Questions about waveboxes, overflows, aquascaping

Mr..Tang · 02/27/2010, 11:03 AM

Lets say I was going to build a glass tank. And the size was going to be 60"x30"18". And I Wanted to use a wavebox for my main flow in the tank. And I wanted it to be mounted on the outside of the tank. The wavebox would also house two 6100's in the box with a custom controller. My question is this;

1. What is the effects of a wave on the overflow?
2. Does the location of the overflow matter?
3. Can the tank be rimless?
4. Can the overflow be in the center of the tank with LR around it like a pillar?

Like a 2" pipe coming up with holes drained all around it in the area of the wave. That way water would always be flowing through it. And of course pipe would be covered with LR. Kinda like an island.

Please respond. Out of the box thinking here and would love some feed back!

Thanks

Mr..Tang · 02/27/2010, 12:19 PM

bump to the top

Mr..Tang · 02/27/2010, 06:46 PM

no one? Come on RC. don't make me take this to another site

plancton · 02/27/2010, 08:39 PM

I had one on acrylic, I would make sure my glass tank is well made before trying one>

1. What is the effects of a wave on the overflow? when the wave hits it more water is pushed and when not less water flows through it, the level on the sump seemed stable though, I never planned my overflow to be used with one. However just make an overflow which can handle say 1" of extra water or something.
2. Does the location of the overflow matter?, I had mine on the right side, and also tried the left side, it didn´t matter, if its in the middle its probably less affected.
3. Can the tank be rimless? yes but you must make the overflow reduce the waterlevel of the tank to an extra inch or 2, I did that with mine.
4. Can the overflow be in the center of the tank with LR around it like a pillar? yes, you also need a good pump facing the wavebox.

Mr..Tang · 02/28/2010, 12:57 PM

what do you mean a pump facing the box? Can you explain further?

Mr..Tang · 03/01/2010, 01:18 PM

REALLY!?! no one else here on RC feels knowledgeable to answer this post? DO I need to go elsewhere?

troyman · 03/02/2010, 05:40 AM

i have my overflow in middle of tank why would you use a pump facing the wave box. the wave box does give watermovement but it is not a strong current its more of a motion the rocking motion wave box creates makes water in over flow box uneven more goes in as wave goes out and less as wave goes back but it evens out i love the wave box tunze of course but also use powerheads for water movement

bvoss · 03/02/2010, 05:51 AM

Just FYI

I have a 60" x 24" x 24" tank with two big corner overflows. I was able to generate a nice 3/4" wave with two MP40Ws. They gave me both the wave and more current than a wavebox.

Mr..Tang · 03/02/2010, 03:28 PM

Keep em coming guys I need all the input I can get

Mr..Tang · 03/22/2010, 03:24 PM

bumpity bump

nikon187 · 03/22/2010, 04:36 PM

A wavebox is not meant to be used as your main flow. They are meant for supplementing powerheads or a closed loop.

Mr..Tang · 03/22/2010, 07:18 PM

wouldn't that be depended on tank size?

nikon187 · 03/22/2010, 10:13 PM

not according to tunze as it says that right in the discription of the wave box. The wavebox suspends dutriets into the water column, you still need to get it to the overflow box and skimmed off the surface. A wave box does not do this.

reefkeepa14 · 03/22/2010, 10:23 PM

the effects of an overflow due to wave box is the same if you have high flow with pumps. yourll get slosh, but waters gotta go somewhre, and that somewhere is your overflow regardless of wave action or random high pump flow

troyman · 03/23/2010, 04:56 AM

with wave box you can get over a 2 inch wave powerheads cant do that i doubt if you want the natural motion of you corals moving back and forth wave box is good the fish seem to float with power heads you would have to have one pushing on way and the other one pushing the other i dont wanna blow my stuff around in tank wave box is vevy gentle mine is in right hand back corner my rocks start about 8 inches from the port of the box the rocks are not packed together so flow goes around them the wave reaches other side of tank quite well

Mr..Tang · 03/23/2010, 10:20 AM

Troyman

Let's see some pics of your setup.

troyman · 03/24/2010, 06:05 AM

here it is

jh2pizza · 03/24/2010, 06:24 AM

I use a wave box in our 180. Have never been happier with the flow. We have a center, back overflow and no effect on it at all. We have around a 2" wave on both ends of the tank. If you blow an opposing pump directly toward the wave box, you will have a good but of wave cancelation. I offset mine by angling it just a slight bit and they work perfect together.

