Apex WAV

ca1ore · 09/26/2017, 08:07 AM

Now that they've been out for a while, curious what folks experiences have been. Just picked up a used set. Pumps themselves seem pretty standard, other than the sensors. What kind of useful life do the impellers have, for example?

soulpatch · 09/26/2017, 10:51 AM

I have had mine since they came out. I have cleaned them on 6 month intervals where I dip first in a peroxide mix to break down any algae and then a vinegar dip to fully clean. No parts have yet needed to be replaced and they still work as well as when I got them.

I wish they had a bit more movement on the mount and were less bulky but that all said I still like them. I have 2 in my 150 and need more flow so i will likely be adding some gyres to my sides and moving the WAVs to the back.

ca1ore · 09/27/2017, 08:41 AM

Thanks. Form factor definitely wanting versus something like the vortech, though the ability to monitor more things via apex is really nice.

soulpatch · 09/27/2017, 09:06 AM

I don't think they are as strong in the flow department as they were touted and in reality I do not monitor them via the apex. my cleaning schedule is such that I would never get an alert about the pump speed and I have yet to get an alert that the pump failed and if one did I would notice it on my daily viewings of the tank.

I honestly would say if I were to do it again I would likely go with 2 gyres instead to get a bit more movement. The one link module is nice for running a DOS though so I dont need more power cables.

ca1ore · 09/27/2017, 09:40 AM

Right. I'm planning to use the WAV kit to supplement four Vortechs on my new 400/450. So I won't run them on pulse, rather one of the gradual ramp up/down modes (forget what Neptune calls the modes

) hoping that puts less strain on them and longer life. Thanks for your comments.

soulpatch · 09/27/2017, 09:44 AM

as suppliment then they are perfect. Good luck with them.

bice0004 · 09/27/2017, 06:18 PM

I've had a pair since they came out too with similar experience to Soulpatch. Clean them every few months and they work great. no issues so far and haven't had to replace any parts yet.

I also have 2 MP40s on another tank. The Wavs seem to have a slightly narrower jet than the MP40s and at their slowest speed (1%) they are really only a little under half speed from an rpm perspective . the MP 40s can run slower speeds with slightly wider jet but only point straight ahead and are more expensive. Having both I like the wavs for price and directionality while I like the MP40s for wider flow and smaller form factor. They both work great and controllability is about the same. I'm currently using apex on the wavs and reeflink on the vortechs. I think the Wavs are a solid alternative (competitor) to MP40's.

ReefTeacher · 09/28/2017, 07:36 AM

Simon,

I have had bad luck with my WAV. One lost the ability to communicate with the 1link interface after about 1.5 years. They said it was unrepairable and my only option was to buy a new one. Way too expensive for that sort of fragility. I used the money to buy a Tunze stream 3 instead, it has a 5 year warrantee.

BTW how are my angels doing?

ca1ore · 09/28/2017, 08:23 AM

Angels are doing well - the regal is a serious piggy. Doing my tank swap end of October so they'll have glorious space at that point.

Thanks for the feedback.

ca1ore · 09/28/2017, 08:27 AM

I see that the user manual suggests that the external magnet assembly can be submerged (in the overflow). Anyone do this?

ca1ore · 09/28/2017, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefTeacher

I have had bad luck with my WAV. One lost the ability to communicate with the 1link interface after about 1.5 years. They said it was unrepairable and my only option was to buy a new one. Way too expensive for that sort of fragility. I used the money to buy a Tunze stream 3 instead, it has a 5 year warrantee.

Yeah, I've seen a few comments like that. Always worrisome when things inconveniently fail right after the warranty has expired. Did they offer you any kind of accommodation - say an 'early failure' discount?

soulpatch · 09/28/2017, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ca1ore

I see that the user manual suggests that the external magnet assembly can be submerged (in the overflow). Anyone do this?

I have a local reefer who has his submerged as they run off of his overflow. No issues for him in the year he has had the setup.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

sfdan · 10/01/2017, 02:29 AM

I've mentioned this in a separate thread about these pumps, but I'll add my experiences here:

I have 3 WAVs in my 120 (4x2x2). With only 2 I couldn't quite get enough flow throughout my tank to satisfy me but with 3 I think the flow is great. 2 on one side and 1 on the other.

