Not only is it more beneficial to have multiples, but it gives you a backup if one were to fail. Liverock in the display tank will also require water movement for the beneficial bacteria and overall efficiency.Ĭheck out: Best affordable wavemakers for a saltwater aquarium How many wavemakers do I need?Īs mentioned, larger tanks may require more than one wavemaker. Many people with bare bottom tanks will use strong water flow to keep the bottom glass clean and free of detritus.īut of course, if you are keeping fish and corals that require water movement, then yes you need to have one or more wavemakers in the tank. Instead of the detritus clumping up in the corner of your tank, a wavemaker will help keep it moving in order for the filtration to get rid of it. Wavemakers also play an important role in removing detritus from your tank. You can use a hang on filter, internal filter, or canister filter which will provide some water movement. If you are keeping a fish only tank, you can get away without a wavemaker if you have other methods of turning over the water in the tank. But in this case, it really does depend on what you plan to keep in your saltwater tank for livestock. I know, I can’t stand it when people answer with “it depends”. The answer to this question is it depends. Do you really need a wavemaker for saltwater tanks? Therefore it’s common to see these tanks with bare bottom glass instead of sand just for this reason. Some people who have more demanding corals like SPS will require a high flow rate. If you are using a fine sand that will blow around easily, then you will need to choose a wavemaker that isn’t so strong to blow the sand all around the tank. What do you use for the substrate in your tank? One unit like the new Jebao SLP-10 wavemaker is more than suitable in this case. If you have a 30-gallon tank and aim for a 20X turnover rate, you will only need a wavemaker rated for 600GPH. Multiple smaller units are better than one larger one.Ī smaller tank will usually only require one wavemaker. This will allow you to position them in different locations and get better water movement eliminating dead spots in your tank. You can have both wavemakers that are rated for 1000+ GPH each. In our example above, a 100-gallon tank that is 5 or 6 feet long will need 2 wavemakers placed on each side of the tank that equals your desired turnover rate. Larger tanks will likely require multiple wavemakers where smaller tanks may only need one. The size of the aquarium will also play a role in determining the size of the wavemaker. If you are keeping SPS corals, you may need to increase this number. For example, if you have a 100-gallon reef aquarium with LPS corals, aim to have your water turnover at least 2000-3000GPH. A general rule of thumb to aim for is a 20-30x turnover rate for the water volume in your tank. This is basically a number given to the number of times your main water volume will be cycled or turned over in your tank. You will often hear the term turnover rate being used when determining water flow in your tank. For example, a Copperband Butterflyfish prefers to have low water movement whereas Clown Tangs prefer high water movement. What do you plan to have in your tank for livestock? Certain corals like softies will only require low flow, LPS corals prefer low-medium flow, and SPS corals will do better with high water flow rates.Ĭertain fish also prefer different flow rates. Well, that will depend on a few different factors. But there are a few more things you will need to consider: How much water flow do you need? Use this as a guide and take it into consideration. The manufacturer of the wavemaker will give a maximum tank size rating and flow rates. The porous surface of live rock will contain millions of bacteria that will break down ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate keeping it cycled. It holds most of the beneficial bacteria that your tank needs. Liverock is going to play a huge role in the overall health of your tank. Water flow will also remove and clean waste from within and around the corals. They also depend on it for bringing them food like phytoplankton and zooplankton to catch with their polyps. Corals will appreciate water flow to keep their tissues healthy allowing them to grow and maintain vibrant colors. Water flow promotes gas exchange, which increases oxygen and decreases carbon dioxide. Without it, your corals will not survive. Fish, coral, rock, and other livestock depend on it and there are several benefits to having proper water movement in your reef tank. In this comprehensive guide I will cover:Ĭreating enough current and water movement is crucial to maintaining the health of your saltwater aquarium. You might also want to check the best affordable wavemakers for a saltwater aquarium. This is the ultimate guide to choosing the right size aquarium wavemaker for your saltwater tank.
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