Wave making suggestions??

[M.E.Milz]

I am in the planning process for a reef new tank that will be 80"x32"x36" high, and I am looking for suggestions on the best wavemaking option.

As an initial matter, I plan to use my current sump and 2x Iwaki 40XRLT return pumps for basic circulation. The 2 pumps will be split into a total 6 separate returns, each of which will positioned along the back of the tank well below the waterline. In other words, these reurns will all be blowing water outwardly from behind and through the live rock/reef structure.

Thus, I need to have additional water circulation for the top/open area of the tank. The options I am considering are:

1) An additional Iwaki pump (probably a 40XLRT) on a closed loop connected to 2 sea swirls at either end of the tank.

2) An additional Iwaki pump on a closed loop connected to a motirzed ball valve with 1 or 2 returns at each end of the tank.

3) 2 Gemini external power heads (1200 gph) connected to a wavemaker, 1 at each end of the tank.

4) 4 internal power heads connected to a wavemaker, the power heads being sapced along the back of the tank.

I do not like 4) because I don't want see the power heads in the tank. And I don't like 3) & 4) because of the extra heat that will be created. By the way, 1) & 2) will be on closed loops because it is unlikely that my sump can handle the extra flow.

Any comments or other suggestions? Thanks in advance, Mike

 

[dbman]

Do you have any opposition to using a surge device (carlson, reverse carlson, borneman, etc)? I find these to be far superior to alternating powerheads and in a tank the size of yours would not involve too much surface level fluctuation.

 

[M.E.Milz]

Yes, the tank will be located where the noise associated with these devices will be a problem. In addition, the surging flow would probably exceed my sump capacity and mess with my skimmer (an ETS that is sensitive to sump water levels).

 

[NoriMuncher]

Just wanted to give you another reason to avoid option 4 - wavemaker + powerheads. That's what I did, had to buy all new powerheads (Maxi's) cuz others make too much noise on start-up. If you don't use maxi's already, a wavemaker might be more expensive than you think.

 

[M.E.Milz]

I have pretty much ruled out No. 4. No. 3 is still in the running, but am leaning towards No. 2. It seems like the motorized ball valve is a much more elegant solution. The price, however, is making me hesitate. Don't these things cost $200-$300? When you figure in the cost of the pump, your looking at at least $400. Of course, this is about the same as using 2 Sea Swirls.

Anybody else?

 

[EEreefer]

IMO, not enough current using just 3 Iwaki 40XRLT pumps in that size tank. On my 225 gal. I have 3 LG 4MDQX-SC pumps, with head, about 1000 gph each. One is split between two 1/2" SSs. Each of the other two pumps is split into two loc-line returns. Decent circulation but not nearly enough. Just added 2 Gemini external powerheads, 960 gph by the way, one on each end of the tank. This is more like it!

These guys put out unbelievable current. Very quiet and I've seen no increase in water temperature due to the fact the motor is external. I like the 3-way motorized ball valve concept but I think you'd need to do it on a closed loop with much larger pump, like 3000 gph or such

. Also have heard the motorized ball valves are/can be very noisy. JME. HTH.

 

[M.E.Milz]

Good points. I can easly increase the size of the third pump, since it will be on a closed loop. But 1/2" Sea Swirls would probably be too small. Don't they create a lot head? I suppose I could use the 1" versions - 2 of them hooked up to a MD70.

Are you using the Geminis on a wavemaker? This was my original plan since it would reduce the flow through the sump. I could probably even use 3-4 Geminis if 2 just doesn't create enough circualtion.

 

[EEreefer]

Yes, you would need the higher rated SSs for the added flow. I do have the Geminis on a "Wavemaker" of sorts. I have X-10 appliance RF receivers and a Firecracker transmitter running on an old P5-60MHz PC with a script file I wrote to cycle them at semi-random times. I am thinking of adding two more to get more randomness but four at once will be too much for my 225, so I will need to safeguard that from happening

. I also had reached the capacity of my overflows and these seemed to be the quickest solution without drilling the tank or adding a Myreef style "external" closed loop.

 

[SPC]

Mike, I found the 1" Sea Swirls to be too loud for my tastes (a rotisserie type noice).
Steve

 

[M.E.Milz]

I am currently leaning towards using 2 3/4" Sea Swirls on a closed loop using an Iawaki 40 or bigger pump.

 

[Anonymous]

I've seen tanks that use lawn sprinklers hooked up to work like a sea swirl. I don't know how effective this is.

Re: Motorized Ball Value
On the sprinkler theme... would a sprinkler "zone" value work for a wave maker? The types controlled with low voltage timers (24V?) that turn on and off to water different parts of your lawn. I think they're mostly plastic. Anyone heard of/tried this?