wave box or pumps with controller

[steve the plumb]

I want to get the wavebox but because tank is 4ft I have heard mixed thoughts.I also am thinking of getting 2 turbelles and the multi controller.I already have the 3/4 inch seaswirl.Is it better to get the wavebox?I have heard wavebox will work better in 6ft tank so I am kind of ify.Cost wise the wavebox will cost less than the other method,plus 1 wave box will do the job,if I get a larger tank later I would have to buy more streams where as wavebox would do the job.I am kind of stuck.I don't want to spend all that money on something that might not work for my tank.

 

[rvitko]

In my opinion the wavebox should not be used alone. You have a seaswirl so it would be OK. If you have a center overflow you can get a 1" wave. With end overflows the wave will be reduced, it will be noisier and more flow will be necessary. I saw a tank in France that was wavebox only and it had healthy corals but algae problems that typically accompany low flow were present like slime algae. The aquarium owner was convinced he had a nirate deficiency and he could solve the problem by raising the nirate to 3mg/l. It is a sound theory becuase then higher algaes and corals would take up the trace nutrients in accelerated growth but I was not convinced that was the problem nor were a couple others, we believed it was flow related.

 

[steve the plumb]

My over flows are hob so they can be moved to either side.I will ,I guess place them more to the center.My seaswrl is on the right side of tank and I want to place to wavebox on the left side of tank.I have a perfecto tank with a pine stand.Will the wave box make my tank sway?I have the tank on carpet in the basement.It seems level I should take a level to it to make sure.I have good motion in the tank but I saw some of the videos and I have seen a wave box on an 8ft tank and I can say I have never senn anything like it before.I am trying to convince my wife to let me get a 265 but its not going to well ,she says my tank is big enough.

 

[Evolley1]

I am in the middle of this whole debate as we speak. I bought a wavebox for my 4ft 120. I like it but I know it could be better with a longer tank. I am getting a 6100 stream tomorrow just to see what kind of effect that has on my tank. Ideally if I can borrow another stream I'd love to compare 2 streams vs. wavebox, powerheads, and closed loop. The wavebox is nice but it takes up a lot of visable room on a 4ft. You get used to it but it would be better on a longer tank. I bought the wb to allieviate my problem w/ cynobacteria collecting on my sandbed. It has kinda helped but not really. Maybe with the addition of 1 6100 it will stir things up a bit more. We'll see! I call it my expensive experiment.

 

[rvitko]

As for tank sway, it largely depends on how solid the stand and subfloor is.

 

[steve the plumb]

Its a pine stand.Its a strong stand and my floor is 3/4 inch plywood with 2x4 underneath so I am not worried about weight I am worried about the stand moving do to movement of the water.My subfloor is cement since my basement was cement.The stand is the perfecto pine stand(black) I bought it with the tank.Like I said I am trying to get a bigger tank but my wife thinks I am crazy and says no way.Christmas is coming so if I mope allot I might get my way.