Wave Makers questions...

[johnnymax]

I have always had oldschool tanks with under gravel filters in tanks. My new 75g tank is coming together slowly. I have substrate, rocks, plastic plants, filter and two wave makers. I have never had wave makers before, so I have a few questions. I don't have fish in the tank yet, but I find myself staring at the aquarium watching the plants moving in the current. Wow, so peaceful and relaxing. I did not spend a lot of money for the two small wave makers. I bought the pair off Amazon for under $15 They are listed as "Sunsun JVP-110 528-GPH Wavemaker Pumps, 2-Pack." So I assume they each move 528 gallons per hour.

Questions:
1. I have the pumps located one on each end of the tank. One toward the back and one toward the front. Together they create a whirlpool effect with constant current in the tank. My question is, will the constant current be too stressful on the fish, or is it good for them?

2. I plan to put my light on a timer, so it comes on and goes off at the same time each day. My question is, would it be a good idea to have the wave makers go off at the same time, so the fish can rest?

Any other tips and advise and guidance are welcome. I had no idea how much the current would make the tank seem so alive! I am so happy with it.

 

[esoxlucius]

Yeah, wavemakers are awesome. I have mine on timers so at night both lights and wavemakers are off. You can have them strategically placed so that gunk is prevented from resting on the substrate and also have them aimed at your outlet so said gunk gets taken out of your display tank and into your filters.

As far as fish are concerned it all depends on what fish you have. That's up to you to research your fish and find out what their preference is.

 

[duanes]

I agree with exoxlucius, its all about the type of fish, you keep.
My last couple years in the states, I was keeping rheophillic cichlid from Central America like Chuco, Rheoheros, and Tomocichla so there was a strong current going all the time.


I would have done the same for Congo river species like Tiger fish, or US species like darters and trout.
The wave makers would be especially useful for surf dwellers like Eretmodus or other rift lake goby cichlids.
If however I had oxbow riverine type, swamp, of certain calm lake species, that might be another story.

As you can see by the way the plants are bent, the current for these riverine species, was fairly strong, and I kept it constant.

 

[johnnymax]

As far as fish are concerned it all depends on what fish you have. That's up to you to research your fish and find out what their preference is.

I am starting with Mozambique Tilapia. They originate from a river in Africa I believe?

 

[esoxlucius]

I am starting with Mozambique Tilapia. They originate from a river in Africa I believe?

A very quick read up on this fish shows it can adapt to any type of environment from lagoons to fast flowing rivers, even into brackish water. It can tolerate huge temperature ranges. It's a real hard nut by all accounts. It certainly won't be phased by your wavemakers anyway. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[TwoHedWlf]

As long as you have some calmer areas the fish can go to if they want, and they're not weak swimmers like angels or something they'll be fine. Especially with fairly smallish ones like you've got, if it's a bit much current for the fish you can just point them more towards each other.

My tank is a 440 liter(4'X2'X2') with a pair of Jebao OW-25s, they're rated at 2200 gallons per hour each. The fish don't struggle at all.

 

[PYRU]

I'd shoot for 10x turnover. In saltwater you make up you're flow through powerheads.

Watch those powerheads. The cheaper ones have a bad habit of spinning in reverse & leaking electricity in your tank.

 

[Ulu]

Yes I would Beware of the cheap DC Servo motors. They are probably highly susceptible to electromagnetic interference and you might figure that out if you play with other devices around one.

I bought a 4000 liter per hour DC pump which turns out to be kind of a bust, and I'm going to post about it elsewhere.