wavemakers????

rwithey · 03-03-2002, 01:59 AM

Can anyone suggest a good inexpensive wavemaker???
Do they damage the powerheads by turning on/off repeatidly???
If so, what powerheads are less prone to damage?
How do the Rio pumps rate?

I use
a mag7 sump return
two second nature (tetra) 970 powerheads and a powersweep for in tank circulation

bill-e · 03-03-2002, 06:54 AM

The least expensive of the Wave Makers is the Natural Wave wave timer. It can be found for under $60. You can read a review of it on my web page.

I've been running one for 3 years using MaxiJet power heads with no problems.

As far as Rio's, that's a whole 'nother thread but they will work although they might click a bit upon startup.

tdwyatt · 03-03-2002, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bill-e
As far as Rio's, that's a whole 'nother thread ...

Hmmmmm.... Rios.... Ticking time bombs...

On the wave makers, if you don't need to worry about noise or splash, make a surge device from an all-plastic commode valve assembly... Arrange the trigger with a separate float of it's own, which will trigger the "flush" when the tank holding the surge water fills to the desired level. Eric has been using one of these for quite some time in his tidal marsh tank, works well and is extremely reliable, although I would suggest installing an overflow tube lower than the top edge of the surge tank in addition to the flush valve just in case the mechanism locks up.

Jimbo · 03-03-2002, 03:59 PM

Hi tom does eric have any pics of his DIY mechanical wavemaker, I would sure like to see how he set it up and it's operational parameters.

Have a great sunday!

beach bum · 03-03-2002, 04:44 PM

I can assure you RIO's will be your worst choice for pumps on a wavemaker. Somewhere on them, I think it's on the cord warning label, it says do not use with a wavemaker. I tried them on a red sea wavemaster when I first set up my tank before I saw the label, and I could not stand the noise after after 2 minutes. click, buzz, whirr, grind,....repeat!

MJ's should give you no problems, many people use them.

fwiw
chris

rwithey · 03-03-2002, 10:49 PM

Is there a way to test a power head for it's suitability as a wavemaker pump? I have several different ones I could use already, if they will work. Will all powerheads make noise when turned on, or should I listen for a quiet one?

tdwyatt · 03-03-2002, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rwithey
Is there a way to test a power head for it's suitability as a wavemaker pump? I have several different ones I could use already, if they will work. Will all powerheads make noise when turned on, or should I listen for a quiet one?

The noise is the least of your worries, the Rios will burn up and discharge PCB's into your tank, possibly not cutting off at the wall, possibly shorting out your fuse box, etc, possibly burning down your house (Nooooo, this is NOT an exaggeration...) Get some maxijets, the little ones are dirt cheap via mail order... ...and it would be best to start with a new one for a wave maker, as they shorten the life of most PH's.

HTH

Timur · 03-04-2002, 08:01 AM

I use maxi jets on my wave maker with no problems.

I'm thinking of a device (I dont know if there is one on the market) that doesn't make the powerhead go on and off. Tunze has these powerheads but $$$. I want to use maxi jets and the device will decrease and increase the power without switching on and off. May be this can be done with alternating watts or mHz. Just a thought, I'm not an electrician.

HOT CORAL · 03-04-2002, 09:41 AM

I just had brain freeze, I use a powerhead that has an autoswirl motion to it,

now I remember, ZOOMED makes it, it has faired pretty well, now granted it isnt going to give the best "true" wave effect, but it doesnt help with gettin strong circulating movement

Doug1 · 03-04-2002, 10:03 AM

How long have you had the Zoomeds running? LFS culdnt get a day out of them with out hanging up. HAve seen the same thing reported on the boards alot

So far the only sweeping motion device I have encountered that seems to work well is the sea swirl unit. Then again they swirl the return pump water and cost a fin and a fluke

BTW Rwithy, welcome to TheReefTank, home of the great Pacific Northwest reef conspiracy

rwithey · 03-04-2002, 10:24 AM

I guess I forgot to mention....I have a ZooMed Powersweep- actually works quite well........NOT!!!

Really, it does exactly as advertised for about 1-2 days, then will quit sweeping, one gets real tired of pulling it out every couple of days and scrubbing it with a toothbrush and running it it warm freshwater in the sink for another lousy two days of function (if your lucky)

The ZooMed Powersweep is at the top of my never buy again list.

HOT CORAL · 03-04-2002, 12:11 PM

i havent had any problems with mine, it has been running for several months, i think they might have redesigned them?

the LFS here has few in their 280 reef, but they also have other powerhead units on wavemaker

Anyway, i only paid $16 for mine, the model number is 236 i believe, i didnt buy it for a while for the same reason as stated above (read on other posts)

beach bum · 03-04-2002, 03:10 PM

Powersweep? Never, never, never, again. For one thing they don't push very much flow at all, and very unreliable - sometimes they sweep, sometimes they don't, but the TWO

I bought hung in there for about 2weeks and 1 week, respectively.

fwiw

mapster · 03-04-2002, 10:14 PM

I guess I'll need to keep an eye on my powersweeps! I've had mine for 2 1/2 - 3 weeks and can't complain too much. I've had to give it a tap or two, but only after I added sand to the tank (fingers crossed). Maybe they redesigned them?

rwithey · 03-05-2002, 12:08 AM

Mine worked well the first few months I had it, but as time went by it became worse and worse, started out a tap would fix it too.