Power heads for a wave maker?

T

Traveler

[I originally planned on using my SCWD on a closed loop, but after the second attempt at it I quit! :very angry: I had a quite 1 4000 hooked up to and it barely blew so I tried a mag 9.5 and it’s still not impressive. To keep myself from emptying my pockets over and over again on some pumps I’m thinking about just using that modified dj mixer everyone was talking about a while back with a couple of powerheads. Can anyone recommend something that’s going to give the tank some actual movement? It’s a 48” tank, basically the same size as 75 just a couple of inches taller.]
 
[The Chauvet works great once you do the capacitor mod to reduce the switching time. I'm running this on my tank with a couple of Maxi-Jets alternating every 25 seconds and am quite happy with it.]



Edited By GraviT on 1109573619
 
[For a large tank like you have it is going to be hard to get enough flow with maxijets but honestly they are one of the few who do well on wavemakers.

What problems were you having with a closed loop? They are really hard to beat in a larger tank unless you want to have a super sized return pump!

Also a 9.5 should give you a good amount of flow through at least 1" piping and should be very nice so I'm suprised Is it on a closed loop or maybe it has several feet of head pressure and small piping which will decrease the flow dramatically.

Another thing you have to remember is as your pipe size increases your velocity decreases. So a maxijets "feels" like a lot of flow but it is really because it's super concentrated. Don't be tricked. Wider flows do a better job of moving water!]
 
[Why not just make the closed loop without the SCWD to create in-tank flow? If you point the outlets toward each other, you can create some random patterns as the water collides.]
 
[This picture is close to what I have going, except now the MJs are on the sides pointed towards the center of the back pane.

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I think what makes the most water movement in my case is the streams from the MJs cross the point where the outlet flow paths on each side collide and then bank off the rear pane. This seems to create a type of vortex, as the water moves towards the powerhead that is running (left MJ blowing to the right, but the water column moves left).

Wow, that was hard to describe, at least I understand what I'm talking about! :D ???]
 
[Well here's what I did...

I gave it an intake just like Marcs with 1.5" PVC and 1.5'' thin walled out the pump and then reduced it after about 14" to 3/4" so that I could attach a 3/4" barb. Then I used 3/4" ID tubing to the SCWD and on the left and right side. I used 3/4" PVC for the returns. There are ball valves on each one of the returns and one just before the pump. That's it...do you guys see any flaws where I screwed up? I thought that the Mag would be good enough but it just doesn't seem like it's enough. Should I go for a Mag12 then?

You know at some point I would like to start spending money on more corals!! :cry:]
 
[With friction and the SQWD on the 9.5 you are probably only getting around 600 - 700 GPH or so out of a 3/4" pipe it won't feel like that much (Less than 25% the velocity of a maxijet 1200). Your doing nothing wrong just probably have different expectations!

A 12 will help but the SQWD robs at least 20-30%. If you want a little more velocity try getting a 3/4 to 1/2 in bushing then get 1/2 locline. That will increase you velocity (to roughly half the "feel" of a maxijet 1200) but will reduce your overall flow due to the added pressure.]
 
[I think the plumbing after the SCWD is too small. I used 1" thinwall, and was satisfied. Increased diameter equals more flow.

If you decide to go the more expensive route and hold off buying corals, the oceansmotions Squirt might make you happier.]
 
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