Wavemaker

[Uncle Salty 05]

Between pulses is when the corals are most likely to expel waste.
(Ever try to pee in heavy surf?)
Just my theory.:beer:

 

[T Diddy]

actual wave maker

actual wave maker

Everyone check this out...I posted a while back asking if anyone has seen or heard of it. I'll be outfitting my new set up with several sources of water movement, but this one is the coolest IMO...thoughts?:spin3:

 

[T Diddy]

DOH!!

I guess the link would help...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5HB9qEGgBo

 

[WarrenG]

But reefs do not have a finite volume of water like our home systems do.
The high flow is to remove waste and get it into the filtration system.

So the filtration system should have intakes near the tank's bottom?

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

So the filtration system should have intakes near the tank's bottom?

Only if you want your tank to drain during a power outage.

Most HOB power filters do have intakes near the tank's bottom

 

[RNX CTD]

So u Guys are saying one mp40 is enough for a 4x2x2 tank?

 

[strike2867]

Only if you want your tank to drain during a power outage.

Most HOB power filters do have intakes near the tank's bottom

This doesn't have to happen at all. I have the regular overflow, and there are intakes in the bottom, middle and top. I could enlarge the bottom ones and close off the top.

 

[WarrenG]

So u Guys are saying one mp40 is enough for a 4x2x2 tank?

I think it's best to be able to reverse the flow periodically.

Most of the corals that we keep in our tanks see a reversal in the direction of water movement when the currents change direction as the tides change. Some of these corals experience eddy currents that are slightly different with each change in the direction of the current, and some very large corals that I've seen in the wild have very little water movement around them except during storms.

 

[WarrenG]

Everyone check this out...I posted a while back asking if anyone has seen or heard of it. I'll be outfitting my new set up with several sources of water movement, but this one is the coolest IMO...thoughts?:spin3:

I've seen very few corals in the wild exposed to these rapid back and forth movements of water. Many corals wait for the (steady) currents to bring food to them.

However, the anenomes that are favored by clownfish and damsels (that I saw in Fiji, at depths between 5-12 feet) do see this type of water movement, constantly. If you could make the interval 10-20 seconds between surges, that would be very close to what I've seen on reefs near the surface.

 

[T Diddy]

I've seen very few corals in the wild exposed to these rapid back and forth movements of water. Many corals wait for the (steady) currents to bring food to them.

However, the anenomes that are favored by clownfish and damsels (that I saw in Fiji, at depths between 5-12 feet) do see this type of water movement, constantly. If you could make the interval 10-20 seconds between surges, that would be very close to what I've seen on reefs near the surface.

Thanks for your feedback Warren G. There is supposed to be a variable resistance control to adjust the speed of the paddle, but I'm not sure how slow it will run. Perhaps the slower, weaker water movement created by the slowed paddle, supplemented by other power head configurations would be sufficient to eliminate deadspots while simultaneously creating a small, yet noticable rythm...I just am in love with the mechanical wave maker idea.:thumbsup:

 

[L8ndeb]

Gotta admit, the water motion with the paddle drive looks very real. However, like Salty said, our tanks have a finite water column. How does it do stirring up the water to remove waste? Or is that the reason to have middle and lower holes in the overflow?