Waveboxes obsolete?

Coffeeinbed · 07/30/2014, 07:45 PM

I was wondering if anybody has done a comparison between the wavebox(s) and the regular powerhead wavemakers such as ecotech/jebao/tunze/korilla.

What is the difference and advantages - if any...

Thanks

Drae · 07/30/2014, 08:11 PM

Never understood why someone would stick those big wave boxes in their tank. Takes up too much real estate IMHO. Powrheads get the job done just fine imo.

meshwheel · 07/30/2014, 08:47 PM

A wave box actually DISPLACES the water. This is effect, moves the entire tank volume at once, back and forth.
This has a effect that I have never seen before on all my previous tanks. The tank stays very very clean, keeping debris suspended until it's broken down into minute particles which can be skimmer out.
No matter how many power heads I had, I would always end up with dead spots. Very much so after corals grew and took up space.
Like I said, the wave box moves the entire tank back and forth.
Looks??? I will take one box over 4 powerheads anyday.

Reefvet · 07/30/2014, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coffeeinbed

I was wondering if anybody has done a comparison between the wavebox(s) and the regular powerhead wavemakers such as ecotech/jebao/tunze/korilla.

What is the difference and advantages - if any...

Thanks

I do a comparison every day. I look at my tanks throughout the house with Vortech's but I sleep next to my tank with the Tunze wavebox. Both have great wave action. One is silent. Care to guess which one ?

The Tunze does a great job of making the entire water column move back and forth with true alternating current. I also run a Seaswirl on the tank and between the two I've got a simple system that keeps all the corals happy.

Advantage to the Tunze is you'll never hear it. It can find the perfect frequency for your tank automatically and then it's set and forget.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drae

Never understood why someone would stick those big wave boxes in their tank. Takes up too much real estate IMHO. Powrheads get the job done just fine imo.

You don't understand because you don't know that waveboxes aren't big.

At L 4.3" x W 3.5" x H 10 the Tunze disappears into the corner of my tank.

Reefvet · 07/30/2014, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meshwheel

a wave box actually displaces the water. This is effect, moves the entire tank volume at once, back and forth.
This has a effect that i have never seen before on all my previous tanks. The tank stays very very clean, keeping debris suspended until it's broken down into minute particles which can be skimmer out.
No matter how many power heads i had, i would always end up with dead spots. Very much so after corals grew and took up space.
Like i said, the wave box moves the entire tank back and forth.
Looks??? I will take one box over 4 powerheads anyday.

+1

meshwheel · 07/30/2014, 09:16 PM

Reefvet,
I have the first model that you have to dial in manually. Still works great and I get a 1 inch wave in my 65 gallon tank. That's quit a bit of weight moving back and forth. I would recommend a acrylic tank for a wave box with a big wave.
This thread reminded me that I should order a spare pump. Mine is old. HOWEVER, for the price I may just order a whole new nano wavebox.
They are that good, I cannot imagine my tank without one. Powerheads move water in the same spots consistently. They cannot move water everywhere like a wavebox can..
I agree Reefvet, until you own one, it's hard to explain and see the results...

sowildpaul · 07/31/2014, 01:34 AM

At YouTube, the videos prove that the waveboxes work great. They move water from the top to bottom all the way to another side.

If you don't like the look of it inside the tank, you can DIY externally (or have it custom-made by a tank manufacturer just like external overflow boxes).

usingthejohn · 07/31/2014, 02:02 AM

Do these wave boxes stress the joints on glass tanks? The consensus I reached after reading multiple threads is.....there isn't a clear answer

Drae · 07/31/2014, 02:18 AM

You don't understand because you don't know that waveboxes aren't big.

At L 4.3" x W 3.5" x H 10 the Tunze disappears into the corner of my tank.[/QUOTE]

I've seen the nano and the full size in a friends tank. Its like a hob skimmer in the tank. Just my opinion.

alton · 07/31/2014, 04:40 AM

The best test I found was to add Coral Frenzy to the opposite side of the tank from the Wave Box and watch how it moves across your tank. It also makes for a great pod hatchery / protector also. One box rocked my 300DD

sowildpaul · 07/31/2014, 05:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by usingthejohn

Do these wave boxes stress the joints on glass tanks? The consensus I reached after reading multiple threads is.....there isn't a clear answer

That's a good question since acrylic is stronger than glass. I suggest that you email the same question to Tunze.

meshwheel · 07/31/2014, 09:02 AM

I would make sure the glass tank was new, and had top bracing all around. They certainly would stress the joints in my opinion.

meshwheel · 07/31/2014, 09:06 AM

Here is my tank with the wavebox testing.

Allmost · 07/31/2014, 09:07 AM

a wavebox, is a efficient way of making wave. uses alot less energy.

meshwheel · 07/31/2014, 09:12 AM

You can see the axis point of the wave dead center in the tank. A center overflow really helps, as it's effect on the wave height has less of a impact. It also keeps noise/sloshing to a minimum.
I would never go back to just powerheads.

Azraz · 07/31/2014, 09:12 AM

Have not seen one in action, how does it work, make wave?

meshwheel · 07/31/2014, 09:13 AM

check my video a few posts above!

Allmost · 07/31/2014, 09:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meshwheel

You can see the axis point of the wave dead center in the tank. A center overflow really helps, as it's effect on the wave height has less of a impact. It also keeps noise/sloshing to a minimum.
I would never go back to just powerheads.

a controllable Tunze will do the same.

wave box just does it with less energy wasted.

