Neptune Wav pumps

[Waters]

I recently replaced my Gyre with 2 of the Neptune Wav pumps. I cannot believe how much power these things put out...it ridiculous how low I have to run the intensity on my 105G mixed reef. One question....can somebody explain to me how the different modes work? When you set the intensity, are you setting the max intensity for each mode (since it appears that the intensity changes for every mode except constant). A good example is Pipeline vs Pulse. Neptune says Pipeline creates more powerful waves at the cost pf pump noise. If you are setting them both to the same intensity, what changes between the two modes? What modes are people currently running? I have mine running Pipeline with each pump running independently, every 5 seconds. Too much power to have them both running at the same time. I guess that is the downside to having a mixed reef.

 

[Salty1962]

The WAVs are powerful. I have a XF130 and 2 WAVs in my 70G. I have my WAVs set to reverse alternate via "Pipeline" during different intervals in the day. I like the pipeline due to the strong stop and start. I have one of my pumps as the master and the other slave. The master controls, in the master/slave configuration, both pump's intervals. My slave just runs inverse to my master pump. This gives me good alternating/random flow in my tank. I placed my WAVs on the back glass pushing back for forward and my XF130 on my side glass pushing left to right. Hope this helps.

 

[Waters]

The WAVs are powerful. I have a XF130 and 2 WAVs in my 70G. I have my WAVs set to reverse alternate via "Pipeline" during different intervals in the day. I like the pipeline due to the strong stop and start. I have one of my pumps as the master and the other slave. The master controls, in the master/slave configuration, both pump's intervals. My slave just runs inverse to my master pump. This gives me good alternating/random flow in my tank. I placed my WAVs on the back glass pushing back for forward and my XF130 on my side glass pushing left to right. Hope this helps.

Thanks for the response. That is exactly how I am running mine, right down to the pump positioning. What intensity are you running the Wavs at? I am sitting at 2% if you can believe it.

 

[iemsparticus]

Thanks for the response. That is exactly how I am running mine, right down to the pump positioning. What intensity are you running the Wavs at? I am sitting at 2% if you can believe it.

2% seems way low for a 105g, even a mixed reef. What is your FLO rating at 2%?

 

[iemsparticus]

This my my WAV programming for my 120g mixed reef... keeps FLO between 4.3 and 4.6, which equals about 35 to 40 turnovers per hour... great for most SPS, and my LPS and Softies either don't mind, or get put where the rock shelters them some.

Edit: the numbers on the titles of the profiles that control my pumps is the percentage... so Maverick_55 is Maverick mode set at 55%.

 

[Waters]

2% seems way low for a 105g, even a mixed reef. What is your FLO rating at 2%?

My FLO rating is 3, which I know is low, based on Neptune's recommendations. I have each pump on the back wall towards the corners, about 1/3 the way down, angled up towards the center. My LPS is getting blasted as the water bounces off the front glass. I might just have to rearrange and move some of that stuff around. My tank is set up with two islands so there isn't a ton of places where the flow is blocked though.

 

[iemsparticus]

I would definitely think your flow rate wouldn't be good for your SPS. True Mixed reefs are the hardest to set up, because it takes a lot of work and planing to create an environment that allows SPS and LPS/Softies to thrive. I personally have my pumps on each side (like the typical setup for Vortex pumps) which gives me the ability to tuck tons of LPS and Softies in the rocks (I also have two islands) to keep the flow down, as well as have that 35x-40x turnover that my SPS need. That programming I use, along with the pump/coral placement I use, works very well for all of my little critters.

That being said, if what you're doing is working well for you, changing it seems needless at best.

 

[Salty1962]

Thanks for the response. That is exactly how I am running mine, right down to the pump positioning. What intensity are you running the Wavs at? I am sitting at 2% if you can believe it.

At peak I'm mine @45.

 

[ksfulk]

I run a pair of WAVs on my red sea reefer. The DT is just over 100 gallons, but I have these guys cranked up. My tank is a pretty mixed bag when it comes to corals, but Ive got just about everything in there.

Im not a huge fan of the pipeline or pulse modes, as the flow pattern seems to just slosh the water around and those modes seem to have increased pump noise. They arent loud, but its noticable if you are around the tank for any period of time, because you can hear the change in speed at fixed intervals.

