Wave goodbye to waves in your tank?

[jda]

Has anybody actually seen or heard of a bonafide tank failure because of a real wave box? I have seen some mentions in passers by, but nothing that could be substantiated. Are we sure that failures are not just an internet propagated reefing myth?

Heck, tanks fail for all kinds of reasons. Are we sure that tank failures with MP40s on the glass were not caused by the magnets? Kidding... but you get the point.

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

At 460 gallons you are already in the "risk taker" category, imo

I do wonder how much additional stress a wave maker creates vs. standard pressure from a water column?

True, but my tank is overbuilt - it still crosses my mind once in a while though. Lots of water...

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

Has anybody actually seen or heard of a bonafide tank failure because of a real wave box? I have seen some mentions in passers by, but nothing that could be substantiated. Are we sure that failures are not just an internet propagated reefing myth?

Heck, tanks fail for all kinds of reasons. Are we sure that tank failures with MP40s on the glass were not caused by the magnets? Kidding... but you get the point.

Yes I absolutely have. When I lived in Minnesota in 2001 a friends Oceanic 180 failed at the seam. He was using a Tunze Wavebox. The same thing happened to another friends 125 in 2003. They are both out of the hobby now...

 

[AZMSGT]

My 4 ecotech 40s and Maxspect 350 gyres create a heck of a wave If I set them right. I like keeping my floor dry so I cut the wave back some.

The wave action on the surface, to me is a nice to watch... Let em rip.

 

[ImaFlippinDolphin]

I used to use the SCWD lol it clicked a bunch but made some little waves

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

From RC


psteeleb
05/08/2011, 02:02 PM
I had a tank failure and was using a wave maker.

I can not say if the wave maker was the cause or even contributed, but from a physics standpoint even slight variances in pressure over time can and will cause more stress to a joint then a constant pressure

I can not vote for him but another member in our local club also had a seam failure and was also using structured waves.


714albert
06/11/2011, 07:47 AM
My sisters 180gal. acrylic tank seam failed, and lost all water within it. The tank had a Tunze wavebox with a 1 to 1-1/2" wave. The tank was ten plus years old, whether it was the tank age or the damage caused by the constant wave? My sister replaced her acrylic tank with a glass tank and she is using her wavebox with the same wave height.

Obviously these failures are few and far between, and can't specifically be tied to the wave box, but even if there's only one failure throughout the entire reefing community in a year, I don't want it to be me

 

[Dr. Jim]

I use to have a 500 gal fiberglass tank, 4' deep, where I used 2 Tunze Wave boxes side by side. There was a nice back and forth movement in every square inch of the tank. Just because it is called a "wave maker" it doesn't mean there will be crashing waves on the surface. My tank had 4" between the water surface and the rim of the tank and I would estimate that the gentle waves rose and fell only about 2 inches. I still supplemented with some random power heads, but I will always have Tunze wave boxes in any large tank that are in my plans for the near future.

 

[1stNoel]

I make waves in my waterbed.... does that count?

Nah...I'm random flow there too. Whatever it takes.

 

[whitewaterman53]

I see a lot of speculation re: tank failure but have never experienced it nor do I know anyone that has that can be directly attributed to wave action. Let's see some verifiable proof. BTW, what manufactures void a warranty and how would they prove it?

 

[MnFish1]

Wave makers are basically water surge devices that are used in aquariums to produce waves that are similar to that of seas and oceans.

Tunze Wavebox 6208

One thing I don't see as much lately as I used to see in the hobby are people who using wave makers and power heads to create actual waves in their tank. It was all the rage back in the day! Is it just me or was that a trend that is no longer popular? Let's talk about it!

1. How important is it to recreate waves in your reef aquarium?

2. What are some of the pros of having more natural wave action in your reef aquarium?

If you have any wave videos from your tank please share!

I have 2 max spect Gyres - at opposite ends of the tank - set to flow for 30 seconds in one direction - then 30 seconds in the other. For me as compared to power-heads it results in more 'random flow' - more flow in general - and more gas exchange (the gyres are at the top of the right and left sides of the tank).

Also - the fish seem more active - as the are reacting to a constant flow change.

 

[jda]

The wave that a box maxes is different than you can get from a powerhead. The box can create a 3/4 to 1" wave in my 8' tank that goes from end to end in about 1.5 to 2 seconds - it is slow and gentle and does not splash.
Some of the dual waves that you can get with power heads are faster and cool. The longer the tank, the better the slow wave.

On larger tanks, I have used a pair of Tunze 6100s to move the water - one is not enough. 10 foot 660 gallon could get a 3" wave, but that was WAY too much and we dialed it down to about 1".

