wavebox vs. streams

C

Carabelli

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on the new 105 gallon (48x18x28) should i just use a wavebox or wavebox+streams or just streams kit?? i am going bare bottom, but mainly lps, shrooms, zoos and softies??? thanks
 
If you’re going soft I would recommend a wavebox and a closed loop. If you have too much flow on softies they will have less polyp extension. My tank really likes the soft back and forth motion.
 
I use wavebox and a 6100 on my 180, with dart return pump dialed back a bit. I have the Tunze on the same side next to each other. Works great, everything sways back and forth.
 
Since it's a softy tank I would say wavebox and closed loop. You don't need as much flow so save yourself the money. The wavebox is hard to beat as it is really really gentle yet suspends the detritus very nicely.

My question is why did you go barebottem with a softy tank?
 
well, i really don't like the crap building up in my sand - so, i like the ability to siphon out the debris off the barebottom - the tank is not drilled for closed loop, so, that is a problem - and, i don't want to get it drilled - so, that eliminates the closed loop - hmm, so tough
 
@gmacy wrote:
well said:
I won't get into that dans bed debate here but suffice it to say that I think sandbeds are still appropriate for about 75% of tanks and especially softy and LPS tanks.

You don't have to drill for a closed loop. I had one without a hole for a couple years. Marc had one for several years on his 29 without a the tank being driled.

You could always just put a few maxijets around. For a softy tank 4 or 5 would be plenty.
Click to expand...
 
well, i might change my mind - my fiancee would definitely want a sand bed - as for the flow, my thought (i.e. hope) was that the wavebox would be enough flow for the corals i was wanting to keep - is this not the case?? seems like if i went with the wavebox plus 3-4 mjs, that would be a lot of flow?? thanks.

gm
 
A wavebox might be plenty. What is your return pump?

The problem with wavebox only is there is no direction. You need something to blow the water to your overflows. If you return pump is powerful enough you should be fine!

A barebottom will be a nightmare in a lower flow tank like your suggesting. It can work don't get me wrong but you will have to siphon on a continual basis and the cyno will be hard to control.

BB are great for superflow SPS tanks. DSBs are much easier for others and if setup and maintained properly (water quality maintained, etc, etc) then wil pose no issues. If you don't like a DSB just put like 3/4" of an inch or so. At least that will harbor some nitrifying bacteria, pods, bristleworms, etc.
 
I run a sandbed in my softie tank and it stay's very clean. Just make sure you get plenty of nassirus snails and you won't have a problem with detirus on the sand.

I think a wavebox and a closed loop with your return will be all you need to take care of softies and eliminate the clutter of powerheads.
 
thanks guys - that is a good point on the sand bed - i will have to rethink the process ... as for the flow, i am planning on using a mag 9.5 or 12 that will be teed of to feed the ca++ reactor and uv ... so, not a lot of flow from it - perhaps i will check on getting it drilled, although, i would prefer not to - just not sure
 
I have the exact same tank. One of ther reasons I chose it was that I could have a very deep sand bed and still have plenty of vertical height. As a matter of fact if I did not have the DSB I would not be able to reach the bottom of the tank. Keep that in mind. Unless you have very long arms you will not be able to reach the bottom of the tank without some sort of tool if you do not have a DSB.

You can read my sig to see what I have running in my tank for flow and I have been pretty happy. I do want to try the cut nozzel mod on the maxi jets to get even more random flow, but I have just not gotten around to it.

My tank is not drilled but I put in a closed loop that feeds over the side from the corner opposite the over flow and then is plumbed down under the sand and returns in each front corner.

Also I did not use the return line from the overflow. I used both holes as drians, one for my skimmer section and one for my fuge and I just plumbed my main pump return line over the back as well.

Let me know if you want to take a look or I guess I could at least post some pics.
 
well, that sounds like a good plan - pictures would be great, as i am trying to picture the equipment below and how the sand bed looks - thanks.
 
IMO...

I wouldn't run a UV and would hook up an external closed loop becasue it's easy to clean and you don't have the headache of bulkheads.
 
well, i guess, i could some type of external pump in the stand, i just hate to hang a mag pump on the back as i don't trust the connections??? but, i could do the external pump and see how that goes ...

as for the uv, i only plan on running it occasionally, just to keep any outbreaks in line - highly debated i know, but, something i will do -

thanks.
 
The tank doesn't need to be drilled for a closed loop. Look at Marcs 29. I built his a bit larger with 2 SCWD's and a 1200gph pump on my 75 for awhile before I moved to the 125.
 
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