Pros:
- Super quiet
- Directional control is good (but not great)
- If you have an Apex they are super easy to integrate and program

Cons:
- Flow is really concentrated
- Take up a lot of space in the tank + another wire

Flow:
This is the biggest con. The flow they shoot is very concentrated. It is powerful yes, and you have maybe 20-30 degrees worth of angle to play with to get them pointing where you want, but still its just pushing a narrow beam of water. You need to play around with the locations of the pumps and the programming in Neptune and watch how the tank responds to really get what you want. As far as the concentrated flow powerheads go, the WAVs are maybe the best, but given alternatives exist that have a much broader flow pattern out of the box (Vortech, Gyre), I think it is a big "con" for the WAV by comparison.

Cleaning:
I find the outside of the unit really easy to clean. I take a 2 gallon bucket, fill it halfway up 50/50 with vinegar and water. Turn the pump off via Apex, pick it off the aquarium wall, plop it in the bucket, then put its magnet on the dry side of the bucket holding it in place. Turn the pump back on via Apex. Wait an hour or two. The pump cleans itself sloshing the vinegar around. Any algae (including coralline) just melts off at this point, 30 seconds with a brush gets the pump good as new. Quick rinse in freshwater and back into the tank. I probably wash them once a month. They do seem to attract algae growth but cleaning is pretty easy so I don't mind that much.

Now the inside of the unit (where the impeller magnet is), is a different story. I once accidentally got some sand in there which caused the WAV to stop rotating and seize up, and it was a real PITA to get it open. The plastic tabs you twist to open that section are just too small and you can't get the torque required. You can't really use a wrench either because then you'll break the impeller shaft. I don't even remember how I eventually got it open but it wasn't easy, and in practice I don't even clean that area of the pumps because it is too difficult/risky to get in there (could easily snap the impeller shaft trying to get in). All I do is hope the vinegar dissolves anything that might be in there. In practice it isn't that big of a deal but from a design perspective it would be nicer if I could access the entirely of the powerhead to give it a full cleaning.

Durability:
I once knocked one off a table, it fell about 3' onto cement and broke the impeller in half. The rest of it was fine. I think it was $50 to replace the impeller. This actually was easy to replace because if you don't care about breaking the impeller shaft you can just use a big wrench to twist the thing open. But otherwise no durability issues with any of the 3.

------

My final verdict: I'm satisfied enough to keep them in my current tank but switching to Vortechs for the new tank I'm building. Maybe I'd use them for supplementary flow but not before trying the alternatives (Tunze, Gyre).

09/26/2017, 08:07 AM	#1
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Apex WAV Now that they've been out for a while, curious what folks experiences have been. Just picked up a used set. Pumps themselves seem pretty standard, other than the sensors. What kind of useful life do the impellers have, for example? __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/26/2017, 10:51 AM	#2
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	I have had mine since they came out. I have cleaned them on 6 month intervals where I dip first in a peroxide mix to break down any algae and then a vinegar dip to fully clean. No parts have yet needed to be replaced and they still work as well as when I got them. I wish they had a bit more movement on the mount and were less bulky but that all said I still like them. I have 2 in my 150 and need more flow so i will likely be adding some gyres to my sides and moving the WAVs to the back. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

09/27/2017, 08:41 AM	#3
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Thanks. Form factor definitely wanting versus something like the vortech, though the ability to monitor more things via apex is really nice. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/27/2017, 09:06 AM	#4
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	I don't think they are as strong in the flow department as they were touted and in reality I do not monitor them via the apex. my cleaning schedule is such that I would never get an alert about the pump speed and I have yet to get an alert that the pump failed and if one did I would notice it on my daily viewings of the tank. I honestly would say if I were to do it again I would likely go with 2 gyres instead to get a bit more movement. The one link module is nice for running a DOS though so I dont need more power cables. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

09/27/2017, 09:40 AM	#5
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Right. I'm planning to use the WAV kit to supplement four Vortechs on my new 400/450. So I won't run them on pulse, rather one of the gradual ramp up/down modes (forget what Neptune calls the modes ) hoping that puts less strain on them and longer life. Thanks for your comments. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/27/2017, 09:44 AM	#6
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	as suppliment then they are perfect. Good luck with them. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

09/27/2017, 06:18 PM	#7
bice0004 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: MN Posts: 79	I've had a pair since they came out too with similar experience to Soulpatch. Clean them every few months and they work great. no issues so far and haven't had to replace any parts yet. I also have 2 MP40s on another tank. The Wavs seem to have a slightly narrower jet than the MP40s and at their slowest speed (1%) they are really only a little under half speed from an rpm perspective . the MP 40s can run slower speeds with slightly wider jet but only point straight ahead and are more expensive. Having both I like the wavs for price and directionality while I like the MP40s for wider flow and smaller form factor. They both work great and controllability is about the same. I'm currently using apex on the wavs and reeflink on the vortechs. I think the Wavs are a solid alternative (competitor) to MP40's.

