Wavemaker - Must Have or Neat Gizmo?

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npaden

npaden

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I just wanted to get some opinions on this subject. I have a 6' 120 reef with 3 powerheads in each back corner pointed in various directions. For the most part the tank gets some variation in currents, but some corals get a direct current with litte variation. They don't seem to mind so far, I've been reefing an amazing 4 months! :) however so so far is not very long! Anyone? Thanks, Nathan

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I use one one but I think the effect can be accomplished through surge devices and such. With SPS corals they are probably more benifical since SPS require strong current. In addition the alternating current helps carry waste away and bring food to the coral from all directions.

Just my thoughts,

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BW
 
Npaden,
Ditto. Except, to quote some other reefer... If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
When the Sun and the Moon are in the sky together, only then will your tank align with the Tsunami of the deep, Grasshopper.
In other words, as you add more corals to your tank you will prolly need more current. Wavemakers can be ideal for helping you there. They are ideal for moving water into those hard to reach places. Good luck and...
Later,
Bill

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Come see the Violence inherent in the system.Come see the Violence inherent in the system, help,help, I'm being repressed!http://www.homestead.com/reefjunkie/highenergy.html
 
For the longest time I procrastinated about getting a wavemaker. For the money, it just didn't seem like that big of a deal.

After I finally got one, it took about twenty minutes for me to realize I'd never set a tank up without one (or something similiar, like a surge device) again.

It doesn't matter what you keep, current loving SPS or peace-loving mushrooms.... a wavemaker is appropriate. You can size your powerheads to the needs of your tank, so if you need low currents you'll get them, while still dramatically improving overall circulation.

Your corals will appreciate the alternating currents, and they'll look -great- waving back and forth :)
 
If you can afford one I think its a very good idea. Not only do the corals appreciate it but so do your fish. I notice my fish sometimes enjoy fighting the current for exercise. Its also a great way to get detrius from settling on the rocks and keep frozen foods moving so they look more appetizing.
 
Thanks for the replies guys, I currently am just using the powerhead and get good water movement throughout the tank and seemingly random water currents that sway coral tentacles back and forth, etc.. When
I feed the food goes back and forth and there are several circular patterns high and
low in the tank. The only exception is at the back I have a MJ1000 on one side that
gives me a pretty good straight current and I have a few current loving corals back
there. They seem okay, but didn't know if the more direct current would affect them
over time. I have 2 equal powerheads pointing from the back corners to the middle
front, 1 in each corner pointing to the front just a couple of feet from the corner and 1
in each corner pointing parrallel to the tank. The problem is the MJ1000 doesn't have
an opposing PH as strong and so the current flows 1 way about 3/4 of the tank length
in the back. I guess I could buy another MJ1000 to even this out. I am in the process
of building a canopy and have several surge device designs, but they are all so tall and
bulky I don't know if the benefit would outweigh the ugly factor. (My wife doesn't like the ugly factor!) http://www.mich.com/~bjlavoie/surge.html has a new surge device cheap ($50)
that sounds good, but it is 25" tall and that is an awfully tall canopy to cover it up and
I would probally want 2 (one on both ends) I wonder if I could make them into algae
scrubbers as well as surge devices? Oh well, FWIW, thanks for the input. Nathan
 
Ok a few questions...one, I just have my return pump doing circulation. I am guessing the only way to get wavemaker effects is to put powerheads in and get a wavemaker. two: I thought I saw somewhere a powerstrip where it just went down the line and turned one on while the rest were off. Wondering if anyone has seen/used this and where/how much they are. I would actually like to eventually get one of those controllers that does the lights, wavemaking, and take data and what not, but for the time being Im just slowly putting money in. Thanks
 
Psyduck, you can get a wavestrip for approx $60 from www.petwhse.com or opt to simply add a few more powerheads to create random currents.

I, too, have considered a fancy controller but am limited to building my reef slowly. Instead I bought a separate wavemaker and a separate pH controller. For controlling the lights simply go to www.x10.com and purchase the activehome kit for about $50. This is the same technology the controllers use. They are perfect for controlling lights and other misc devices plus its very inexpensive to expand. For wavemaking, x10 is not so good because of a loud click the modules make when they turn on/off. So for as expensive and fancy as those controllers may seem they are not ideal for wavemaking unless you can put up with the noise. Also, x10 modules do not offer "soft-start" which supposedly fights pump burn out although this is a depated topic.
 
I have three circulation Powerheads in my tank. One is on all the time and the other two are set to come on and off at various times by using a simple timer.
Seems cheaper, easier and works fine for me.
Just my 0.02
 
Hey, I wonder if that Lavoie gadget is just using a toilet flusher mechanism with a float to actuate it instead of a lever? - That might explain the 25", but I think you can get shorter flusher mechanisms from Home Depot. Hmmm... another DIY project ?
 
Nathan,

Thanks for posting that sight for the surge device. I've been comtemplating make two of them for my 180, but at $50 a piece, I may go that route instead. I'm planning to build a real tall canopy to house my refugium, and the surges I was going to make anyway.

FOX

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members.xoom.com/KoryFox/index.htm
 
I wont run a reef without a wavemaker, I have a octopus 3000 running my tanks, the main tank has 3 rio 2500's, 1 hagen 802 and 1 maxijet 1000 on the wavemaker. I'm probably going to add more as the tank's only been setup for a week, and I havent got all the corals in the places I want them yet. Alternating current helps keep detrius from settling where you dont want it, corals fed, fish happy, all around better tank. L8r mega

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I do know one thing, the toilet flusher ones are noisey (blub, blub) and make a lot of bubbles in your tank. Why doesn't someone invent someting that gives good wave action and can't be seen like, power heads, surge devices, oscillators, sprinklers etc?
 
I just checked out that $50 surge device. I guess if you don't want to spend the time making it, it's not a bad deal. I wonder if they make larger ones? I'm sure if you have the dough, they have the surge maker.
BTW, they're pretty easy to make and the materials shouldn't even cost you as much. I mean, if I could make them, anyone could.
FOX,
I think for your tank the surge makers in that ad would be too small. I can help you if you want to build a surge device for your tank. I have a small drawing of them on my web site. If you decide to make them, let me know. I can give you some vital info so your not stuck having problems after they're up and running.
Oh, BTW again, I spoke to Ron Shimek about surge making devices. He seemed to be in favor of them and said that the Air bubbles won't harm the corals. (he then pointed to a picture of the GBR at low tide, with corals sticking right out of the water) It's air that gets trapped under the rockwork that will harm other marine animals and algae. A small price to pay for such a great way to move water.
One last thing, the Toilet flapper is supposed to be another great surge device. I don't know anyone that uses them, but one thing to look out for...They have moving parts and we all know what happens to moving parts in our reef tanks...Make sure the toilet surge has a good overflow to your sump. Otherwise, you could have a potential disaster on your hands.
Later,
Bill

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Come see the Violence inherent in the system.Come see the Violence inherent in the system, help,help, I'm being repressed!http://www.homestead.com/reefjunkie/highenergy.html
 
Fox, that's exactly what I had in mind - thanks for the link. I want to use a wider bucket (maybe a 5 gal cut in half?)that will fit inside my canopy...
 
Reefdad,
You might have problems getting enough water pressure from a 5 gal bucket cut in half. There might not be enough room for the flapper to rise. I just checked out that DIY surge bucket and it looks very cool. I might have to experiment with one.
Later,
Bill

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Come see the Violence inherent in the system.Come see the Violence inherent in the system, help,help, I'm being repressed!http://www.homestead.com/reefjunkie/highenergy.html
 
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