Wavebox with Reefpack 500

[expat701]

I'm thinking of using a Wavebox with a Reefpack 500, but I have a few questions.

I want to use these products in a tank 72"L x 18"H x 15"W... 85 US gallons. The tank is made of 12mm (0.5 inch) glass without an overflow (tank does not have a sump).

My questions:-

1) Will the osmolator on the Reefpack work in conjunction with the Wavebox or will the wave motion rendor it useless?

2) On this kind of tank, what effect will be Wavemaker have... what size waves can I expect?

3) I was planning to make this the only movement in the tank, is the Wavemaker enough on it's own?

4) Will my tank be strong enough? It's been made by an experienced reputable tank builder.

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[rvitko]

I set up a wavebox and reefpack together at IMAC 2004 and it works fine, it was on a 75. The skimmer surges a bit with the waves and it knocks some microbubbles out but these were the only real problems. It still functioned normally and produced good skimmate. You will have to lower the water level and the osmolator will probably sound an alarm occsionally because the wave will hit the float, you could turn the alarm off though by switching the jumpers. I would expect a 1-1.5" wave but this tank is an odd dimension and I can't say for sure, long narrow tanks tend to produce bigger waves. If you are only doing softies, mushrooms and a few LPS, the wavebox and reefpack alone could be sufficient, otherwise I think you need more flow.

 

[expat701]

Thank you for your reply.

You say this tank is an "odd dimension"... in which way?

What are the optimum dimensions for getting good waves from the Wavebox in tanks around the 75-85 gallon range?

I want this tank to be all about "waves" and so I'm happy to use a different tank (different dimensions) to ensure I get the best effect from the box. In other words, I'd rather rework the tank shape to get the best from the gear.

What size waves did you get on the 75 you set up???

I was thinking of putting the Reef Pack on one end of the tank and the wavebox on the other end (in the corner). Is this a good setup?

Finally, I was thinking not having an overflow in the tank would enhance the waves I will get from the Wavebox... is this correct?

 

[rvitko]

Longer narrower tanks produce bigger waves. It is odd in that that is not a standard like a 75, 120 or 180, so I have no practical experience, it sounds like what Oceanic used to call a 77 back in the day. The shallow depth is a potential problem in that the wavebox itself is 11" deep and 10" have to be submerged.

The wave height has more factors then just tank size, overflow boxes have a big effect, a center overflow will work better then end overflows.

No overflows would be really good also, a big wave though may cause some problems for the reefpack- centering it would mute this because the center is the fulcrum of the wave and more or less constant. The problem is the slocshing could trip the osmolator overfill alamr and it does knock the bubbles out of the skimmer- putting some microbubbles in the tank.

In my 75 I get a 3/4"-1" wave. I have a hang on overflow roughly centered. That same tank with a stock corner overflow makes a 1/2" wave- for some perspective.