Wavebox, streams and multi controller

[badbones]

Roger,

I think I have my tank design down. I did not want any power heads, but I saw the stream rcock and think I can live with it as long as coraline will grow on it.

What I would like is your imput. I plan on using 2 waveboxes, one in each back corner. Now do these baxes have to be exposed or can I stack the rock work in front of them. Or if I stack the rock infront, does it have to be open behind the rock work?

I plan on using 2 large streams placed in the rockwork in the middle near the front on each side. Does this seem ok?

Also do you think I need the wave box extentions?

Now the tricky question. I want to use the night sensor also. Can a multicontroller controll both streams and boxes, or do I need a multi controller for each set? I hope not.

I just saw the return pumps. I guess they are new since I never heard of them. I want to use one on this system for the sump return and another on my frag system. Both systems are not hooked together. I am looking at the smaller one and the pressure one. Are they the same footprint. The reason I ask is I want a third pump as a spare so I can swap out either one easily and quickly if there is a failure.

Lastly, since these return pumps are electronic, is there a controller for them? I ask this becuase instead of using a ball valve to control flow, it can be done with the controller.

Here is the planned tank

Thanks
TOny

 

[rvitko]

The waveboxes need to have the outlet exposed and the pumps and boxes have to come out for cleaning every few months. The wavebox comes with it's own controller and you can only successfully use one controller per tank so you need a wavebox and a wavebox extension. Given the width of your tank you would do better to have both of them roughly centered on one side, I don't think they would work to well in the back corners.

The Wavebox has to be used with it's controller. It has to have its own photocell attached for nightmode to work. (turns off the wavebox at night) The multicontroller will run your streams, since you are using a dual wavebox set up the slave cable is needed to run the other wavebox and you cannot connect it to the multicontroller to use Interval mode to turn off the wavebox for parts of the day, that is all that connecting the 6091 to the 7095 allows you to do.

A few words on the Master Electronic return pumps. They are not dead silent, if silence is an issue do not buy this pump, they make about as much noise as any air cooled pump like an Iwaki. The 1073.09 has very basic electonics and will likely not make you happy if you are using it in an on and off situation since the electronics consist of a very basic system that turns the pump off and on repeatedly until it gets spinning the right way. Every time you turn it off it will restart 4-6 times to get spinning the right way so you here the noise of this. The 1073.14 and 1073.16 have an electronic system that is more sophisticated so you don't have the issue of the on and off. The main reason to use these pumps is if energy efficiency is critical to you, they pump more for the wattage than anything on the market. They are not controllable.

 

[badbones]

Roger,

So if I understand you correctly, The streams need their own multicontroller and the wavebox can just be slaved to the second with its own controller. Both need light sensors.

You also suggest putting the boxes on one side centered. So If I built the rock scape around the boxes and let the flow come from a created cave, will this work? If so, what diameter cave in the rockwork would I need? I also read that the top of the wavebox must be out of the water. Is that correct??

I would like to use the 6200 steams, but I see no rock decor for them. Does tunze make them or are they easy to make out of agrocreat?

Lastly, on the pumps. I have used Iwaki and have had quiet and loud ones. I use a little giant and its loud. I also use an ampmaster 3000 and its nice. How does they compare to either of these if you know.

Thanks
Tony

 

[rvitko]

Yes, the top of the waveboxes do need to be out of the water. I would wait until you get them to start with the rock so you can be sure the outlets are unimpeded.

The decorock 6200.25 should be out in the fall.

I get all different reports, some people are happy, some are not. Unfortunately I just don't have a use for a pump of this size so I have only tested them briefly and they take a few days to get to there normal operating noise because of air inside the pump initially making them much noisier. The 1073.09 had a defect at first that made them very noisy and so you may hear reports that they are loud but with the right housing most people seem satisfied though we are still waiting on more to replace them for those who already have the pump.

 

[triggerfish1976]

rvitko,

I am setting up a tank similar in size to this one but mine will 48" deep instead of 36". You noted putting the wavebox and extension centered on one end so I am correct to say that if I install both boxes side by side and centered on one of the 48"sides I should hope to achieve the best results? If they need to be side by side how much seperation would I need between the two boxes? Would it be more efficient to install 1 box on each 48" side so they face each other?

Thanks,

Matthew Filion

 

[rvitko]

It is more efficient to have on on each side in a long tank but in a wide tank they should be side by side. As long as they are roughly centered it should be fine.

 

[triggerfish1976]

I also have two Stream 6200's that I currently run on my existing tank that I was going to install on the new tank with the waveboxes. Do you think they will be necassary or will they interfere with the wave that the boxes will generate? If they will not interfere where should I place them to promote a better wave?

 

[rvitko]

I would use them, when a pump across from the waveboxes is on high power the wave height will be slightly reduced but not enough to be a major issue.

 

[Putawaywet]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7630388#post7630388 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rvitko
It is more efficient to have on on each side in a long tank but in a wide tank they should be side by side. As long as they are roughly centered it should be fine.

So a tank measuring 36" across the ends would be considered a wide tank? Necessitating a box + an extension?

I'm looking at 7' x 3' tank so just making sure I've got all my ducks in a row as well.

Brett

 

[rvitko]

Yes.