any one using wave makers?

[chadm]

hello all,im looking at wave makers and wondering if they are a good investment.
i found a tsunami online at champion lighting and supply,it comes with 3 maxijet 1200,for about 180.00.

[Minnreefer]

Yes a wave maker is recomended, we have the natural wave in our 100 gallon and it does a good job. What size tank do you have? that will make an influence on the wave maker.
Jonathan

[ReefJunkie]

Hey Chad, Have you checked out the Aquacontroller 2? It has a built in wave maker that can controll up to 16 pumps plus you can monitor and control PH ORP temprature and whole lot more. This is what I plan on getting.
http://www.neptunesys.com/aquaController.shtml

It sells for $269 @ premium aquatics I'm sure there is a cheaper place to get it. http://www.premiumaquatics.com/

[Greasy Fizeek]

I am going to do the same thing. But what is the difference between the AquaController II and the Aquacontroller II -Backlit LCD Display. Does one have a light and the other doesn't. Also, do you know if they come with the probes for that price $320.00.

Thanks

[chadm]

hey minnreefer i posted my specs so you can now look in there if ya like.
reefjunkie,i had not seen thoes models yet.they look really nice,im not sure if i want al that yet though.if you get one,when would that be?any time soon?that way i could check yours out.

[Wrasse Man]

Greasy,

I just checked on these today too. From what I can tell from the website, the controller costs $2xx.xx. Probes, wavemaker controllers and all that is extra. The package I was interested in was controller, Ph, temp, and 2 wave maker controllers for about $400.00.

HTH

[Minnreefer]

On our tank the return comes in on one side and the overflow is on the other side. On the return side I have one Maxi 1200 and on the other side I have 2 1200's and I have the 2 1200's come on at the same time. I htink that it works pretty well.
Jonathan

[chadm]

minnreffer,my tank is visable from 3 sides,so my overflow and return are on the same side.and also the rio 2100 is on the same side.but i need flow in more of a random pattern and to hit a few more areas.i have not wanted powerheads on the opposite end because they can be ugly.but so is cyano and other algies that seem to grow in areas of low flow.si i thim=nk im going to have to give in to the powerheads,and may aswell go with the wavemaker.im not sure about the maxijet 1200s though,if 3 would be to much or not.
thanks chad

[Thallone]

An idea I got recently off of one of the DIY boards is working well for me. Get several Orbit sprinkler-heads with internal gear drive, preferrably not the pop-up ones and attach them inline. the only metal part on the ones I found seems to be the adjuster screw for distance, and the whole distance thingy can be removed to improve performance. The oscilation is adjustable from 40 to 360 degrees at the turn of a knob. the only problem I have with my 3-head setup is that they sometimes stop, probavbly because my Rio doesn't deliver enough back-presure.

Cost of solution, $5 per oscilator. (haf off for the ones I got on clearance)

[John Billings]

Well, I have been working with several types of surge generators for months. I have found the pump-alternating device like Red Sea Wavemaster is good if you want alternating water movement. It costs about $120, no pumps included. But if you want displacement, like ocean swells or coastal waves, lots of water moving in a rush, then a siphon or valve device is better. I now use a homemade Carlson-type siphon surger, which discharges just above water surface, to produce strong agitation and aeration.

Surge and strong lighting are useful in conjunction with daily water changes to simulate the shallow-water marine environment. Corals, sea anemones, tubeworms, algae and other creatures are flourishing in this system.

[chadm]

minnreffer,my tank is visable from 3 sides,so my overflow and return are on the same side.and also the rio 2100 is on the same side.but i need flow in more of a random pattern and to hit a few more areas.i have not wanted powerheads on the opposite end because they can be ugly.but so is cyano and other algies that seem to grow in areas of low flow.si i thim=nk im going to have to give in to the powerheads,and may aswell go with the wavemaker.im not sure about the maxijet 1200s though,if 3 would be to much or not.
thanks chad

[bill-e]

Those of you planning on buying the Aquacontroller 2 for a wave machine will be dissapointed. Although the AquaController will perform this function, it utilizes the X10 appliance modules to perform the pump switching...and the X10 appliance modules have a large relay which makes a rather loud click noise when they change states. It will be very annoying to thear the constant switching.

That's not to say that the AquaController isnt a good device to have. I love mine, it's just that the x10 modules are too noisy for a wavemaker.

[bill-e]

By the way, here's a review I wrote of the Natural Wave wavermaker last year.
http://cereal.mv.com/wavetimer

[Pegasis]

I am using a Wavemaster and it controls 5 MP1200s and the main pump (for feeding cycles). I have a 180gal tank. It works very well for me. I could add a couple of more PHs if I wanted/needed to. It is inexpensive. I will probably get something more elaborate later on, but for now, it works great.

Good luck,

Steven

[Ol Studly]

Pegasis, just curious. How did you hook up all of that to a wavemaster? Mine only has 4 plug ins.

Studly