02/27/2010, 11:03 AM	#1
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	Questions about waveboxes, overflows, aquascaping Lets say I was going to build a glass tank. And the size was going to be 60"x30"18". And I Wanted to use a wavebox for my main flow in the tank. And I wanted it to be mounted on the outside of the tank. The wavebox would also house two 6100's in the box with a custom controller. My question is this; 1. What is the effects of a wave on the overflow? 2. Does the location of the overflow matter? 3. Can the tank be rimless? 4. Can the overflow be in the center of the tank with LR around it like a pillar? Like a 2" pipe coming up with holes drained all around it in the area of the wave. That way water would always be flowing through it. And of course pipe would be covered with LR. Kinda like an island. Please respond. Out of the box thinking here and would love some feed back! Thanks __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

02/27/2010, 12:19 PM	#2
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	bump to the top __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

02/27/2010, 06:46 PM	#3
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	no one? Come on RC. don't make me take this to another site __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

02/27/2010, 08:39 PM	#4
plancton Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Mexico Posts: 1,866	I had one on acrylic, I would make sure my glass tank is well made before trying one> 1. What is the effects of a wave on the overflow? when the wave hits it more water is pushed and when not less water flows through it, the level on the sump seemed stable though, I never planned my overflow to be used with one. However just make an overflow which can handle say 1" of extra water or something. 2. Does the location of the overflow matter?, I had mine on the right side, and also tried the left side, it didn´t matter, if its in the middle its probably less affected. 3. Can the tank be rimless? yes but you must make the overflow reduce the waterlevel of the tank to an extra inch or 2, I did that with mine. 4. Can the overflow be in the center of the tank with LR around it like a pillar? yes, you also need a good pump facing the wavebox. __________________ Hansel, he´s so hot right now...

02/28/2010, 12:57 PM	#5
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	what do you mean a pump facing the box? Can you explain further? __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

03/01/2010, 01:18 PM	#6
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	REALLY!?! no one else here on RC feels knowledgeable to answer this post? DO I need to go elsewhere? __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

03/02/2010, 05:40 AM	#7
troyman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: troy ny Posts: 1,025	i have my overflow in middle of tank why would you use a pump facing the wave box. the wave box does give watermovement but it is not a strong current its more of a motion the rocking motion wave box creates makes water in over flow box uneven more goes in as wave goes out and less as wave goes back but it evens out i love the wave box tunze of course but also use powerheads for water movement

03/02/2010, 05:51 AM	#8
bvoss Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 795	Just FYI I have a 60" x 24" x 24" tank with two big corner overflows. I was able to generate a nice 3/4" wave with two MP40Ws. They gave me both the wave and more current than a wavebox.

03/02/2010, 03:28 PM	#9
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	Keep em coming guys I need all the input I can get __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

03/22/2010, 03:24 PM	#10
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	bumpity bump __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

03/22/2010, 04:36 PM	#11
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	A wavebox is not meant to be used as your main flow. They are meant for supplementing powerheads or a closed loop. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

03/22/2010, 07:18 PM	#12
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	wouldn't that be depended on tank size? __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

03/22/2010, 10:13 PM	#13
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	not according to tunze as it says that right in the discription of the wave box. The wavebox suspends dutriets into the water column, you still need to get it to the overflow box and skimmed off the surface. A wave box does not do this. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

03/22/2010, 10:23 PM	#14
reefkeepa14 Moved On Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 858	the effects of an overflow due to wave box is the same if you have high flow with pumps. yourll get slosh, but waters gotta go somewhre, and that somewhere is your overflow regardless of wave action or random high pump flow

03/23/2010, 04:56 AM	#15
troyman Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: troy ny Posts: 1,025	with wave box you can get over a 2 inch wave powerheads cant do that i doubt if you want the natural motion of you corals moving back and forth wave box is good the fish seem to float with power heads you would have to have one pushing on way and the other one pushing the other i dont wanna blow my stuff around in tank wave box is vevy gentle mine is in right hand back corner my rocks start about 8 inches from the port of the box the rocks are not packed together so flow goes around them the wave reaches other side of tank quite well

03/23/2010, 10:20 AM	#16
Mr..Tang Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: North Carolina Posts: 445	Troyman Let's see some pics of your setup. __________________ "Hey, my name is Mike and I'm a Reefoholic" Current Tank Info: Member of the shallow reef club

03/24/2010, 06:24 AM	#18
jh2pizza Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: zanesville, ohio Posts: 3,439	I use a wave box in our 180. Have never been happier with the flow. We have a center, back overflow and no effect on it at all. We have around a 2" wave on both ends of the tank. If you blow an opposing pump directly toward the wave box, you will have a good but of wave cancelation. I offset mine by angling it just a slight bit and they work perfect together. __________________ Joe and Jeni Friends don't give Friends kenya trees! Current Tank Info: Oceanic 180 in wall, 100 sump, Geo Kalk Reactor, Tunze 9415 skimmer, Geo Media Reactors, Geo 624 CA Reactor