Wavemaker

[sh0tyme83]

What do you all use for wavemakers? I am definitely not shelling out 400 for a Vortec or for a Tunze wavebox. Anybody running a JBJ ocean pulse duo with a modded maxijet? Have they fixed the issues this combo was having several years ago? I'm looking for a way to make a wave without spending a lot.

thanks,

Matt

 

[Allmost]

red sea wave maker connected to 4 MJ1200s

I LOVE my MP40 though, small in space, amazing flow which no other powerr head can bring and all preset wave modes.

 

[chimmike]

I think you're still going to run into issues after a while with the MJ's and the redsea wavemaker. those pumps just aren't meant to be run like that.

 

[LifeAquatic]

Just bite the bullet and go with Vortechs. I know they are extremely expensive, but they are worth every penny! You will not be dissapointed by vortech flow. You can waste a bunch of money on different wave boxes, pumps etc.. They will not do what a Vortech will. In the end you will save money and be happy that you invested the $400.00

 

[jb61264]

I have a ReefKeeper Lite on my 75 mixed reef...bought two Koralia Evolution 750's and have a really nice wavemaker sequence programmed in to it...I will never justify spending $400 for a single pump either and am happy (as are my reef inhabitants) with what I am running.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

Just get some Koralias and move them every few days.
Cheap and effective.
I'm with you, no way can I afford to shell out over $400 for a powerhead, no matter how great they are.

 

[strike2867]

I have a ReefKeeper Lite on my 75 mixed reef...bought two Koralia Evolution 750's and have a really nice wavemaker sequence programmed in to it...I will never justify spending $400 for a single pump either and am happy (as are my reef inhabitants) with what I am running.

Can you elaborate a little more on your system? I have a 90 with Koralias and a ReefKeeper Lite, hoping to see if your system would work for me.

 

[tibob32]

Can you elaborate a little more on your system? I have a 90 with Koralias and a ReefKeeper Lite, hoping to see if your system would work for me.

The old koralias aren't made to be on a wavemaker. You need to koralia evos. You just set a wavemaker time period on your RKL, the assign it to the powerhead you want to perform it. Check the owner's manual, it's pretty simple.

 

[LifeAquatic]

I have a koralia wave maker I can sell you for $250. Comes with 4 controllable pumps. Im telling you though. You can laser beam streams of water at your coral or you can make water flow with Vortechs.

<a href="http://s608.photobucket.com/albums/tt163/jason4funding/?action=view&current=wavemaker.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i608.photobucket.com/albums/tt163/jason4funding/wavemaker.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[iloveinn]

Buy cheap... buy twice.

 

[Stanley-Reefer]

I had 4 koralia mag 6s on a redsea wavemaker and all was happy....switched to 4 mp40s and all my corals said: :love1:

 

[veocool]

Matt I run the JBJ Quadra w maxijet w algae free mods you ask. The unit works good for me. Alot of flow but no feed modes.Works well though. I can't use Vortechs even though I want to b/c they will not support 1 inch thick acrylic

 

[Matt Dean]

I too, thought there was NO way I was spending THAT kind of money on 1 powerhead. I mean how much better can they be? It's a powerhead, afterall!

Well, I used 3 Koralias and it was ok, but really hard to find the spot where no coral was getting blasted but everything was getting good flow. When I upgraded my tank, I put a closed loop in. I thought I would not need anything else with this! WRONG! So, I bit the bullet and bought an MP20 tp supplement (not even the 40, just the 20 for a 5 foot tank) Put it on the end and EVRYTHING is getting random, wide, beautiful flow. It simply ROCKS!

Like it was said, buy cheap, buy twice. You simply can't beat the Vortech. You may seriously want to give it some thought. Look for a slightly used one, or a new one someone doesn't want at a slight discount and no tax.

Good luck!

 

[Dino]

On the topic on hand, the reason that you can't run maxijets or the vast majority of your other cheap power heads on a wavemaker is that you need a powerhead with a DC motor that can be ramped up and down quickly. The run of the mill powerheads like maxijets run with an AC motor and the constant hard starting and stopping will usually in not too much time burn them out. DC motors can easily be ramped up and down though quickly for years with no damage to the motors.

 

[jb61264]

The old koralias aren't made to be on a wavemaker. You need to koralia evos. You just set a wavemaker time period on your RKL, the assign it to the powerhead you want to perform it. Check the owner's manual, it's pretty simple.

+1...I have quite a bit of flow through my system with a Mag 18 pushing from my 55 sump. I split flow to both corners of my tank and figure I have about 600-650 gph from each return corner. I supplement with two Koralia Evo 750's on my RKL with a wavemaker sequence programmed into it...its really very easy and straightforward.

I got two Koralia Evo 750's for $35/ea...for the cost of one Vortech MP40 at 400+ I could buy about about 5 sets of two Koralias...no thanks to spending $400 on one pump, I'd rather spend the extra money on other things for my tank (like corals)

 

[sh0tyme83]

+1...I have quite a bit of flow through my system with a Mag 18 pushing from my 55 sump. I split flow to both corners of my tank and figure I have about 600-650 gph from each return corner. I supplement with two Koralia Evo 750's on my RKL with a wavemaker sequence programmed into it...its really very easy and straightforward.

I got two Koralia Evo 750's for $35/ea...for the cost of one Vortech MP40 at 400+ I could buy about about 5 sets of two Koralias...no thanks to spending $400 on one pump, I'd rather spend the extra money on other things for my tank (like corals)

This is exactly the way I feel about this too. I can think of a million other things I would rather spend money on versus 1 vortech. There has to be a decent way to get vortech performance without paying the vortech price. What vortech would I even need for a 90 gallon? Would the 20 work?

 

[Allmost]

regarding MP40s,

you will be surprised of how it works !!!

1. it takes up MUCH less space in tank.

2. vortech moves a WALL of water, not like others.

3. the undertow that vortech makes, no other power head can make

I dont think its fair to call MP40s a power head as they do ALOT more ! its next step up after power head.,

 

[Allmost]

This is exactly the way I feel about this too. I can think of a million other things I would rather spend money on versus 1 vortech. There has to be a decent way to get vortech performance without paying the vortech price. What vortech would I even need for a 90 gallon? Would the 20 work?

I
have a MP40 on my 65G SPS tank, and it took me a week to find a place it wont push water out of the tank !

100 lbs of LR int he 65G and the flow through them is even really high !

I can not keep any LPS in the main tank since the flow is so high ! it really works different than others.

the new ES models just out do it though. the NTM mode makes your display detritus free.

but at the end, its like a Ferrari, its not NEEDED, but its an AMAZING thing to have. and worth every penny. if I had room in my tank, I wouldnt have bought it lol for me it was either that or get a bigger tank., lol

 

[chimmike]

I don't know how you guys are still thinking the vortech mp40w is over $400.

you can buy a brand new MP40w for less than $400 at many places. Probably your own LFS as well.

Those who haven't used a vortech really shouldn't speak. It's not a powerhead, it's a tank water mover. Koralias are either streams or odd directional, that's it. Vortechs create undertow, random flow, and they flow a LOT.

 

[Matt Dean]

I think I depends on the dimensions of the tank and how it's aquascaped. I have an mp20 on a 5 x 2 tank and you can feel the flow everywhere, but it wouldn't be enough on it's own. Also, my rockwork is very open and in the middle of the tank. It's a peninsula.

That being said, it really makes everything in the tank happy.