Flow is more important than lighting.

[teebone110]

Came across this article, very interesting...


Flow is more important than lighting.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/6/aafeature2

 

[Zakk]

Can't argue too much.  I know I'd love to fork out the money for a couple of MP-40's...

 

[teebone110]

Can't argue too much.  I know I'd love to fork out the money for a couple of MP-40's...

I know you want to buy 'em. Your tank will love you for it!

 

[Zakk]

[quote author=Zakk link=topic=1825.msg13747#msg13747 date=1325227296]
Can't argue too much.  I know I'd love to fork out the money for a couple of MP-40's...

I know you want to buy 'em. Your tank will love you for it!
[/quote]

Oh I agree, it's just another grand I have to sneak by the wife.  Summer is good for that.

 

[Krazykarl]

Makes me wonder if a wave maker is "enough" flow for a tank. I'm only running a wave maker with about a 1/2" wave. No power heads at all. And the out put of y return pump at the surface.

 

[Zakk]

Now that I don't know.  I think wavemakers are pretty good at moving water throughout the tank, but I'm sure it's prone to dead spots in sheltered areas.  I plan to run the 2 mp40's as a wavemaker, but with a series of random patches that really shake it up in the tank, and I'll likely keep at least one other powerhead in there aimed behind the rock at the back. 

 

[pulpfiction1]

ive read somewhere the wavemaker will move  100% of the water

 

[Zakk]

ive read somewhere the wavemaker will move  100% of the water

I guess that makes sense, I mean, that's how mother nature does it...

Now would a 1/2" wave move the water enough though.  I mean more than just sort of shifting it back and forth?  I don't know, I've never used one as I read they are really hard on the seams of a tank... although I love the theory behind them. 

 

[Blob-79]

wave makers do a pretty decent job of moving water, better then any powerhead im sure. I have a koralia in the back  behind the rockwork, to make sure no detrius settles back there

 

[pulpfiction1]

[quote author=pulpfiction1 link=topic=1825.msg13779#msg13779 date=1325262401]
ive read somewhere the wavemaker will move  100% of the water

I guess that makes sense, I mean, that's how mother nature does it...

Now would a 1/2" wave move the water enough though.  I mean more than just sort of shifting it back and forth?  I don't know, I've never used one as I read they are really hard on the seams of a tank... although I love the theory behind them.
[/quote]

watching the one bill runs at IA ,its running half full in the box and the whole tank water volume swings,i would think the only dead area would have to be completely sealed somewhere,and if that were the case even closed loop wouldn't matter,but that's just what it appeared to me for the 10 min or so that i watched it

 

[Zakk]

wave makers do a pretty decent job of moving water, better then any powerhead im sure. I have a koralia in the back  behind the rockwork, to make sure no detrius settles back there

Ah, that's what I would do.  I wonder if they make a 'wavemaker proof' tank, as that would be my ideal water movement solution as well, but if I ever busted a seam on a 125 my wife will evict me  ;D

 

[phi delt reefer]

this topic came up on another forum the other day - i think it was canreef.

the wave pressure thing is a myth - I will find the thread and post the link. somebody explained it scientifically in the post and the person has experience with calculating dynamic loads

 

[phi delt reefer]

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=81357&highlight=wavebox&page=5

If it helps I can assure you silicone is not effected by mechanical cyclic loading so it's immune to fatigue type failures in most cases such as aquariums. The only fatigue issues with silicone are related more to electronics which have thermal cyclic loading. In addition even if fatigue failure was possible the amplitude from the cyclic loading is actually very small, the pressure from the wave is only fluctuating a few inches in comparison to the total pressure of 20+ or so, so it's not even close to something that would raise fatigue concerns anyway. Fatigue issues relate more from reverse cyclic loading where the load reverses direction created an a total amplitude greater than the actual static load (similar to why bolts are always preloaded).

The simple fact is fatigue failure is completely impossible from a wave box and it's a bunch of BS and like most stuff on the web is just spread by a bunch of people who know very little about the subject.

 

[pulpfiction1]

there ya go,im sold

thanks!

 

[Krazykarl]

I beefed up my wave after reading that first link... I'm running a 2" wave now in the tank. Everything is getting rocked. Gonna watch for signs of stress with the added flow.

 

[Blob-79]

imo it all comes down to the stand and how rigid it is. If you got a good stand, your good to go. The stress on your seams are minor.

 

[pulpfiction1]

id have to agree,i don't think its possible to break a seam with wave action or flow,you would have all the water on the floor from flowing over the edge first,now the stand,that would definitely be a different story

 

[Zakk]

Ah, that's good to know.  I know at some point I read a fair bit about tank failure and wave setups, but it does seem that it just can't be enough to work the seams.

Just back from seeing Darryl's wave setup.  Just awesome.  I'm now sold on getting the mp 40's (he's using tunze's).  Can't argue with the results he's getting.  I just wish I could have shut up and listened more, I was yappin like a 2 year old in a candyshop.  ;D

 

[phi delt reefer]

i got two mp10wes in my 45 gallons... i dont think you could run them in wave mode without getting shot by the wife. The whining up and down is annoying. Though running them both in reefcrest is pretty awesome. you should see the crap that came out from behind my rocks and i already had TWO pumps back there!

 

[Zakk]

i got two mp10wes in my 45 gallons... i dont think you could run them in wave mode without getting shot by the wife. The whining up and down is annoying. Though running them both in reefcrest is pretty awesome. you should see the crap that came out from behind my rocks and i already had TWO pumps back there!

Oh, hmmm, that's interesting, the ones I saw working were dead silent. I wonder if the 40's are quieter than the 10's ?? 

Of course nothing can be as bad as the aqueons I have running now.  Darryl's were dead silent too, and they were older models I think he said.  Hmmmmmmmmmm.