I use mavericks and malibu for mine. They are really nice to set and forget. The percentage on them is the highest percentage that they will get to, and they change speeds at random intervals. What I found was that I had to start low at the beginning, but as the corals got used to it, I bumped up the max intensity every couple of weeks until I got where I am now. Acans, zoas, gorgs, anemones, acros.. no problems!

 

[iemsparticus]

I run a pair of WAVs on my red sea reefer. The DT is just over 100 gallons, but I have these guys cranked up. My tank is a pretty mixed bag when it comes to corals, but Ive got just about everything in there.

Im not a huge fan of the pipeline or pulse modes, as the flow pattern seems to just slosh the water around and those modes seem to have increased pump noise. They arent loud, but its noticable if you are around the tank for any period of time, because you can hear the change in speed at fixed intervals.

I use mavericks and malibu for mine. They are really nice to set and forget. The percentage on them is the highest percentage that they will get to, and they change speeds at random intervals. What I found was that I had to start low at the beginning, but as the corals got used to it, I bumped up the max intensity every couple of weeks until I got where I am now. Acans, zoas, gorgs, anemones, acros.. no problems!

Pump placement?

 

[ksfulk]

Pump placement?

Earmuff style (one at each end) I find that the tank is not wide enough to run on the back glass without causing issues at the front.

 

[Broadfield]

Earmuff style (one at each end) I find that the tank is not wide enough to run on the back glass without causing issues at the front.

When is the last time you throughly cleaned the WAV pumps?

 

[Waters]

I ended up pulling some of the LPS out (Torch and Hammer) and putting them into another tank. I upped my intensity to a maximum of 10% which still seems like a ton but all that I have left in there now is SPS for the most part so it should be ok. I like the pumps on the back wall angled toward the center/top but I might have to put them on the sides like ksfulk, and still direct them up and towards the center.

 

[Broadfield]

I run Mavericks 24 hours/day. I run my right WAV at a max of 75% and my left WAV at a max of 68%... most of my LPS are on the left side of the tank. I use Tropic Eden Reefflakes for sand. I originally had Tropic Eden Miniflakes, but it blew all over the place with even less % on the WAVs.

NOTE: as the WAV pumps build-up gunk/slime on the propeller and inside of the body etc, they lose intensity... like a lot! So you may be slowly turning up your pumps over time, thinking that you are getting more flow. But in reality, you are only keeping up with what the pump is losing because of the build-up. Then once you do a deep cleaning on them, you will notice sand and coral blowing around.

LEFT-WAV by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

RIGHT-WAV by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

Placement in my tank:

FTS by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

 

[iemsparticus]

I run Mavericks 24 hours/day. I run my right WAV at a max of 75% and my left WAV at a max of 68%... most of my LPS are on the left side of the tank. I use Tropic Eden Reefflakes for sand. I originally had Tropic Eden Miniflakes, but it blew all over the place with even less % on the WAVs.

LEFT-WAV by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

RIGHT-WAV by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

Placement in my tank:

FTS by Toby Broadfield, on Flickr

Your tank always looks ridiculously clean, my friend. Your sump makes me feel like a complete slob.

 

[iemsparticus]

I ended up pulling some of the LPS out (Torch and Hammer) and putting them into another tank. I upped my intensity to a maximum of 10% which still seems like a ton but all that I have left in there now is SPS for the most part so it should be ok. I like the pumps on the back wall angled toward the center/top but I might have to put them on the sides like ksfulk, and still direct them up and towards the center.

There is no way LPS can't handle 10% in your tank... I would love to see a full tank shot...

 

[ksfulk]

When is the last time you throughly cleaned the WAV pumps?

They get a soak every three or four weeks to clean off the coralline, and get a quick tear down and scrubbing every Sunday. They definately can "gunk up" over time if you dont clean them though. Usually the worst of it is on the prop blades themselves, though if I didnt clean them for a few weeks, Im sure the shaft and housing would be gross.

Thats a picture from a few months ago - one of the only ones I have that shows the pumps

 

[Waters]

There is no way LPS can't handle 10% in your tank... I would love to see a full tank shot...

It isn't all LPS (I have acans and two large hammers that are off to the side and not getting blasted too bad)....it is a large Torch and smaller hammer that are really getting blown around. I will post a pic of the tank when I get home later.

 

[iemsparticus]

Here is my Duncan with my current setup... I'll try and get my hammer later. They are both very very happy corals in a FLO rating of 4.3 to 4.6... its all about placement.

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

They do push some crazy flow!