Wave in my tank
- Thread starter ipluu
- Start date
EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
Kinetic-
That's right. It ends up making the aquarium water appear very "choppy" like the surface of the ocean on a windy day. Also, the wave doesn't seem to penetrate throughout the tank as well versus when the pumps are mounted centrally on the sides of the tank.
There's lots of options with these wave drivers, we all just need to experiment and report our experience.
-Tim
That's right. It ends up making the aquarium water appear very "choppy" like the surface of the ocean on a windy day. Also, the wave doesn't seem to penetrate throughout the tank as well versus when the pumps are mounted centrally on the sides of the tank.
There's lots of options with these wave drivers, we all just need to experiment and report our experience.
-Tim
JRaquatics
New member
Could the wave hurt the structure of the tank? Is it safer to run them from the back of the tank or from the sides? Which position would be easier on the pumps?
Sorry for all the ?
Sorry for all the ?
EcoTech Marine
.Registered Member
Any wave can damage the structural integrity of an aquarium over time through fatigue. I am not sure which would be better or worse for the tank (front to back or side to side). Also, I don't think either position is actually harder or easier on the pumps.
-Tim
-Tim
really nice video, thanks for sharing, im trying to get it dialed in on my 180, i am goign to put one on each side in anti sync tonight, been trying to do 2 on one side in sync mode...
let us know how you luck goes Fliger, if you can get it on your 210, then maybe i can duplicate your settings and get mine going
let us know how you luck goes Fliger, if you can get it on your 210, then maybe i can duplicate your settings and get mine going
KEstep
Premium Member
I posted these in the other long thread but it seems this would be the right place for the waves....
Well I played around today and I got the best wave I have ever made.. I am getting close to 2 inches from the lowest to highest point. It is with two Vortechs on anti sync mode on a 5 foot tank. If you listen you can hear the annoying ramping noise of the Vortechs going up and down. Kind of sounds like a frog on crack. Here is a few videos. Sorry the glass is a little dirty.
This is a side shot. The wave I get is biggest going from front to back of the tank and not length wise. It also shows how my corals sway.
This is just what it looks like with some of the corals in the middle.
Here is a frontal video mostly on the right side of the tank.
Well I played around today and I got the best wave I have ever made.. I am getting close to 2 inches from the lowest to highest point. It is with two Vortechs on anti sync mode on a 5 foot tank. If you listen you can hear the annoying ramping noise of the Vortechs going up and down. Kind of sounds like a frog on crack. Here is a few videos. Sorry the glass is a little dirty.
This is a side shot. The wave I get is biggest going from front to back of the tank and not length wise. It also shows how my corals sway.
This is just what it looks like with some of the corals in the middle.
Here is a frontal video mostly on the right side of the tank.
SD-Fishguy
New member
That wave looks nice. Can't wait for my driver-unit (first group to order) to finally show up.
Nice. That is probably high frequency wave. It is hard to tell from your video. If you stand in front of the tank, you will see 2 or 3 shorter wave across the tank. Try to increase the pulse speed a little bit so you get a single wave lenth (~) from left to right. When you get a single big wave, the water level on the left side of your tank goes up when the right side goes down, the center of the wave will be right in the middle of the tank. Coral will wave slower which looks more natural, unless you prefer that way.
Do you also notice that the sand bed formed wave all over it and it look much cleaner and more natual? I have to move all of my frags on the eggcrate above the sand bed. I am glad that I am not the only one annoyed by the sound. I guess we just have to get used to that.
Do you also notice that the sand bed formed wave all over it and it look much cleaner and more natual? I have to move all of my frags on the eggcrate above the sand bed. I am glad that I am not the only one annoyed by the sound. I guess we just have to get used to that.
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EcoTech R&D
New member
ipluu
I'm glad you noticed the ridge formation in the sand. That is perhaps one of my favorite results from running a wave in the aquarium.
Justin
I'm glad you noticed the ridge formation in the sand. That is perhaps one of my favorite results from running a wave in the aquarium.
Justin
KEstep
Premium Member
Actually the ridge is still from last week when the vortechs were not on the new drivers and were on constant full speed. I just have not done anything to smooth it back out yet. Before that pile would get HUGE and I had a very bare spot right next to the green lobo on the bottom.
I have tried to get one single wave but I do not think I can do it with only two pumps on this tank. I could be wrong but I have tried numerous times to achieve one. If I go any higher of a frequency I lose wave action altogether. In my tank the front to back wave is what I get instead of the length of the tank.
I also do not prefer the pulse wave.. It is loud, the overflow crashes and at one point I had water go over the brace and into my t5's. I also do not like the thought of having the seams give out on the tank. When it settled in on the carpet one end is slightly off level as it is and I do not want to add to that stress already.
I have tried to get one single wave but I do not think I can do it with only two pumps on this tank. I could be wrong but I have tried numerous times to achieve one. If I go any higher of a frequency I lose wave action altogether. In my tank the front to back wave is what I get instead of the length of the tank.
