Wave Box

I have been looking at a wave box. Either one that i will make myself or more than likely a wave2k.
I have ( maybe not ) a stupid question. After looking at some of the videos of these things in action (the link below is the TUNZE) it seems you get alot of movement of water (at once) from one side to the other.

http://home.insightbb.com/~ben.zimme...ighquality.wmv
he lies my question. I have an AGA 95-wave on the AGA custom stand. This thing is made of fibreboard and does not look the sturdiest of creations. However, it is made for the job and uptil this point lasted a good few months with the 1200# or so on top of it.
If you have this constant rocking motion of the water (and stand) is it more likely to find a week spot in the cabinet and leed to a really big mess?
Or is the amount od movement negligable?

I dont think i would ask this question if I had built my own stand.

 

anybody?

 

Interesting question. I will pose one in return. If you push on the end of your tank at the waterline, does the stand move now? If it does not, I do not think the motion of a wave maker will cause any problems. If the stand does move when you push on it, I personally would not trust it, with or without any additional motion.

Just my two cents.

Mike

 

i don't know the logistics or physics involved if water was going from one end of the tank to the other, however...in my opinion i would look into a custom stand if this is the route you want to go. one thing to remember also, not so much with the wave2k but i know that with the tunze, the wavemaking application is controllable. meaning you can set the heighth of the waves....yes, waves. you'll have to drop the water level in the aquarium to accommodate this. if your idea has changed you can always look into a wavysea WavySea **PLUS** Ocean Simulation - Black Model: Premium Aquatics , they are way cheaper than a tunze plus you have the added benefit of keeping the pump outside the aquarium or returning from your sump. it also won't be a constant wave back and forth, you could set up the patterns you want and also keep the stand you have. although the wave patterns are different you need to realize how much real estate a wave2k or tunze take up within the aquarium also. just a suggestion, HTH.

 

I would go along with Mike. I also have fears of stands being able to hold water weight at 8.3# per gallon + LS and LR. I think the point to concider has been laid out properly. It shouldn't be too difficult to reinforce your present stand if in doubt with 2x4's.

 

The wave2k push and pulls at the same time but the true wavemakers, the ones that make waves will shorten tank life. Tunze states their wavebox will shorten a tanks life span by 15%. What's 15% ask your tank builder got me. Why would any one bother with it. Because it makes real cyclical waves. One 45W pump can slosh a whole 6' tank back and forth and it washes everthing in the tank. From what I've read most wavebox owners wouldn't trade the wavebox for anything

Anyway Voritec fiqured out how to make a wave without the big ugly box. Here is a Reefcast video from MACNA.
http://www.reefcast.com/videos/vortec2.mpg
Weaken the tank.... its about to tip it over!

Just a demo.

IMO I would try a wavebox with your stand.

 

cool vid covey, apparently bowling and reefing go hand in hand....

 

K9BOLX,
I too am looking into the Wave2k and I came across this thread. Just wondering if you went with the wave2k or what? If so, how do you like it? Even though it is big, I think with carefully placed rock work, that it has to be better than multiple phs. Due to my tank's depth, I have to put a ph down low so then I have power cords showing.

Does anyone use or have anything to say about the Wave2K?

 

i never did get the wave2k, ended up getting a controllable tunze 6100 and a standard 6000. they seem to slosh everything around pretty good

 

I putr a wakve2K in my 125 gal last week. The tank is 60"x18"x24"deep and the unit sits just off center due to the glass bridge in the center. It works great and I have goos water movement on the side closest to the unit. I did still have a dead area where the unit is farthest away. I put one PH in and it fixed the problem. So in a 60" tank I have the wake2K and one PH. Loks better than what I hade before. The hard thing is stacking rock to cover the box and not let it touch since it does flex in and out 1/2" or so durring operation. Remember that you must leave room at the bottom to allow the lower water to move out. Dont stack rock in front of teh outlets or it greatly reduce water movement. My 2 cents.

MIKE