Wavebox tank sway?

arking_mark

Premium Member
I have had my wavebox for ~1 week on my 180g AGA. I notice that the tank and stand sway ever so slightly with the motion of the wave. Being an engineer, I know that moving any water back and forth should cause some lateral movement. My question is how much sway would be expected from a 180g AGA and stand? And at what point should I be concerned?

Thanks-

Mark
 
I would be concerned from any motion, you must have some unlevelness and I would use shims to correct it.
 
I do not think that that is the issue here. The stand is an AGA pine stand. The 180g of water sloshing is causing the frame to deform ever so slightly. With no wavebox all force is down...probably compresses a tiny bit as 180g with rock and sand weighs quite a bit. Now with the wavebox on there is a side to side force being applied...take any structure put force on it and there will be deflection. Wood definately has give and I am seeing this in the stand! As far as I can tell no shims would be able to correct for this...as the stand is doing something like this (very exagerrated!):

| | Tank
|______|
| | ---> Stand
|______|

I was only able to notice the motion by examing the doors of the stand as their position was changing ever so slightly. I will get my laser level and measure the stand motion tonight.

However, I am concerned with this and would like to know if anyone else has seen this...or even looked for this. And what testing Tunze has done.

Thanks

Mark
 
Picture didn't come out right in post. Basically, the stand base stays put while the top moves ever so slightly back and forth...i.e no longer a perfect rectangle.
 
Hmm, Stands in Germany are made from an engineered MDF type wood but with an epoxy base so it doesn't warp when wet, they are very heavy and very solid. Either that or it is Aluminum that is powder coated. I wound't feel comfortable with this motion and would probably see if you could brace the stand a bit more. An X brace in the back would probably do it. I have seen the pine stands in the past that you could lift tham and they came apart because the brads had missed their mark in places. The other option is to diminish the wave height slightly by tuning the driver, rotating the screen on the pump or sliding the sponge over the inlet.

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I am but all my stands are the Oceanic oak units so I can't help much on this, mine don't sway.
 
I have one on my 220 with a wood stand. I built my stand using double 2 X 4 construction and it doesn't move a bit.

Jon
 
I just set up my wavebox on my 150 AGA and it doesn't appear to be moving. I did not level the tank since I installed it (I did level it then) and my box has not been up long. However I have a higher PSI weight on my stand/footprint because my tank is only 18" deep and is 28" tall plus a canopy so that might be holding it more in place? Not sure. I also might not have the wave dialed into maximum yet but will keep an eye on it.
 
My stand is made of 2x4's(diy) and I too notice the rocking. Its moving about 1/2 a millimeter back and forth. Very small and barely noticable.

Its been up and running now for only 2 weeks(the box) but I dont think its going to be a problem for the next year or so. I will be upgrading to a stronger stand.

Regardless, the wavebox is kick but and the water flow is awesome:D
 
I did some calculations and can tell you that the following:
Give an 180 gal tank with lots of sand and and rock you have approximately 150 gal of water seesawing in the tank. Given a 1 inch "wave" the center of mass is moving .766 inches from one side to the next in approximately 1 second.

I will calculate an estimate of the linear force that is applied to the stand when I get a chance...
 
i doubt that aga even considered linear force of any kind when making their stands. they probably didnt do any engineering at all when making their stands, just used as little material as needed to get the stand not to break.

Tim
 
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