Anyone Use Wavemakers?

[jamesmacc]

hi folks. i bought a powerhead on ebay months ago as it was going cheap, always handy to have incase one of my filters packs in. i dont use it becasue my spray bars provide lots of surface movement and so does my air pump. i read an articul saying fish love current and it helps them exercise and burn unneeded fat or something along those lines, im asuming its the same for malawi as the lake must have strong currents at times. i was thinking about gettting a wave maker or even running two powerheads, one in the corner pointing to the centre of the tank half way up the water, then have another in the middle of other corner pointing to the same spot, surely the water current will clash in the middle of tank and casue a pulse/wave/current for the fish to play in.
is it worth a bash or am i just being bored and thinking to much??
james

 

[garyspence84]

Would that not affect the water being filtered properly if its not being rotated round the tank properly?

Sounds like a cool idea though, but if you were to do that, its maybe not a good odea to leave it running like that ALL the time. But Im not too sure TBH

G

 

[jamesmacc]

Would that not affect the water being filtered properly if its not being rotated round the tank properly?

Sounds like a cool idea though, but if you were to do that, its maybe not a good odea to leave it running like that ALL the time. But Im not too sure TBH

G

i think i would need it on a timer for a few hours a day but to be honest im thinking its maybe a bit more suited to a marine tank, looking on google now people are saying that there is not much current in the middle of lake malawi, there are people saying they have fitted a powerhead and the fish love to play in it
james

 

[rifty]

lake malawi has a massive current! plus your fish dont come from the middle most come from the coast and have to contend with a very strong tide my mate has been there and said you struggle to stand up at waist deep in water at certain locations, i use 2 wave makers a power head and exteranl in a six foot set up and am a strong beliver the fish benifit from a good current in regards to condition and even to ciculate food for the lower pecking order fish im debating addin more! or getting a wave box made up, i would also leave them on all the time too!

 

[thereverendturtle]

lake malawi has a massive current! plus your fish dont come from the middle most come from the coast and have to contend with a very strong tide my mate has been there and said you struggle to stand up at waist deep in water at certain locations, i use 2 wave makers a power head and exteranl in a six foot set up and am a strong beliver the fish benifit from a good current in regards to condition and even to ciculate food for the lower pecking order fish im debating addin more! or getting a wave box made up, i would also leave them on all the time too!

Agreed.

 

[jamesmacc]

lake malawi has a massive current! plus your fish dont come from the middle most come from the coast and have to contend with a very strong tide my mate has been there and said you struggle to stand up at waist deep in water at certain locations, i use 2 wave makers a power head and exteranl in a six foot set up and am a strong beliver the fish benifit from a good current in regards to condition and even to ciculate food for the lower pecking order fish im debating addin more! or getting a wave box made up, i would also leave them on all the time too!

how do you have them all set up, i was thinking on in opposite ends of the tank to casue a circular motion through the tank to pick up any debris etc

 

[rifty]

wavemakers front corners angle 40-45 in and down powerhead from across front right, external at back left going to add another 2 powerheads too i think?

 

[Mystil]

I have one in my Vision 450 tank (think it is a sunsun 6000 one) and it is amazing. They come with attachments for a magnet and also suckers. Cost around £20. My malawi fish love it. Only 2 draw backs I can see with it.

1. You have to turn it off when you do a water change and make sure no fish are inside when you turn it back on (sushi fish).
2. The power leads for mine is not very long so has to be on the side the plugs are.
but other than those points it is amazing.

 

[jamesmacc]

I have one in my Vision 450 tank (think it is a sunsun 6000 one) and it is amazing. They come with attachments for a magnet and also suckers. Cost around £20. My malawi fish love it. Only 2 draw backs I can see with it.

1. You have to turn it off when you do a water change and make sure no fish are inside when you turn it back on (sushi fish).
2. The power leads for mine is not very long so has to be on the side the plugs are.
but other than those points it is amazing.

is that a double one, dont suppose you could show me a photo of how yours is set up

 

[njstockley]

Hi James

Did you ever add a powerhead to your setup, and if you did, then what direction is it pointed in? Thinking of doing similar in my 260.

Nick

 

[gregswimm]

There are programming kits for power heads, you can set the powerhead to'pulse' which simulates tides. They are used alot in reef setups.
Here is one here but you need power heads for it.
I would go ask the reef guys, they should have more experience with wave makers.