Wavemaker?

[wlong336]

I am currently shopping around for all the equipment that I am going to need to setup my 75 gallon tank. I came acrossed a maxi-jet wave maker combo, it comes with three heads and the wavemaker. My question is how much flow will I need and are wavemakers really necessary?
Thanks

 

[moby]

They are going to squash your link, not allowed.

But as a way to help, keep looking. There are better systems out there. That is basically a timer for power heads. If you are going to go that route you could DIY cheaper. If you want something a little more advanced it will be more expensive but you will get better results IMHO.
There are lots of these types of items online that are really good but not necessairly cheap.
Moby

 

[moby]

And no not really necessary, but they look good and create more of a natural flow that reef animals are used to. I think they definatly help.
Moby

 

[wlong336]

Did not know about the policy against links like that so I took it out.
Thanks for the info I just thought it sounded like a decent deal since it was about $20 cheaper than buying all the componets separately.
But I was also wondering what flow rate I should be looking at for a 75 gallon tank.

 

[moby]

Is it reef set-up? Or FOWLR?
10X to 20X, but this is highly debatable.
Moby

 

[wlong336]

Originally Posted by moby
Is it reef set-up? Or FOWLR?
10X to 20X, but this is highly debatable.
Moby
It's going to be a reef tank. I had planned to have one head in each of the back corners pointing slightly down and towards the front to bounce of the the glass and back towards the rock, and then a smaller one on a back corner down towards the bottom to flow behind the rock.
I want great flow but don't want to over do it. So maybe I'll go with 15X :notsure:

 

[monalisa]

I got a Hydor rotating head for a maxijet 1200. Put it in my tank, and the darn thing blew the sand completely out of corner of my tank...it's NOT rotating anymore!!

Maybe in a 75gal (mine's only 37, but deep) it will work...I just know I won't go that way again.
Lisa :happyfish

 

[misfit]

You might look into a controller like the aqua controller jr or reef keeper 2 I just purchased the reef keeper 2 It controls lights,has a wavemaker built into it,Ph controler.temp controler for fans heater and/or chiller and timers for lights.Very nice piece of equipment I like it alot and very easy to use.Its a little pricy but Just a thought before you just bought a wavemaker this will control a lot more then power heads.

 

[moby]

By flow rate I thought you meant through the entire system, tank to sump to protien skimmer back into the tank.
As far as water movement you want to make sure the water is in motion with no "dead" spots. Some corals prefer slow soft current others like a lot of movement. They should be placed in the tank to accommodate their needs. Also some fish do not like a lot of current others do.
A list of corals and fish could help decide how much current you may want or need. Its sort of hit and miss and comes with experience how to set up the water flow.
Moby

 

[xhappyx]

i agree with misfit. i just bought the aquacontroller junior. and i love the thing it's got everything packed into one.. i'm running 6 maxijets off of it.