Help choosing wavemaker for 125 gal

[Tsev03]

i am setting up a 125 gal tank. It's 6 feet long. Not sure which wavemaker to go with. I'm only going to be able to get one right now. I also have 2 800 gph cheap power heads. I would like to go with jebao. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[jsker]

I would go with a Gyre 280

 

[mcarroll]

I'd add a single Tunze pump to what you have already. They offer at least a few good options across a good range of prices.

Theoretically a Turbelle® stream 6105 would be the perfect next addition for your tank. US$285.

What is your budget though?

 

[Tsev03]

I need something close to $100. I only have softies now. I'm sure I'll want other coral down the road. I spent most of my budget on the skimmer.

 

[mcarroll]

Well, one option is to concentrate the flow you have around the corals you have and save up for the pump you want vs settling for a pump you can afford right now.

But that might not be possible... For <$100 I'd look at a non-controllable pump. Specifically the classic Turbelle® nanostream® 6045. ($78) It's a step above the pumps you have in flow and in a much nicer form factor....super adjustable, with a solid 3' reach into the tank.

You might not need to add more than one or two 6045's to what you have now to have great flow in the tank...nothing further needed. You might want to convert some existing pumps to 6045's after you live with them for a while though.

2¢

 

[Tsev03]

Ok thank u. I just order that one.

 

[mcarroll]

2 year warranty and great support from Tunze via @rvitko if needed.

 

[Flippers4pups]

I run a RW 8 and a RW 15 on my 125 6ft. More than enough flow at 50%. I just clean them every month. Running strong now for over two years with no problems. Just pick the RW's not the WP's. RW 's are way more robust and way more reliable. I've been reefing since 1993 and would highly recommend them on a budget.

 

[Tsev03]

I have my 125 gal tank up and running now. I got one rw15 and one nanostream 6045. And then the cheap power head in the middle. I think the combo supplies enough flow. Thanks for all the help

 

[Tsev03]

I'm having a hard time placing the powerheads where I don't get bare spots in my sand bed. I have not found a placement that doesn't create at least one spot that is bare. I have turned the rw15 done to the lowest flow setting. Any ideas?

 

[Flippers4pups]

Try setting the pump deeper on the glass with it pointing more up to the surface. Avoid having the pumps facing directly at each other. One side pointing more towards the back and the opposite side pump facing towards the front of the tank.

Having alternating flow from one side to the other is best. This keeps vortexes from happening because of the wave crashing into each other. Having a wave maker controller helps, but also sometimes requires having the same make of pumps to do this.

That's why I have two jebao pumps, one on one side and the other on the other side. I wanted more control over them and the stock controllers that come with them wasn't cutting it. The JB wave controller fixed my control problems.

 

[Tsev03]

Ok I'll try that. I sure wish I could afford a controller but that will have to wait a while. Thank you for ur help. I'll let u know if that works

 

[Midrats]

If your sand is brand new it will blow around more. Once a biofilm develops it will stay put much better.

 

[Tsev03]

It is only about 4 months old

 

[Tsev03]

I moved them deeper in the tank. I think that helped. Still seems like a lot of flow. Now I just have to move things around some so my corals that like less flow are in a good place. Thanks for the help