Is having a back and forth wave important? Especially in a nano?

[klimfish]

Hey everyone, I recently added a Jebao SLW-10 to my 14g Biocube. I'm running an AI Hydra32HD on 50% BRS AB+ settings, 12" from the water line, using a @3D Reefin' diffuser. Hydor300GPH return pump with a Hydor-Flo rotating return, and also an inTank media basket with filter floss, rock rubble, and chemipure blue.

After adding the Jebao SLW-10, I noticed I could create a wave-like motion that causes my tank to wave back and forth by about 1/4-1/2 an inch, with less than 1 second intervals, primarily observable at the surface level near the overflow. This is with any "intensity", with the W1 "pulse" mode, at 50 percent pulse speed. If I change the pulse speed more than 10 percent, I lose the "wave" look.

Now, I do notice that while I can see the consistent increase/decrease of the wave motion at the top of tank, my Duncan coral towards the bottom still seems to be receiving laminar flow due to my aquascape, and size of tank. I've been keeping the intensity between 2-3 "dots" on the Jebao SLW-10 controller. There are 8 levels of intensity total.

So I'm wondering, how important is this wave-like motion, if it's only felt at the top of your tank? What kind of flow should I be going for in a cube this small intended for high flow LPS and SPS only? I have plenty of room for SPS up top if the laminar flow can be dealt with towards the bottom. Does anyone have any tips for these newer Jebao wavemakers in a tank this small? Else mode was just too much, the Duncan coral closed up within an hour and looked very upset, although I personally think "else" mode is probably the most useful, if I could control the intensity!

Also, I positioned the Jebao about halfway down the tank on one side of the glass facing the other, is this proper placement for 1 pump in a cube?

 

[brandon429]

we keep sps and lps, high quality ones, in bubbler-only laminar flow setups. wave action doesnt matter its awesome when you can get it, but straight up bubbling would also work for decades on end with equal coral happiness we show

in a tank that size pretty much any where you aim it w be ok.

 

[klimfish]

we keep sps and lps, high quality ones, in bubbler-only laminar flow setups. wave action doesnt matter its awesome when you can get it, but straight up bubbling would also work for decades on end with equal coral happiness we show

in a tank that size pretty much any where you aim it w be ok.

Cool, so if I can get the wave action at least at the top of my tank where the SPS eventually will go, should I stick with that even if that means laminar flow for the rest of the tank?

Also, how high up on the glass of a small cube tank is the best place for a wavemaker like this? Midway? more towards the top/water line?

 

[brandon429]

its just preference, where its not splattering about and where ideally it has nice lower level flow this keeps detritus from sticking to the bottom and piling up if you can position it that way somehow. in a tank that size it wont matter though, that current is going all over the place its good to go however.

hey check out my friend Maritza's bubbler-only high end sps setup. 8th year this system rocks and its just several bubbles a second nothing special. if it had a wave maker that w look neat but it wont affect outcome at all of coral health etc.