DIY Wavebox!

[delta]

Not bad at all.

 

[JohnK]

I've been toying with this DIY idea for a while, Make a DIY wavebox incorporated into a overflow (2 seperate chambers, one drain, one wave box, all built into one overflow box)

 

[smcnally]

That's a cool idea! I can't wait to make this smaller and try it out. Maybe I'll do it tomorrow since I have most of the day off.

 

[scavdog]

Very nice Steve! I've been wanting a wavebox for some time. Glad to see that someone tackled a DIY version.

some folks claim that the large localized pressure variation caused by waveboxes is not good for a glass tank.

I spoke to the Tunze guys at MACNA regarding this. There is no doubt that the wave-action will reduce the life of a tank. However it is insignificant.

From the tunze forum:

we can estimate that a well made name brand US tank will have a 15 year life and the wavebox will reduce that to 12 at most if all other instalation is correct-i.e. it is level and properly supported)

I mean really? Whoever hasn't replaced a tank by 12 years is probably gambling anyways. Although I have seen 30 year old aquariums that still hold water, I wouldn't do it.

 

[TomD]

Sorry for the question, but what exactly is the benefit of this? Just for more flow?

Steve, how does the overflow still work properly with the constant level change?

 

[smcnally]

Very nice Steve! I've been wanting a wavebox for some time. Glad to see that someone tackled a DIY version.



I spoke to the Tunze guys at MACNA regarding this. There is no doubt that the wave-action will reduce the life of a tank. However it is insignificant.

From the tunze forum:



I mean really? Whoever hasn't replaced a tank by 12 years is probably gambling anyways. Although I have seen 30 year old aquariums that still hold water, I wouldn't do it.

Thanks for the info Joe, that's pretty interesting.

Sorry for the question, but what exactly is the benefit of this? Just for more flow?

Steve, how does the overflow still work properly with the constant level change?

Hi Tom,
The benifit of it is that it is a more natural flow pattern for the corals. It also helps keep detrius suspended better, IMO. The overflow still works fine, mine doesn't seem to act any differently than normal.

 

[scavdog]

Tom,

The wave action of the box is, IMO, unsurpassed by any means of water flow in an aquarium. The only thing that might rival it is a surge device and those require a bit more effort to incorporate.

After seeing Jim's (Calciumbuf's) wavebox a couple years ago, I was sold. The wave action produced is what you might expect on a natural reef. Because of this, it keeps detritus and particulate matter in suspension. IE, no dead zones in the tank.

 

[Kevin McG]

Would a working wavebox take the place of powerheads within the tank?

 

[smcnally]

Would a working wavebox take the place of powerheads within the tank?

I've only seen a few people that use wave boxes. Those that do usually seem to have another powerhead in the tank to add some more random flow.

 

[Greg Hiller]

Dude....unbelievable.

 

[TomD]

This is really something so it can help with many things, maybe even the detrius settling that some blame for a tank crash due to DSB's.

So if one of these is operating properly producing natural like flow, can the use of PH/closed loop etc be eliminated with one of these?

After 2 years of reading I think I know a lot, and I know nothing!

 

[Gina McReeferson]

Very cool Steve!

 

[Liam]

Very nice Steve! I've been wanting a wavebox for some time. Glad to see that someone tackled a DIY version.



I spoke to the Tunze guys at MACNA regarding this. There is no doubt that the wave-action will reduce the life of a tank. However it is insignificant.

From the tunze forum:



I mean really? Whoever hasn't replaced a tank by 12 years is probably gambling anyways. Although I have seen 30 year old aquariums that still hold water, I wouldn't do it.

i wonder how they formulated that

 

[smcnally]

Maybe they built their 1st one 12 years ago and just held out all these years

 

[NateHanson]

Or maybe they used the equation E*G=B*S

(where E=educated, G=guess, and . . . well, you know what the other two stand for. )

 

[Greg Hiller]

>After 2 years of reading I think I know a lot, and I know nothing!<

I feel the same way after 10 years of reading! I know I know very little. Or as Rummy likes to say: I've learned that the known unknowns are now better known!

Question:

>Crestron is good for many things, Daire
But, I'm not going to use it to control it because the relays aren't realy meant for that<

Is the Creston the timer mentioned here:

http://www.exoticfish.com/details.cfm?cat=0|1978|1963|1908|0&id=42463&

Is that timer from the Exoticfish site likely to work long term with this device? I was thinking I could convert one of my large overflow boxes on my 400 gallon system by just drilling a hole for the powerhead. Any problems anyone would see with this idea? The overflow has stand pipes, so the tank would not be able to drain in case of power failure.

 

[~Flighty~]

Link doesn't work because it was copy pasted with the "..."

 

[Greg Hiller]

Fixed.

 

[smcnally]

>After 2 years of reading I think I know a lot, and I know nothing!<

I feel the same way after 10 years of reading! I know I know very little. Or as Rummy likes to say: I've learned that the known unknowns are now better known!

Question:

>Crestron is good for many things, Daire
But, I'm not going to use it to control it because the relays aren't realy meant for that<

Is the Creston the timer mentioned here:

http://www.exoticfish.com/details.cfm?cat=0|1978|1963|1908|0&id=42463&

Is that timer from the Exoticfish site likely to work long term with this device? I was thinking I could convert one of my large overflow boxes on my 400 gallon system by just drilling a hole for the powerhead. Any problems anyone would see with this idea? The overflow has stand pipes, so the tank would not be able to drain in case of power failure.

Greg, that timer is what I'm going to probably use instead of my Crestron system. Crestron is a control system for homes...I just integrated mine with my tank. Daire joked about it because I keep telling her that she should get her tank onto her Crestron system. Here's a link to my processor http://www.crestron.com/products/show_products.asp?jump=1&type=residential&model=CP2E

I would hope the timer in the mentioned above would be fine since using it as a wave timer is it's intended use.

The only downfall I see to you drilling the overflow is that it's level will be dropping and raising constantly. I would assume this would slow the draining down a bunch and probably make some gurgling noises when it does drain.

 

[BrianMac]

Ever give any thought of using float switches instead of a timer?