 

[MnFish1]

As said above it puts too much stress on the tank seams for no benefit, I dont see the purpose of waves in a tiny box, we can grow corals without waves, so all it is is to 'look cool'.
It wouldnt look so cool when your seam breaks.

I'm not sure that a powerhead aimed across the tank with the same amount of flow wouldn't do the same - I guess it depends on what you mean by 'waves' - my recollection of the old 'wave makers' was merely that they alternated flow between 2 powerhead s - not meant to actually make 'waves'

 

[sman200788]

I ran a Tunze wavebox on my 90g for 3 or 4 years. I loved it, I saved forever for it back in the day....

My wife got the flu a few years ago and decided to leave work at lunch for the day. I got a phone call around lunch that day that the floor was all wet in the living room and it was raining in the basement. The seam split on my tank. It was actually the corner I had the wavebox in (not that that necessarily means anything). I rushed home and was able to save about 50% of my livestock who lived in a Rubbermaid feeding trough for months while we got the house fixed and the new tank setup.

I have ZERO proof that the wavebox caused that, the tank was probably 10-15 years old at that point which I'm sure didn't help. But regardless, that was my experience.

I loved the look it gave, I loved the way it kept detritus from settling, and I think my coral growth was better because of it. But to me, I will not risk it again.

 

[dposmondsr]

I use a real Wavebox that I made out of a Tunze. The thing moves 100% of the tank water all the time. I use them in every long (rectangle) tank that I have - they are a must have for me.

I wonder how many people who voted have actually used one?

1990 built Oceanic tank in my house with no structural issues. Perhaps some of the vendors need to build a better tank?

What size Oceanic? I have one from same period I am bringing back to life after 20 years in storage.

 

[rvitko Verified Sponsor]

The reason to use waves is clear, a 1" wave on a 180 is 3.74 gallons of water, with a wave about every second that is 13464 gph of flow and done with next to no energy use and heat input. On the other hand, that also means roughly 25 pounds of shifting weight, so yes, it does stress the seams. I personally do use a wave, but 1/2", you can dial down the amplitude. In no case would I recommend making a wave on anything but a top end aquarium you bought new, you will want overkill in the glass and the stand needs to be rock solid and level. If a tank was constructed in accordance with Timoshenko's formula, no corners were cut in material and it is structurally sound, it should last approx 20-25 years, if you make a modest wave, you shaved off 10-15% of the tanks life. FWIW, you reduce the life at least that much by simply draining it and moving it and after 10-15 years, most tanks are done, scratched, damaged and due for replacement so if you start with a quality aquarium and stand, I don't believe this is a real concern. Nature does not do random, there are reliable and predictable tides and waves and storms, which are also more or less seasonal and predictable. The wave lifts and suspends, the tides carry it away, the storms periodicaly destroy and purge.

 

[jnvd3b]

There was a thread not too long ago (actually a QOTD I think) about getting flow right for a mixed reef. I believe some were saying ‘standing waves’ were the key to keeping a mixed reef happy.

one thing is for sure they can be extremely energy efficient for what they do. I am contemplating adding a tunze wavebox to a large ~400 gallon lagoon at some point.

 

[creativeballance]

I know that for Mermaid Fans, if you don’t have a back and forth wave, they don’t grow in a fan shape. They grow like this.

That makes sense why my fan doesn't look like a fan.
Thanks!

 

[Epic Aquaculture]

The reason to use waves is clear, a 1" wave on a 180 is 3.74 gallons of water, with a wave about every second that is 13464 gph of flow and done with next to no energy use and heat input. On the other hand, that also means roughly 25 pounds of shifting weight, so yes, it does stress the seams. I personally do use a wave, but 1/2", you can dial down the amplitude. In no case would I recommend making a wave on anything but a top end aquarium you bought new, you will want overkill in the glass and the stand needs to be rock solid and level. If a tank was constructed in accordance with Timoshenko's formula, no corners were cut in material and it is structurally sound, it should last approx 20-25 years, if you make a modest wave, you shaved off 10-15% of the tanks life. FWIW, you reduce the life at least that much by simply draining it and moving it and after 10-15 years, most tanks are done, scratched, damaged and due for replacement so if you start with a quality aquarium and stand, I don't believe this is a real concern. Nature does not do random, there are reliable and predictable tides and waves and storms, which are also more or less seasonal and predictable. The wave lifts and suspends, the tides carry it away, the storms periodicaly destroy and purge.

Great info. Thank you Roger!

 

[GeoSquid]

Dang, I never thought about tank failure from wave action. I have a 180 gal with two borneman surge tanks 2' above it. They each surge about 4 gallons every minute or so. They have been running for about 3 years on this tank so far.

 

[mindme]

I do not like the look of the quick back and forth. It's too violent, I'd like a longer and more peaceful looking flow which probably isn't really obtainable in most tanks.