Wave Maker necc for 60x45x30cm tank?

**tflow** · 14th Dec 2008, 09:08

Hi guys, managed to setup my first marine tank. However realised that the Boyu Wave Maker (40-100l) is too powerful for the tank, so ended up i face it upwards and hide in under some LR (at bottom-right, behind), but it is still strong and will have the effect of stirring some of the live sand.

Appreciate any advice/suggestion. Or do i need the wave maker at all for small tank? Thanks.

**Jervis** · 14th Dec 2008, 10:40

Yes the use of fine sand can be quite a challenging one. There are mainly 2 reasons for reefers to deploy wavemaker/s.

1) Their corals demand it (please note that not all corals require strong flow, in fact some will only do well under low flow).

2) For healthy water circulation throughout the entire tank to avoid the so-called Dead Zone (areas within the tank with no or poor water circulation resulting in debris/detritus gathering in those areas).

What's your intention of increasing flow? We need to know more about your stock plan too before giving out any meaningful suggestion. Remember, random/inaccurate advice is the worst kind of advice

**tflow** · 14th Dec 2008, 11:48

Have not really restrict myself to what live stocks actually

but definitely no intention to "harm" any of them within the tank.

To begin with, i am thinking of:
Fish - Clownfish, Fire Goby, Blue Tang (small)
Invertebrate - Cleaner Shrimp, Hermit Crab
Coral - Bubble Coral, Brain Coral, Mushroom Coral, "Fan" coral, Anemones
(sorry quite bad at the type of corals available actually)

**planted86** · 14th Dec 2008, 13:10

you can try seio or tunze nano... these should be enough...

you will have to upgrade your tank when the blue tang grow up...

my bubble and brain receives low - moderate flow...
mushroom receive low flow...
"fan" coral i assume is gorgonians... they need high alternate flow to bring food to them....

anemone.... i never keep before...

hope this helps...

**tflow** · 14th Dec 2008, 17:21

Thanks very much for the advice, will check out those nano wave maker.

Another question:
- Will i need a chiller for the above mentioned live stocks? (I keep the tank in office so normal temp in weekday range from 23-26deg, but weekend can goes up to 30.5deg someday).

Cheers

**Jervis** · 15th Dec 2008, 21:06

A chiller will be ideal in maintaining a smaller margin of fluctuation (say between 23 to 25ºC constantly be it weekday or weekend. But there are many "side effects" in running a chiller. For a start, you can consider running a small cooling fan set on timer (just run during day time) for the weekend. But you must remember to off the fan during weekday as it will bring the temperature dangerously low. You can invest in a digital type timer that allows you to set timing for specific days of the week.

**tflow** · 15th Dec 2008, 23:11

Side effect as in costly? 8P

Ok will go source for a dc fan and a nano wave maker this weekend

Anyway have added some live stocks (after abt cycling abt 10 days (with live rocks & a dead prawn from market at the first 2-3days)...Hope is not too fast.

Anyway also realised that some green patch (think is algae) growing at the sand bed....any advice on how to handle that (the snail doesn't seems to clear it off).

**tflow** · 20th Dec 2008, 22:05

Have gotten the cooler fan, and think it works fine. Manage to achieve temp 25-26 today without air-con

However, the nano wave maker is out of stock from Aqua Marine, and will only be available ard Jan-09.

Lastly, just a update on the recent live stocks addition