Azraz · 07/31/2014, 09:27 AM

I looked at your video, you really did not show the box itself, just the great results. What is it and how does it make a wave?

Allmost · 07/31/2014, 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Azraz

I looked at your video, you really did not show the box itself, just the great results. What is it and how does it make a wave?

search tunze wavebox on google.

click on the first result.

Azraz · 07/31/2014, 10:04 AM

Thanks got it

jda · 07/31/2014, 10:41 AM

I will never had a tank again without a wavebox. I love the motion and results. My fish appreciate the different kind of flow. It really is a massive amount of flow without much disruption.

They are different than the "wave" setting on a power head.

I just make my own out of some scrap acrylic and an old Tunze 6100. On a bigger tank, 2 6100s. My box is 3x4x14 in my 240 and you cannot even see it behind the rocks.

07/30/2014, 07:45 PM	#1
Coffeeinbed Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 182	Waveboxes obsolete? I was wondering if anybody has done a comparison between the wavebox(s) and the regular powerhead wavemakers such as ecotech/jebao/tunze/korilla. What is the difference and advantages - if any... Thanks

07/30/2014, 08:47 PM	#3
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	A wave box actually DISPLACES the water. This is effect, moves the entire tank volume at once, back and forth. This has a effect that I have never seen before on all my previous tanks. The tank stays very very clean, keeping debris suspended until it's broken down into minute particles which can be skimmer out. No matter how many power heads I had, I would always end up with dead spots. Very much so after corals grew and took up space. Like I said, the wave box moves the entire tank back and forth. Looks??? I will take one box over 4 powerheads anyday. __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

07/30/2014, 09:16 PM	#6
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	Reefvet, I have the first model that you have to dial in manually. Still works great and I get a 1 inch wave in my 65 gallon tank. That's quit a bit of weight moving back and forth. I would recommend a acrylic tank for a wave box with a big wave. This thread reminded me that I should order a spare pump. Mine is old. HOWEVER, for the price I may just order a whole new nano wavebox. They are that good, I cannot imagine my tank without one. Powerheads move water in the same spots consistently. They cannot move water everywhere like a wavebox can.. I agree Reefvet, until you own one, it's hard to explain and see the results... __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

07/31/2014, 01:34 AM	#7
sowildpaul Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 383	At YouTube, the videos prove that the waveboxes work great. They move water from the top to bottom all the way to another side. If you don't like the look of it inside the tank, you can DIY externally (or have it custom-made by a tank manufacturer just like external overflow boxes). Last edited by sowildpaul; 07/31/2014 at 01:41 AM.

07/31/2014, 09:02 AM	#12
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	I would make sure the glass tank was new, and had top bracing all around. They certainly would stress the joints in my opinion. __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

07/30/2014, 08:11 PM	#2
Drae RAIDER NATION! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: City of sin... Posts: 3,476	Never understood why someone would stick those big wave boxes in their tank. Takes up too much real estate IMHO. Powrheads get the job done just fine imo.

07/31/2014, 02:02 AM	#8
usingthejohn Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Buena Park, CA Posts: 489	Do these wave boxes stress the joints on glass tanks? The consensus I reached after reading multiple threads is.....there isn't a clear answer

07/31/2014, 02:18 AM	#9
Drae RAIDER NATION! Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: City of sin... Posts: 3,476	You don't understand because you don't know that waveboxes aren't big. At L 4.3" x W 3.5" x H 10 the Tunze disappears into the corner of my tank.[/QUOTE] I've seen the nano and the full size in a friends tank. Its like a hob skimmer in the tank. Just my opinion.

07/31/2014, 04:40 AM	#10
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	The best test I found was to add Coral Frenzy to the opposite side of the tank from the Wave Box and watch how it moves across your tank. It also makes for a great pod hatchery / protector also. One box rocked my 300DD

07/31/2014, 09:06 AM	#13
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	Here is my tank with the wavebox testing. __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

07/31/2014, 09:07 AM	#14
Allmost Moved On Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: canada, toronto Posts: 8,161	a wavebox, is a efficient way of making wave. uses alot less energy.

07/31/2014, 09:12 AM	#15
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	You can see the axis point of the wave dead center in the tank. A center overflow really helps, as it's effect on the wave height has less of a impact. It also keeps noise/sloshing to a minimum. I would never go back to just powerheads. __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

07/31/2014, 09:12 AM	#16
Azraz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 94	Have not seen one in action, how does it work, make wave?

07/31/2014, 09:13 AM	#17
meshwheel Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Posts: 1,430	check my video a few posts above! __________________ ............And then the cops showed up

07/31/2014, 09:27 AM	#19
Azraz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 94	I looked at your video, you really did not show the box itself, just the great results. What is it and how does it make a wave?

07/31/2014, 10:04 AM	#21
Azraz Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2013 Posts: 94	Thanks got it

07/31/2014, 10:41 AM	#22
jda Dogmatic Dinosaur Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 6,256	I will never had a tank again without a wavebox. I love the motion and results. My fish appreciate the different kind of flow. It really is a massive amount of flow without much disruption. They are different than the "wave" setting on a power head. I just make my own out of some scrap acrylic and an old Tunze 6100. On a bigger tank, 2 6100s. My box is 3x4x14 in my 240 and you cannot even see it behind the rocks.