and technical, they can be exhausting to read for that reason, I often found I had to read things several times to grasp them. I think I spent 2 days trying to figure out how to install an odometer drive gear on the intermediate shaft which was a ten minute task once I understood it.

 

[AdamNC]

We have a new graphic designer/ editor and she is fluent in English and I have seen her new manual revisions and they are a dramatic improvement.

Do you have an idea of when this new manual will be available? Online as a PDF? I have a feeling I'm not getting the max usage from my 6040.

 

[rvitko]

The oldest manuals are being revised first, so I suspect it will be a while until the 6020 and 6040 manuals get a revision. The ones I have seen so far are for the older models of Nano Stream and Stream pumps.

 

[reefwiser]

The BRS video shows off the pump very well
http://youtu.be/NbUYXhSPrlo

 

[smatter]

My tank has been empty up until yesterday. I put in an inch of Caribsea Fiji Pink last night. Now I can really appreciate the flow the 6040 puts out because I ended up with some serious sand dunes this morning. It's hard to gauge the flow in an empty glass box. Some strategically placed rocks should help but I kind of like a little dynamic sand. It seems natural.

 

[fraggin corals]

The BRS video is what spurred me on to purchase them in the first place. Some great advice on there.

I have noticed that I have some sand movement within the tank but it is a gentle back and forth movement.

 

[smatter]

Speaking of sand, I'm going to have to take a little out near the 6040. I have it mounted low about an inch from the sand and it occasionally draws some up from the bottom. The auto-stop failsafe is quite sensitive, a good thing, but the past couple of mornings the pump has been stopped. A gentle coaxing of the prop starts it right back up again. I really like the Fiji Pink sand but its .5mm-1.5mm grain size makes it blow around more easily.