Anyone using Hydor Smart Wave?

[Bustyraker]

I've been getting alot more SPS lately and would like to create a more random flow pattern in my system. I have 2 600gph and 2 1200 gph koralias in my tank now and I'm thinking about buying the smart wave. I've heard that it really chews up the powerheads tho and breaks them. If I only have to replace one or two powerheads a year I'm not too concerned about that, just trying to find a cheap way to have random flow until I get a large tank in a few years

 

[Mike J.]

I have the Smart Wave on one of my tanks and think it's great. But I don't use Koralia pumps, I use Sicce Voyagers. I'll tell you what's nice - on another tank I have WP25's and have great wave action.

 

[Bustyraker]

I'm not looking to create a standing wave, I have a CPR hob overflow and I'm afraid too much of a wave would mess with my ATO level in my sump, I dose kalk so that wouldn't end so well.

 

[Mike J.]

I have a CPR CS102 on the tank with the Smart Wave and Sicce Voyagers. I top off with kalk and vinegar on that tank. Just to say it outright, I think the Koralia pumps are junk, but the Smart Wave works great. The fish would jump every time they switched on every 15 seconds, plus they're noisy, and run backward, and get dirty and run less efficiently quickly.

 

[Bustyraker]

That's why I'm not really concerned if they get torn up, I intend on replacing them with bigger better powerheads whenever they break. What do you recommend that will be ok switching on and off?

 

[AZDesertRat]

Hydor Evolutions are guaranteed for two years, if the covers break or the rubber bump stop comes out they replace them free of charge no questions asked. They are designed to be controllable so go for it if thats what you want. I ran two Evo 1400's on a RKL switching every 30 seconds for over 2 years for a total of over 2.3 MILLION starts and stops and replaced 2 covers under warranty. Not bad for a couple $39 powerheads.
I have since switched to the Jebao WP-25's but have kept the Evo's as back up until I am comfortable with the WP's reliability since they are a new product. So far they have been awesome but I had no complaints with the Evos or their customer service.

I had two Sicce Voyagers before the Evo's and was not satisfied at all. They wer much larger physically, put out about half the flow, drew 3 times the wattage and the original mounting system was horrible. Any time I touched one it would fall out of the bracket and it takes two hands to spread the bracket out to put it back. I really thought I was going to like them but after a couple months they went bye bye. I tried.

 

[Bustyraker]

How bad is the noise from the Evos? My tank is in my bedroom so noise level is pretty important. I have Evos now but never really listened to how loud the click when I turn them on

 

[AZDesertRat]

I had one that would click sometimes on start up but not every time, the other was totally silent. I had to look straight at them to tell if they were running or off most times. When I first installed them on my RKL I had them on the wrong PC-4 outlet and I was hearing a click from the mechanical contact in the PC-4, once I moved them to a different outlet and reprogrammed it was great as far as that clicking goes.

 

[Bustyraker]

Great thanks for the advice!

 

[AZDesertRat]

Just for comparions here is a WP-40, Evo 1400, WP-25 and Hydor Nano.

The WP-25 pumps more than the larger Evo 1400 and is much smaller.

Here is a Sicce Voyager 3 and a Evo 1400.

 

[Bustyraker]

Where can I order the wp-40 or wp-25? Are the prices reasonable?

 

[AZDesertRat]

Fish Street has them. I got my 40 and 25's as part of a group buy for $48 and $52 but they have gone up some. Great price when you figure you do not have to buy an additional controller since they have it all built in.

 

[Bustyraker]

That's excellent! Just looked at them. What size and how many would you recommend for a 55 gallon SPS tank? Would two wp 40s be too much?

 

[AZDesertRat]

Way too much, two of the 25's is plenty and you will probably run them at 50% too, maybe 75% if you are bare bottom.
The latest controller version allows you to select 50, 75 or 100% maximum speed in certain modes.

 

[Bustyraker]

Just watched a video of a wp25 on a 75 gallon and WOW that thing cranks! I can't believe I haven't heard of these before. Thank you so much!

 

[whyzee429]

I've been using the Smart Wave for about a year (maybe 2) on my 75g Sps tank. I have a couple powerheads with continuous power and two Evo 1400s on opposing ends switching every 10 seconds. Every once in a while I hear a click, but it's hardly noticeable. My Evos start up in reverse every once in a while, which used to bug me, but now I figure it causes more randomized flow so I'm okay with it.


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