Is a wavemaker nessasary

[Ghostyboythedog]

Hi,
I'm going to be starting 20 gallon reef tank soon and I'm curious if you need a wave maker dose it matter or dose it not and if there's some corals that don't need a wavemaker and affordable then let me know and if I do need a wavemaker and what are cheap wave makers and corals

 

[blaxsun]

Yes - even if it's just a small one.

 

[Ghostyboythedog]

Yes - even if it's just a small one.

Okay

 

[shadow_k]

Yes - even if it's just a small one.

I agree , I have a 20 gallon cube with a Nero 3 the corals will appreciate the water movement it’s not turned up all the way but as coral grow out your gonna need more flow

 

[Ghostyboythedog]

I agree , I have a 20 gallon cube with a Nero 3 the corals will appreciate the water movement it’s not turned up all the way but as coral grow out your gonna need more flow

Thank you both. What wave maker do you use?

 

[areefer01]

Hi,
I'm going to be starting 20 gallon reef tank soon and I'm curious if you need a wave maker dose it matter or dose it not and if there's some corals that don't need a wavemaker and affordable then let me know and if I do need a wavemaker and what are cheap wave makers and corals

As @blaxsun noted yes, you will need one. More importantly it is flow that you will need. You may be able to get by with a good return pump if it is an AIO (all in one) nano display and a random flow nozzle. But if it is just a box of glass or acrylic with a HOB / heater you will need some flow.

You could probably get something like a Jebao SLW for 60 bucks which would work find. Something small that you can tuck away.

 

[ScottJ]

I have used these in both fresh water and salt. They have never given me any problems except one that the mounting clip broke off. I still use it for mixing.

 

[areefer01]

I have used these in both fresh water and salt. They have never given me any problems except one that the mounting clip broke off. I still use it for mixing.

That is also a decent one. Little bulky compared to the slw but sounds like this is a first tank so good call.

 

[A_Blind_Reefer]

Depends on what you’re putting in the tank. I ran an all in one mixed tank, no sps, for years just off the return pump with two return nozzles. That was before things like the vca rfg random flow generator came out. I would think a decent return pump on a 20 gallon with a vca rfg could support a tank pretty well…. Depending on what you put in it. You would be limited on return flow, and if it’s an all in one when the filter starts to clog which can cause several issues you’d want to avoid.

 

[Ghostyboythedog]

I have used these in both fresh water and salt. They have never given me any problems except one that the mounting clip broke off. I still use it for mixing.

Thank you

 

[Ghostyboythedog]

Depends on what you’re putting in the tank. I ran an all in one mixed tank, no sps, for years just off the return pump with two return nozzles. That was before things like the vca rfg random flow generator came out. I would think a decent return pump on a 20 gallon with a vca rfg could support a tank pretty well…. Depending on what you put in it. You would be limited on return flow, and if it’s an all in one when the filter starts to clog which can cause several issues you’d want to avoid.

Thank you!! Also what if it was live rock only would you still have a wave maker I'm still going to do corals though just curious

 

[ScottJ]

That is also a decent one. Little bulky compared to the slw but sounds like this is a first tank so good call.

A bit bulky, yes. But cheep and reliable. Also, they kind of spread out in a fan shape, not too powerful and concentrated for a small tank.

 

[Ghostyboythedog]

A bit bulky, yes. But cheep and reliable. Also, they kind of spread out in a fan shape, not too powerful and concentrated for a small tank.

Thank you so much I will get that one then probably

 

[shadow_k]

Thank you both. What wave maker do you use?

I use a Nero 3 bit on the pricey side , but it works well providing nice wide flow for my cube

 

[KrisReef]

Thank you!! Also what if it was live rock only would you still have a wave maker I'm still going to do corals though just curious

Water motion on reefs brings dissolved nutrients, planktonic food and Oxygen to the corals and fish that live there. The water motion is similar to blood flowing in an animal, in how it functions to support the living system.

If you just have rocks in the tank you don't need flow to feed dead rocks. Rocks on a living reef have bacteria, sponges, corals, plants, and probably a few hundred other things that can be growing on the surfaces and in the cracks in the rock. Those lifeforms all depend upon moving water to keep alive, so a pump to keep the water flowing is necessary in our tanks.

The flip side of current, is that too much can move rocks and sand around when you want them to stay put, and many corals will not tolerate the direct flow from a powerhead if it is too strong for their liking.

 

[CoralB]

As @blaxsun noted yes, you will need one. More importantly it is flow that you will need. You may be able to get by with a good return pump if it is an AIO (all in one) nano display and a random flow nozzle. But if it is just a box of glass or acrylic with a HOB / heater you will need some flow.

You could probably get something like a Jebao SLW for 60 bucks which would work find. Something small that you can tuck away.

Don’t forget the need to break surface tension for gas exchange

 

[vetteguy53081]

Hi,
I'm going to be starting 20 gallon reef tank soon and I'm curious if you need a wave maker dose it matter or dose it not and if there's some corals that don't need a wavemaker and affordable then let me know and if I do need a wavemaker and what are cheap wave makers and corals

Necessary- beneficial- effective and essential for coral and nutrient distribution

 

[blaxsun]

The Sicce Nano Voyager 1000 is also a reasonably priced wavemaker (only consumes 3 watts of power).

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

The goal is good water movement without dead spots. That's gonna be very hard to achieve without a powerhead. Even a tank with only live rock will do better with some sort of powerhead, but if you're gonna keep coral, it's a necessity.

 

[danielm5]

The above recommendations are good ones, but I must confess that I've began with much cheaper ones. If they're cheap is very easy to replace them if you've any problems
.
For example, I've got these 2 per $16:


I had others, but I still have these and they still work. As a matter of fact, I put one of those in my QT and another went back to the DT because I messed up the one I had in it. I'd like to keep these affordable ones as backup.