Cheap wave makers

[LeviT]

Has anyone had any luck with the inexpensive wavemaker devices. There is the one that looks like a power strip or the JBJ Ocean Pulse or the slightly expensive Red Sea Wavemaster.

Here is why I'm asking I'm trying to plan flow for a AG RR 90g and I already have 4 MJ 1200's I picked up used so I'm trying to see if there is a cost effective way to work them into the picture but not sure I'm happy with direction I was thinking about going. At first I thought I'd take the 4 mj's and get the 1600 mods for them (that's be another $40-$60) along with the magnets (another $80) but that sounds like too much flow so maybe if I got a wavemaker to create a pulsing effect ($50-%150). Well just ball parking it I'm @ $200.... at this rate maybe a single Vortech would be better? I can nickle and dime the $200 easier than I can get my wife to go for a $400 Vortech. I could drill the tank and go with a closed loop maybe with a SCWD but not feeling good about that for some reason. (I'm ok with drilling the tank just not sure I want to do a closed loop for some reason).

How would you set up a 48x24x28 (other than a Vortech, I 'd buy 2 if it wasn't about $$)?

so close yet so far away....

 

[badbread]

I've been reading about a lot of people using a Chauvet light timer to as wave makers...

Here's a quick google link to one:
http://www.music123.com/Chauvet-SF-9005-Timer-Controller-803111-i1155768.Music123

A lot of debate comes from the life of the pumps being turned off and on millions of times. If your using Koralia's I guess there is a mod that involves using airline tubing on the front of the prop shaft (hehe, shaft) so its not as harsh and as noisy of a startup?


EDIT:
Re-read your post and what I said isn't really relevant but I typed it all up so why not...

Don't you have a Vortech in a 10g? The driver upgrade for a mp20 to mp40 is around $100 beans I think... Or you could do what I do and buy the gf (wife in your case) a nice pair of earrings or something?

 

[LeviT]

I think you are thinking of Ibn who had a vortech in a nano. Not sure the bribing method would work in my case but it's a thought

 

[Gomer]

If (when) you are at the point of "testing", I have a Chauvet you can use.

I started with x2 koralia1 and 2xkoralia3 with a chauvet. I ended up going with a vortech. Not having 4 bulky pumps in your tank and all those cords...it sure is nice. The backup battery was also a nice sell point. I know you are thinking "I want cheap!", but when no flow for a few hours could mean losing thousands of dollars worth of coral, it was an easy decision.

 

[iani]

I'm with you Tony. I have 2 vortechs currently, I may get one more soon. We will see.

 

[LeviT]

I updated my post. Ideally I'd go with vortech's but I guess I should have left vortech's out of the picture since I know that's the way I'd like to go but I'm trying to figure out if that's realistic for me. Know what I mean..

So the primary question is are these cheap wave makers worth messing with?

 

[phishphood]

Chauvet timer's have worked great for me. Especially if you go for a gyre effect. There's an adjusting knob you can use to lengthen the time between switches, so you don't have to have them switching a million times a minute. I'm thinking about using mine with about 2-3 min per pump and switching gyre directions (2 pumps/direction)

 

[bluenassarius]

they have some tunze nano controllable knock offs w/ controller for $90 USD. my friend is getting ready to order it and use it.

 

[Gomer]

THe timer worked great for a gyre (I had the 2pump/direction setup)...I'm not sure how well it will work with a wave since the pumps have different startup delay times. Good waves need good harmonic syncing.

Levi, if you are looking explicitly for an oscillating wave, then I don't think it can be done well, cheaply. You can however get good oscillating flows cheaply. Also worht noting that a standing wave (liek what you can do in with a vortech) puts a lot of stress on a tank and stand.

 

[LeviT]

I wasn't going for a wave necessarily, more like pulses or surges of water. There are devices for about $50 that claim to do that but not sure how well it'll work for a mixed reef.

 

[Gomer]

if you want pulses or surges, then you can use something like the chauvet. I forget, what size tank do you have now? I have a handful of koralias and a chauvet I can loan you to test things out.

 

[LeviT]

This is for a 90g still sitting in my garage. I wouldn't use Koralia's on something like this, they are pretty noisy when they start up and I thought I read some thing else about using them on a wave maker but don't recall what. I still may take you up on it though, i may end up running some tests once I get something to plug the return whole since I don't have the plumming for it.

 

[Dyngoe]

Levi,

Come by my place, we'll take apart a SCWD and build a PVC flow withing device. This way you can put it in-line with your return and get the results you want: cheap, reliable, and no extra pumps or equipment. You can then use the koralias to keep the detrius suspended in the column until it is flushed away.

 

[LeviT]

You rock Matt! What do you think I'd need for a return pump?

 

[Elite]

yeah toss away that SCWD.. If you are lucky, it will last about 1 year. Most will stop working after 6 months ..

 

[LeviT]

Is this what you were thinking Matt?

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/printthread.php?threadid=843091

 

[phishphood]

Fwiw, my scwd kept working for over a year. Hit 2 years before I sold it.

 

[LeviT]

Just out of curiosity, why did you sell it?

 

[Dyngoe]

Hey Levi,

That mod is a little "less" than I was thinking. But it is similar in concept.

If you use both "holes" in the overflow for drainage then I believe the overflow will handle 900GPH. Now, Aqueon says it will only handle 600, but by RC calculations of 15" overflow size it is rated at 1000GPH. So, 900 is a conservative estimate. There are many pumps that will give you this much flow.

BTW, to all you SCWD nay-sayers....that's right I'm looking at you Phong! The reason SCWDs break is that the drum usually binds on debris or due to damage. With a "modded" SCWD you can easily clean and replace the drum which should make the life MUCH longer. At $50 for all of the parts needed it is a great bargain.

 

[phishphood]

Agreed with Dyngoe that the modded SCWD's are much better in design/easier to clean.

Levi- Sold it because I had to sell my tank and everything when I moved up here a few months ago.