Wave Box Blues

[lpapagno]

I just got a wave box yesterday from Tunze and overall I'm kind of disappointed. Having seen the wonderful waves that can be created with this I just seem to get a sloshing back and forth. I have a 90 gallon setup and my live rock is set up in the middle so I can have movement of ditrus on both sides. Since I got into this hobby 3 years ago I have learned a lot. I am a perfectionist and I want my tank to be perfect. I have used the Wave 2k with no luck. I have had maxi jets with the red sea wave timer and now this Wave box and still I seek perfection. This hobby will just plain outright drain you mentally and physically and financially.
In the beginning I was impatient and suffered the consequences. Dead fish etc. etc. etc Now after 3 years my tank matured enough for me to get some coral and other hard to keep life forms. I just got a LTA and 2 Clarkii Clowns and they seem happy as a pig in mud. I have 2 Nova extremes for a total of 432 watts so I think I’m good to go for corals. I basically am using the Berlin method to clean my tank. Just live rock sand and a sump with a protein skimmer. With 20% water changes weekly I add no other additives since I am doing weekly water changes.
Would it be a good idea to add a 2nd wave box in a 90 gallon tank or is that too much?

 

[scottfarcuz]

What are the dimensions of your tank?

I have one a a 6ftx2ftx2.5ft 210 and get awesome water movement from my wavebox. I have heard on 4ft long tanks the wave action is very fast, and doesn't seem as natural.

The problem you are most likely having now is getting it adjusted to the frequency of your tank. You need to make micro fine adjustments to the controller knob and then allow 30 seconds or so to see if the wave starts. when you find the sweet spot it will make a rocking motion with one side of the tank water level high, and the other low then vice-versa...

 

[chadfarmer]

maybe a 1/2 inch wave sounds like you wanted a 1 1/5 inch wave

should have bought the streams

 

[rvitko]

A wave of 3/4"-1" should be possible, I agree with scottfarcuz, it is all in the tuning, if you don't get the frequency right you don't get much of a wave. You also want to make sure the threaded holes in the back are plugged, the sponge is not covering the pump inlet (it is there to dampen noise, not serve as a filter) and that the outlet has a relatively unobstructed shot at the other side of the tank. The proper wave is a single wave, crest on one side trough on the other and constant in amplitude.

 

[lpapagno]

Found It

Found It

Well after I got home from work today and started tweaking the box I found that sweet spot. Amazing thing is that if I go one turn to either side I lose the wave. I have about an inch a little less than an inch wave on both sides now which is right below the lip so no splashing over the sides. It's so cool to see the LTA moving back and forth. I have it set up in the back of the tank behind the live rock and about 12 inches from the back right corner. I'm sure if I would move it to the front of the tank the wave would be bigger, but I like the effect I'm getting now and you don't even see the box which is what I wanted all along. Wavebox is by far the best at making waves and looking natural while doing it. Now I just thinkl in will get a stream to remove the garbage and I will be set. Good product well worth the money.

 

[scottfarcuz]

I think a lot of people get frustrated with trying to get one tuned. Its amazing how little the knob turns to make the wave lose its peak.

I think a digital display with volume like single increment adjustments displayed would sell a lot more. A preset for 2 settings would also be awesome. I like to run a double wave in my tank every once in awhile.

The wavebox is the best investment I've made in my reef. Everyone talks about the wave at the top but its moves almost all the water in the tank to some degree.