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Especially if you get silicone that maybe is chewed abit by like say urchins . So I try and get no more than 1” wave on each side (6’tank) . Also , for me the dual overflow seems to not get too loud this way.a panel leaking would be catastrophic!!Good point, sloshing water cant be good for the silicone.
THIS POST IS ABOUT GETTING AN ACTUAL WAVE ON TOP OF YOUR WATER. NOT RANDOM FLOW.
Today let's make some waves by talking about the best equipment for making waves in our reef tanks. Like literal waves, not just flow. Many hobbyists believe that producing waves in your reef tank is beneficial in that it, in some degree, is more like the ocean, helps keeps detritus from settling and keeps food suspended in the water column. Let's talk about it!
1. What are the best pumps and wavemakers for making waves (not flow) in your aquarium?
2. Do you care whether or not you have wave action in your reef tank?
wave action video via @Rhoads238
And I would also be worried about the torque leverage this cyclical motion places on the stands that hold those tanks above the floor.So, I've read a lot about waves not necessarily being a good idea in aquariums because of the force it puts on the glass. Some tanks are rated for it and some may not be. I have a 350 gallon aquarium that has a lifetime warranty, but, I'm pretty sure there was a warning that excessive waves moving water from one side of the tank to the other could put too much pressure on the seals. 350 gallons shoved to one side then back to the other seems like a really bad idea in my opinion... Now, maybe smaller tanks can handle it? However wouldn't the water volume to glass thickness and seals be scaled down and up in the same ratios? If so, are any tanks safe to run wave motions?
That aside. I do not run waves. I have two gyres churning at the top of the water just to break the surface tension and create circular patterns of flow. I'm planning to get two more so I would create two concentric spheres of circular water flow on each end of the tank with two MP 40s pushing water from the back to the front into the circular patterns. The goal here to keep corals fed, and moving in a water motion. However, this does not create waves.. At least not like what we're talking about here.
The entire ocean as a singular mass is in a constant standing wave of sorts, just dictated by the moon.
All I’m talking about is some kinda mechanic that puts a body of water into harmonic motion, this ensures all coral are not subject to eddies and so the entire surface is in contact with moving water, whether it’s a slow standing wave or a complex fast one, the entire ocean also exists in a state of harmonic motion hence my statementTidal movement is very slow and completely different than wave/surge . It's nothing like what we're talking about creating with our pumps. What we create is only present in a very narrow and usually shallow corridor.
Acros LOVE flow and yours look great!I run 5 powerheads in my 120 all on pulse. Several are on wave modes. This gives me great random flow. On 2 linked powerheads I change the mode daily for even more random flow.
My 120 today.