Which Wavebox? (Or Vortech)
 

Looking for advice...

I am going to buy either the regular Wavebox or the Nano Wavebox. What I am wondering is how much it will interfere with my overflow?

My tank is a room divider with the overflow on the end against the wall. The wavebox would have to to go on the other end that is out in the room (kind of ugly I know :( ). I am wondering on a 6' tank if this is going to make the overflow really loud. Right now its dead silent (herbie drain). I think if I drop the level in the overflow a little to accommodate for the surges, it will be fine but not too sure.

I was for sure going to get the regular one but then thought maybe the nano is better for my tank. Perhaps I can get a bit less of a surge going into the overflow and also its a bit smaller. But how well will the nano preform on a 6' tank? The tank is shallow which helps at 17" water level. Not much rock in the tank to stop the wave either. Just a few short piles down the middle of the tank.

What is the actual max flow rate of each wavebox? I can't find that info anywhere.

What do you think?

Or...maybe even a Vortech would be a better choice in my case? MP40?

I'd go with the Vortech. You'll be able to hide it better and allows you to customize the "wave" a bit more.

The intensity and duration of the wave is adjustable, on a 6' tank you can actually achieve a double wave which would probably work better with your overflow, I think the nano would be too small, if you go with the wavebox in a tank that size go with the full size unit. It wont matter which end you mount it on, you may be able to mount it to your overflow to help blend it in also.

Yeah I am kind of thinking the same I guess. Only thing is, I think the wavebox gives a wider wave doesn't it? Will the vortech really create the same flow as the wavebox...cleaning out everything under rocks and really rocking the tank back and forth?

I have seen the MP40's create some nice waves but nothing like the wavebox I don't think. Could be wrong though.

What would the nano do though? For sure it would still reach the other end but I guess maybe already have dissipated/slowed too much? I thought that may be good since the overflow would be less effected. The problem then though is that most of my corals are down at that end :(

I like the idea of the double wave with the larger unit too.

Perhaps you could borrow a unit from a fellow reefer to try it out before shelling out the $ to see if you like. I have had one on my tank for the last three years and am happy with it, I have dual corner overflows and the noise is not that bad as the waves are pretty constant so it kind of finds a rythm.

Yeah that would be great but I doubt I can find someone who wants to come over with a wavebox :)

I am pretty sure I want one over the vortech but I would really love to use the smaller one (cheaper and smaller). Only problem is whether its worth it with less flow. I doubt it now though. Sounds like the regular size one is the way to go.

I guess the bigger one would take up more room but would also create most of the flow for my tank.

I doubt the nano would work very well with a 6' tank. You could ask Roger Vitko to be sure.

I actually run a Wavebox with an external Herbie overflow on the opposite end. After much experimentation I found that the best way to keep the overflow silent is to have the overflow filled to the top of the emergency drain with just a trickle of water going down the emergency drain. If the water level is any lower the waves that the wavebox creates makes a lot of noise as they constantly wash over the edge and down into the overflow.

Tunze actually recommends a center overflow with a wavebox to minimize the effect of the waves on the draining action of the overflow.

If you were to go with the vortech, it would look even uglier than the wavebox if you had to put it on the exposed end of the tank because of the wires hanging on the OUTSIDE of the tank.

Yes thats my problem with the Vortech. I actually DON"T want the wires outside the tank! But I can have the cord go up to my canopy instead of down. Still not going to look too good though.

I think either way its going to look bad but the wavebox will be a bit easier on the eyes and also give better flow. Right now I have two ugly powerheads on that side of the tank anyways!

Sounds like I would have to go with the regular wavebox. I just though I may be able to get away with the smaller one since the tank is so shallow.