Opinion please.

[JAWSIII]

Recently purchased a used set of hydor wavemakers. 6 pumps and one controller. I’m using 4 of the pumps (2 per side) in my 65 gallon tank. I have them positioned one facing top and the other lower level on both sides of the tank. The flow they create is very good. What I wanted an opinion on is the time between switching from pumps on left and right. Is it better to have one side on for longer say 3-5 minutes then switch or should I alternate them more frequently like 30 seconds or something. Or should I set the fans on alternating corners. So instead of 2 rights and 2 lefts going on at the same time , should I have say top right and bottom left on the same circuit ?

just seeing what the overall consensus is.

thanks.

 

[LuizW13]

If it were me, I'd probably have them alternate quicker so there's always a back and forth action going on. I'd also have the opposing pumps facing each other so that the water they push collide and create a more random and chaotic flow. But, that just how I like it.

You could also just mix all all the different flow patterns like you described. Sometimes when i'm bored i'll walk up to my tank and change the flow from short pulse, to reef crest, and back to short pulse, etc.

 

[MarshallB]

I'm a fan of having them on longer to get that flow pattern to go around the entire tank then swap over and change to the opposite direction rather than quick alternating pulses.

 

[Gtinnel]

I have the pumps on my tank set to where they very quickly alternate, although I don't have any specific reason that I run mine this way. I don't know exactly how long it takes for one pump to complete an on/off cycle, but it is only a few seconds.
I don't think there is a correct answer and you should just try it different ways until you find the flow pattern that you and your corals prefer.