Hydros Wave engine

[Tinklez]

Can someone explain to me what exactly the wave engine is? How useful is it? I’m new to this hobby and trying to learn as much as I can. If I’m planning on getting a Hydro launch, is it worth also buying this right when I start my tank? Thanks so much again for all your help!

 

[Dr. D]

If you have a compatible pump, like an Octo, it will control it to a significant degree via the Hydros app and a Hydros Wave Engine. It works fine, but I never really change the setting. I have two Octo 4 wavemakers and they’re fine in my 100g DT. I am considering selling them and getting some more expensive MP40s because they have swappable wet ends, but frankly that’s a luxury and not necessary.

 

[Tinklez]

Thanks for the reply! Do you think it’s better to just skip the wave engine and get MP10s/40s since they are better?

 

[Tinklez]

Also, if I don’t get the MP10s, is ice cap or octo a better brand? From what I’ve been reading I’d rather go full flow and not use a gyre (want as little Maintence as possible)

 

[Tinklez]

Bump

 

[Dr. D]

Honestly, yes, if I had it to do over I’d skip the WE. I was too keyed on EVERYTHING being Hydros compatible. The truth is you can plug any wavemaker into an AC plug on Hydros and it would work just fine. You can turn it on or off via Hydros. You can control the speed, etc from the manufacturer’s app.

If I eventually do switch to MP40s I’ll sell my Wave Engine. Of course the MP40s are expensive, particularly with extra wet ends, which is why I don’t do it right away.

 

[BryanM]

Thanks for the reply! Do you think it’s better to just skip the wave engine and get MP10s/40s since they are better?

the wave engine is a controller, and if planned, driver, for your powerheads. They driving force for me was removing power bricks.

 

[JeffB418]

Wave engine is nice if you want to cut back on power bricks, and have synchronized control over multiple pumps. I have 8 wave engines in my farm with 32 pumps. That cuts my power bricks way down (to 8), and even more when I use a kraken (1 power brick) to power all my wave engines (which is also connected to a 600Ah battery that gives me 24+ hours of runtime). But thats the EXTREME case.

You can also run some return pumps on the Wave engine as well. My living room display I have a Ice Cap Gyre, a varios 4 return pump, and my skimmer pump (varios-2s) all running off the same wave engine.

As for pumps, the Octo Pulse 2 and 4 power heads are super bulletproof and low maintenance. I think these are well underrated in the industry. The Icecap gyres are nice but need maintenance.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Can someone explain to me what exactly the wave engine is? How useful is it? I’m new to this hobby and trying to learn as much as I can. If I’m planning on getting a Hydro launch, is it worth also buying this right when I start my tank? Thanks so much again for all your help!

It runs pumps such as powerhead and gyres. I have both Ice cap and Maxspect gyres hooked to it and control speeds and functions via my phone

 

[Tinklez]

That makes a lot of sense, thank you guys so much for your input. It’s definitely a little overwhelming at first trying to get into the hobby with so many different things to consider. Especially trying to think long-term, and not wanting to buy something early on, only to have it not be compatible with something that I want to add on later.

It sounds like if I’m just going to have one system that’s 50 gallons, it’s not terribly important to have the wave engine be compatible with all the pumps that I’m going to be using, since I can plug them into the controller anyway.

Is the octo brand pretty on par with MP10/40s? It seems here everyone loves the MPs but don’t talk much about octo. I just want something that’s going to work. Well, it has minimal maintenance overtime so I could just have the system run on auto pilot.

 

[BryanM]

That makes a lot of sense, thank you guys so much for your input. It’s definitely a little overwhelming at first trying to get into the hobby with so many different things to consider. Especially trying to think long-term, and not wanting to buy something early on, only to have it not be compatible with something that I want to add on later.

It sounds like if I’m just going to have one system that’s 50 gallons, it’s not terribly important to have the wave engine be compatible with all the pumps that I’m going to be using, since I can plug them into the controller anyway.

Is the octo brand pretty on par with MP10/40s? It seems here everyone loves the MPs but don’t talk much about octo. I just want something that’s going to work. Well, it has minimal maintenance overtime so I could just have the system run on auto pilot.

Octos are solid wavemakers as well, yes.

 

[BZOFIQ]

Octos are solid wavemakers as well, yes.

That they are!. My OP-4s are dialed way back in my 270

 

[Tinklez]

Nice! For a 50 gallon AIO lagoon from
IM, do you think one Octo 4 would be good? Or should I get a octo 2 as well? Or maybe two octo 2s? So many different combos lol

 

[BryanM]

Nice! For a 50 gallon AIO lagoon from
IM, do you think one Octo 4 would be good? Or should I get a octo 2 as well? Or maybe two octo 2s? So many different combos lol

So much more flexibility with two powerheads, almost always recommend this except in tiny tanks.

 

[chapter7]

From what I’ve researched, definitely two Octo 2’s. The 4’s are supposedly SUPER strong, even at low settings. You’ll also have more flexibility in flow patterns with two 2’s as opposed to one 4.

My build is not wet yet, but I have three 4’s and am a little anxious to see if they are excessive for a 150 gallon.

Btw, Hydros/Octo sells a kit with a Wave Engine LE and either Octo’s at a good savings, that is if you think you won’t utilize the additional functions of the bigger Wave Engine.

 

[Tinklez]

Do you think it’ll be too much if I have one octo 4 at the top left front of the tank, and one octo 2 at the bottom might back? That way it’ll have a circular flow

 

[Tinklez]

For 50 gallon lagoon AIO

 

[chapter7]

For a 50 gallon, YES. There’s another thread somewhere here where I recall Coralvue recommending one Octo 2 for a 40 gallon.

 

[Scoob]

I would skip the wave engine for time being. I have 3 octo pulse 2's in my 90, way more than enough. Also Tunze makes some good stuff.

 

[JeffB418]

Do you think it’ll be too much if I have one octo 4 at the top left front of the tank, and one octo 2 at the bottom might back? That way it’ll have a circular flow

Oh yeah. Avoid the 4 for that tank. For my 180G LPS tank I only use 2x pulse 2.