Wave maker

gareth.hubbarde · 04/23/2017, 12:59 PM

Just wondering if a wave maker is necessary? My 94litre aquarium doesn't have one, the pump seems to work well with 2 outputs. Water seems to be constantly moving.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

AnnaCassandra · 04/23/2017, 02:02 PM

I'm not super experienced but from everything I've read/experienced in the last couple years I would say it depends on what you want to keep in your tank, for the most part I don't think wave makers are an absolute must have but if you're keeping corals some types don't like to be blasted in the same way all the time so you might want to move your powerhead around every once in a while to change up the flow patterns

Ron Reefman · 04/23/2017, 02:50 PM

Wavemakers make for a better ,i.e. more random flow than the old powerheads. But they are NOT necessary. However, just the return flow from the filtration or sump is unlikely, but not impossible, to be enough.

You want the total flow (return pump flow and powerhead flow to equal at least 20 times the size of your tank. So you 100L tank should have 2000L of flow, and 3000L of flow would be better.

gareth.hubbarde · 04/23/2017, 03:06 PM

Could anyone recommend a wave maker for a 24g aquarium and here's the catch, money does not grow on trees so as economical as possible.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

hkgar · 04/23/2017, 03:08 PM

Let's get some basics. How big is the tank? What is the output of the pump in GPH? What pump make and model? For a softy tank 10 to 15 times tank volume tor flow should be good. More, up to 30 times, for SPS.

Just did the conversion, looks like about 25 gallons.

Add where you are from in your profile as it's nice to see where others are from.

gareth.hubbarde · 04/23/2017, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hkgar

Let's get some basics. How big is the tank? What is the output of the pump in GPH? What pump make and model? For a softy tank 10 to 15 times tank volume tor flow should be good. More, up to 30 times, for SPS.

Just did the conversion, looks like about 25 gallons.

Add where you are from in your profile as it's nice to see where others are from.

I'm from Wales, UK. Pump that is in tank is stock one that came with it. Apparently circulates water at least 10 times per hour. It's designed to fit and work in the Kent marine bio reef aquarium system.

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-X50F using Tapatalk

zsuman101 · 04/23/2017, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gareth.hubbarde

Could anyone recommend a wave maker for a 24g aquarium and here's the catch, money does not grow on trees so as economical as possible.

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

you are unfortunately in the wrong hobby if you are going too skimp. there are powerheads you can and should get. flow is as important as light or water quality. good luck n stuff

04/23/2017, 12:59 PM	#1
gareth.hubbarde Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 719	Wave maker Just wondering if a wave maker is necessary? My 94litre aquarium doesn't have one, the pump seems to work well with 2 outputs. Water seems to be constantly moving. Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

04/23/2017, 02:50 PM	#3
Ron Reefman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Cape Coral, FL Posts: 10,431	Wavemakers make for a better ,i.e. more random flow than the old powerheads. But they are NOT necessary. However, just the return flow from the filtration or sump is unlikely, but not impossible, to be enough. You want the total flow (return pump flow and powerhead flow to equal at least 20 times the size of your tank. So you 100L tank should have 2000L of flow, and 3000L of flow would be better. __________________ The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. (Neil deGrasse Tyson) Visit my build thread http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2593017

04/23/2017, 03:08 PM	#5
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	Let's get some basics. How big is the tank? What is the output of the pump in GPH? What pump make and model? For a softy tank 10 to 15 times tank volume tor flow should be good. More, up to 30 times, for SPS. Just did the conversion, looks like about 25 gallons. Add where you are from in your profile as it's nice to see where others are from. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

04/23/2017, 02:02 PM	#2
AnnaCassandra Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Edmonton, Alberta Posts: 100	I'm not super experienced but from everything I've read/experienced in the last couple years I would say it depends on what you want to keep in your tank, for the most part I don't think wave makers are an absolute must have but if you're keeping corals some types don't like to be blasted in the same way all the time so you might want to move your powerhead around every once in a while to change up the flow patterns

04/23/2017, 03:06 PM	#4
gareth.hubbarde Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2017 Posts: 719	Could anyone recommend a wave maker for a 24g aquarium and here's the catch, money does not grow on trees so as economical as possible. Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk