Too much flow?

Danny N · Jul 8, 2016

My old wave makers died. They came with the tank so I'm not sure what they were. I have a 120 gallon 6ft long tank. I purchased 2 Jebao PP-15 and placed them in my tank. The box stated they were ideal for nano-reef aquariums with flow rates from 1200 to 15000 L/H.
Anyways, even on the lowest setting it looks like a typhoon in the tank. Maybe I was grossly under flow rate beforehand? Are these too much for a tank. I have a few fish and some LPS coral. I don't want to beat the corals to death....

kschweer · Jul 9, 2016

I wouldn't think that's too much flow. Maybe try playing with settings and positioning. My tank which is 1/2 the size (57 rimless) runs 2 mp10's full speed and a tunze 6055 running at about 1/2 speed.

Mfreddy · Jul 9, 2016

Funny you say that. I wave a 240 FOWLR with dead spots using regular center overflow and 2 pumps. I have to dial down the returns because the overflow can't keep up. I got a PP-15, mounted it on the side of the overflow. I have it on #2, of 7 I think, and it's blown all the sand from the end of the tank. I have reeflakes 3 mm. Not sure where to move it. It's 20" from the bottom now, pointed straight ahead.

mcarroll · Jul 9, 2016

Danny N said:
I have a 120 gallon 6ft long tank.

Danny N said:
even on the lowest setting it looks like a typhoon in the tank

If I'm guessing right, a 120 gallon, 6 foot tank gives you a height and width of only 18" each.

Two wide-flow pumps are unlikely to be satisfactory in my experience. It depends how you want to look at it, but I'd say you've got the wrong type of pump for that shape of tank (long and skinny). If you really love those pumps, I'd add another set of two (maybe even two more sets for a total of 6) and run them along the back wall. Feel free to experiment with the number of pumps, but it will be >2 and very possibly >4.... I don't see a way around placement across the back due to the pump's inherent limits. The upside is that all of them will be able to run at a very easy-going flow-rate.

Unless that works for you, what I would consider is adding pumps that direct the water flow. Tunze is generally my preference.

A pair of Tunze 6055's would make reasonable companions for the PP's and do a LOT more to move water down the length of your tank. They still only have a 4' reach, so they may or may not do well enough on their own....depends a lot on the quantity and layout of rock. I'd certainly at least try them without the PP's if you had them. (At $100 each, the PP's would be worth returning or otherwise unloading, IMO.)

If you can do without the controllable stuff (we generally get more out of it than the corals do) you could even get by with some of their plain AC pumps. They have many options, but one would be a set (≥4) of 6045's.

(That's larger than actual size.) Infinitely directable, three-foot reach, and the flow rate is manually adjustable if you would need to throttle one back for some reason. At $78/each they are a serious bargain. They have larger sizes if you wanted fewer pumps, but lots of pumps can be very advantageous (more-so later than now)...I would consider neither more nor less pumps absolutely better. Pick what makes sense.

For that matter, a set of their newer transverse pumps might be just the ticket...they run in size from the diminutive 6020 ($40) up to the brand new Stream 3 ($340)....this graphic gives you the gist on their potential usage. The smaller ones work the same way:

Purpule Tang · Jul 10, 2016

I have a 70 x 70 x 60 cm height cube tank. I have a lps dominated with few soft and sps.
I have a just one jebao rw 8 wave maker need to add one other?better that I install them back of the tank or sides?

ReeferBob · Jul 11, 2016

I had to put my Jebao on the lowest setting as well - they are very powerful pumps.

FYI: That is a 125g tank, not 120g.

Purpule Tang · Jul 14, 2016

So good to I going with 2 jebao rw 8 wavemaker for 75 gallon tank with dimensions of 70 cm x 70 cm x 60 cm height ?

vetteguy53081 · Feb 17, 2018

Anyone know why a perfectly running PP-15 would after cleaning stop running when placed in tank but runs outside of tank?

Matthew Frost · Feb 17, 2018

vetteguy53081 said:
Anyone know why a perfectly running PP-15 would after cleaning stop running when placed in tank but runs outside of tank?

Electrical short????

vetteguy53081 · Feb 17, 2018

Short where? Plugs in fine and powers up. the prop does not run until pushed with finger and runs perfect OUT of water. When in water, it comes to a stop

wattson · Feb 17, 2018

make sure the two rubber bushings that hold the ceramic shaft of the impeller are pushed in and seated..one bushing is the hole of the motor body and other is the screen that surrounds the impeller..

vetteguy53081 · Feb 17, 2018

Will do and Thank you Both for input

Vahanyos · Feb 17, 2018

Jebao pumps lose their power fast when algae and build up happens... if you’re a set it and forget it kind of guy then in a couple months the power will come down... maybe try running one for now? Or get the twin controller and use the mode that has constant on for one power head, and pulse on other. That works great on my 4ft tank. Return is pointed in the middle top and it gives me good random flow.

I have the rw4 on one end, constant on, and a pp8 on other end, on pulse Mode.

What side do your returns come out from?

wattson · Feb 17, 2018

Vahanyos said:
Jebao pumps lose their power fast when algae and build up happens... if you’re a set it and forget it kind of guy then in a couple months the power will come down... maybe try running one for now? Or get the twin controller and use the mode that has constant on for one power head, and pulse on other. That works great on my 4ft tank. Return is pointed in the middle top and it gives me good random flow

curious to see/know this double controller