I also do not prefer the pulse wave.. It is loud, the overflow crashes and at one point I had water go over the brace and into my t5's. I also do not like the thought of having the seams give out on the tank. When it settled in on the carpet one end is slightly off level as it is and I do not want to add to that stress already.
EcoTech R&D,
Thank you for designing and producing such a great equipment. It raised my reef tank to another level. Everything in the tank looks so natural.
Do you think you could create a wireless USB controller in the future? It will be set as master and controller my a software installed on a laptop. We then able to control it however we want.
Fliger
New member
I had a second to play today - I still only have the two on one side with the new controllers. I took the interval WAY down and am getting a little wave. I get a rocking motion but not nearly what these videos show. Interestingly - I am noticing the most motion from the side the pumps are on - and very little at the other end (tank is 64" long). I think the undertoe that these pumps create is pretty incredible. I'll move it to the other side this evening and see what I can get!
I would recommend selling a cord extender to the controller. My stand has two compartments with a divider down the middle and its a challenge to get all the controllers in "line of sight" with no wood interference.
I would recommend selling a cord extender to the controller. My stand has two compartments with a divider down the middle and its a challenge to get all the controllers in "line of sight" with no wood interference.
I noticed that you also have wave on the side of your tank. Are you pumps right in the middle of the tank (sideway)? Try to put it in the middle and see how you like it.
I lowered the throttle down to 50% and I now have a nice, gentle wave going in my tank, about 3/4 inch single wave. Noise from pumps also sound more pleasant. I barely hear it during the day.
Kinetic
Active member
Once my vortechs come in, I'll do a lot of experimenting of placement and control variables. I'll post them here with videos too =) This thread rocks.
I'm first going to try placing them on the back of the tank, probably equidistant from all edges of the tank and from each other.
Some questions:
1. Which settings should I try first with them in this placement? to get a cool swaying wave both on surface and in the water?
2. Would placing them closer to the surface be better?
3. Placing them further apart?
If I don't like this I may try putting both on one side, or on opposite sides.
I won't have any rock yet, or sand, so I'll probably be able to play with positioning easier, but tuning later depending on rockwork.
I'm first going to try placing them on the back of the tank, probably equidistant from all edges of the tank and from each other.
Some questions:
1. Which settings should I try first with them in this placement? to get a cool swaying wave both on surface and in the water?
2. Would placing them closer to the surface be better?
3. Placing them further apart?
If I don't like this I may try putting both on one side, or on opposite sides.
I won't have any rock yet, or sand, so I'll probably be able to play with positioning easier, but tuning later depending on rockwork.
Fliger
New member
Kinetic - every tank is going to be different - but from what I'm seeing on the same side - you'll want them in "sync" mode and a pretty quick pulse. Since the tank is ~20 wide though, I think you'll have better luck on the sides. You might even be able to get away with them on one side, and keep the other side your other display side.
1. Which settings should I try first with them in this placement? to get a cool swaying wave both on surface and in the water?
- Try pulse mode and sync mode for slave. Yes you will get wave on the surface and in the water. However, since the depth of your tank is much shorter than the width, the wave will be at high frequency and fast which makes it looks unnatural. Try put your pumps on the sides in stead and see how you like it.
2. Would placing them closer to the surface be better?
- The closer to the surface, the surface wave will be bigger and less disturbance to the sand bed. You have to play around and find the right spot for your tank where it does not disturb the sand bed too much and create a nice wave for you at the same time. Mine is 3" from the water surface.
3. Placing them further apart?
- On the sides? I personally like it better.
Have fun!
- Try pulse mode and sync mode for slave. Yes you will get wave on the surface and in the water. However, since the depth of your tank is much shorter than the width, the wave will be at high frequency and fast which makes it looks unnatural. Try put your pumps on the sides in stead and see how you like it.
2. Would placing them closer to the surface be better?
- The closer to the surface, the surface wave will be bigger and less disturbance to the sand bed. You have to play around and find the right spot for your tank where it does not disturb the sand bed too much and create a nice wave for you at the same time. Mine is 3" from the water surface.
3. Placing them further apart?
- On the sides? I personally like it better.
Have fun!
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silicone fatigue----not much data on that. I am a metals guy but I would guess that a normal aquarium would experience very little fatigue damage from these kind of waves. Though the load is cyclic, it is realatively small compared to the static load from the water height. IMO it would only be a problem in a tank that is designed with very small safety margins. I wont be worrying about it.
nice pictures. I want to hear some sound. noise is a big deal to me and your descriptions concerns me.
nice pictures. I want to hear some sound. noise is a big deal to me and your descriptions concerns me.
SD-Fishguy
New member
Finally got my wireless driver, went home at lunch and hooked it up. Tough to get those plastic clips on the sides open. Just put on reef crest and went back to work.
tonight it's wave time.
tonight it's wave time.
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