Wavemakers/Powerheads

[rupes reef]

Ok, im looking at starting a new tank. Its 125g with dual overflows and returns. I am wanting to add some powerheads but i dont know what route to go. I have looked into the Tunze and they seem a little expensive. I have also seen the Hydor setup with dual controlable Korilla 4's on it. Last i have looked into getting a ReefKeeper 2, for all of the obvious reasons, the monitors and the user friendlieness of it but on the ReefKeeper it says that it has wavemaker controls, i dont know how they work, do you have to use specific powerheads or can i just plug in 2 Korilla 4's. I dont know much about many of them so i was just looking for some imput on what to get. I want to spend a good amount on it but 1400 for a Tunze setup seems a little much.

 

[alfani]

you can try with 2 MJ900 with mod

 

[seapug]

+1^^. MaxiJets with the SureFlow mods set up on a simple wave timer is an effective, affordable alternative to the Tunze and Koralia wavemaker setups.

 

[crvz]

seapug, how do those hold up with being AC pumps? I know that's the reason the controllable units are more expensive, they're designed to handle the on/off cycles, whereas others suffer considerably more wear when put on wave timers.

 

[seapug]

I've had no problems whatsoever with them running on an Ocean's Motions wave timer on a 45 second cycle. I'm not an expert on high end powerheads, but I think the Tunze and new Koralia controllers don't shut on and off, but vary the speed of the powerheads. I think that's what requires the special motors and controllers that makes them more expensive.

I'd love to get a nice Tunze setup someday, but for now the MJ with mods on the cheap wave timer works perfectly fine for me.

 

[Toddrtrex]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=13318984#post13318984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by crvz
seapug, how do those hold up with being AC pumps? I know that's the reason the controllable units are more expensive, they're designed to handle the on/off cycles, whereas others suffer considerably more wear when put on wave timers.

To add my experiences.

I have 3 MJ mods -- sure flows. I have had them since Xmas, and running all three of them on the wavemaker part of my ReefKeeper. Haven't had any issues with mine restarting nor are they noisy.

 

[rupes reef]

Now with the reefkeeper can i just plug in 2 Korilla 4's in to it and control them that way or dose the ReefKeeper have specific power heads you need to use?

 

[seapug]

I've tried using Koralias on a timer and it didn't work out for me, even using the "airline tubing on the shaft" mod. They were noisy as hell and/or ran in reverse.

 

[Toddrtrex]

I used a Koralia for about 4 months on my ReefKeeper and it worked fine.

In another tank I have 2 H1s on a ReefKeeper 2, and those are still working, want to say about 6 months now.

Have been using SIEOs on them for well over a year, on issues.