09/28/2017, 07:36 AM	#8
ReefTeacher Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: St. Louis MO Posts: 358	Simon, I have had bad luck with my WAV. One lost the ability to communicate with the 1link interface after about 1.5 years. They said it was unrepairable and my only option was to buy a new one. Way too expensive for that sort of fragility. I used the money to buy a Tunze stream 3 instead, it has a 5 year warrantee. BTW how are my angels doing?

09/28/2017, 08:23 AM	#9
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	Angels are doing well - the regal is a serious piggy. Doing my tank swap end of October so they'll have glorious space at that point. Thanks for the feedback. __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

09/28/2017, 08:27 AM	#10
ca1ore Grizzled & Cynical Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Stamford, CT Posts: 17,319	I see that the user manual suggests that the external magnet assembly can be submerged (in the overflow). Anyone do this? __________________ Simon Got back into the hobby ..... planned to keep it simple ..... yeah, right ..... clearly I need a new plan! Pet peeve: anemones host clowns; clowns do not host anemones! Current Tank Info: 450 Reef; 120 refugium; 60 Frag Tank, 30 Introduction tank; multiple QTs

10/01/2017, 02:29 AM	#13
sfdan Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: San Francisco Posts: 451	I've mentioned this in a separate thread about these pumps, but I'll add my experiences here: I have 3 WAVs in my 120 (4x2x2). With only 2 I couldn't quite get enough flow throughout my tank to satisfy me but with 3 I think the flow is great. 2 on one side and 1 on the other. Pros: - Super quiet - Directional control is good (but not great) - If you have an Apex they are super easy to integrate and program Cons: - Flow is really concentrated - Take up a lot of space in the tank + another wire Flow: This is the biggest con. The flow they shoot is very concentrated. It is powerful yes, and you have maybe 20-30 degrees worth of angle to play with to get them pointing where you want, but still its just pushing a narrow beam of water. You need to play around with the locations of the pumps and the programming in Neptune and watch how the tank responds to really get what you want. As far as the concentrated flow powerheads go, the WAVs are maybe the best, but given alternatives exist that have a much broader flow pattern out of the box (Vortech, Gyre), I think it is a big "con" for the WAV by comparison. Cleaning: I find the outside of the unit really easy to clean. I take a 2 gallon bucket, fill it halfway up 50/50 with vinegar and water. Turn the pump off via Apex, pick it off the aquarium wall, plop it in the bucket, then put its magnet on the dry side of the bucket holding it in place. Turn the pump back on via Apex. Wait an hour or two. The pump cleans itself sloshing the vinegar around. Any algae (including coralline) just melts off at this point, 30 seconds with a brush gets the pump good as new. Quick rinse in freshwater and back into the tank. I probably wash them once a month. They do seem to attract algae growth but cleaning is pretty easy so I don't mind that much. Now the inside of the unit (where the impeller magnet is), is a different story. I once accidentally got some sand in there which caused the WAV to stop rotating and seize up, and it was a real PITA to get it open. The plastic tabs you twist to open that section are just too small and you can't get the torque required. You can't really use a wrench either because then you'll break the impeller shaft. I don't even remember how I eventually got it open but it wasn't easy, and in practice I don't even clean that area of the pumps because it is too difficult/risky to get in there (could easily snap the impeller shaft trying to get in). All I do is hope the vinegar dissolves anything that might be in there. In practice it isn't that big of a deal but from a design perspective it would be nicer if I could access the entirely of the powerhead to give it a full cleaning. Durability: I once knocked one off a table, it fell about 3' onto cement and broke the impeller in half. The rest of it was fine. I think it was $50 to replace the impeller. This actually was easy to replace because if you don't care about breaking the impeller shaft you can just use a big wrench to twist the thing open. But otherwise no durability issues with any of the 3. ------ My final verdict: I'm satisfied enough to keep them in my current tank but switching to Vortechs for the new tank I'm building. Maybe I'd use them for supplementary flow but not before trying the alternatives (Tunze, Gyre).