Wave Makers

johnnynuke

Can anyone tell me if wave makers are beneficial to a mixed reef setup? Does the cycling of the power heads cause them to burn out sooner?

I've got a 120 Gallon tank with 2 Seio M620 power heads for added circulation. I'd probably need to at least one more to do this right.

Any thoughts or experiences will be appreciated.

SKAustin

Yes, the constantly changing flow is far better for the system.

Another way to acomplish a varied flow within the tank is the use of flow deflectors. Hydor makes a rotating deflector, powered by the waterflow, that easily mounts to the output of many powerheads. There are a few downfalls to the use of these. They are a bulky addition to the powerhead, and are not aesthetically pleasing. They occasionally freeze up and need regular cleaning, and will occasionally blow off of the powerhead.

Another method, albeit far less effective, is to direct the flow of two powerheads directly into one another.