DIY Wavebox! (With modded MJ)

smcnally · #1 01/01/2007, 08:01 PM

So after looking someones Tunze wavebox, I realized they are very simple devices. The basic concept is that it pushes water from a box into the tank and then shuts off. Once off, the tank water fills the box back up which causes a constant displacement and replacement of tank water. So I thought "I bet I can make one of those". So I built a box (6" x 6" x 14") and mounted an Oceanflo modded MJ into it. I'm going to have to play with the timing a lot to get it right, but I thought this was pretty good for about 2 hours worth of work.

Here's a link to a video of it in action, and some pictures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwIF1Mi-KyA

AndyL · #2 01/01/2007, 08:13 PM

How are you controlling the start/stop timing?

Looks awesome - good job!

smcnally · #3 01/01/2007, 08:31 PM

Hi Andy,
Right now I'm using a home control processor that allows me to adjust the on/off times in 1/4 second increments. I'm going to get something else though that will allow me to fine tune it even more and that can handle turning on and off that often (currently about 4,000 times an hour)

Covey · #4 01/01/2007, 08:36 PM

You've done what alot of people said was impossible. Congrats.

What is the stopper like on that mod and is the on/off start up loud?

smcnally · #5 01/01/2007, 08:41 PM

Thanks, Covey!

Sometimes it is nice and quiet and other times it "clanks" when it has to reverse itself. The Oceanflo mod I'm using in it is one of their older prototypes, so it is a little louder than the newer models. I'm going to rebuild this whole thing and make it smaller. Once I do, I'm going to try it with the newer model Oceanflo and see if it is better. To be honest though, it wasn't bad at all. I had it running for a few hours and measured a steady 1" swell.

Tagareef · #6 01/01/2007, 08:43 PM

Nice job!

Now that you have a pretty good idea how much water the mj displaces, you can make the box much smaller!

fish lad · #7 01/01/2007, 08:50 PM

concrats, superb work

prance1520 · #8 01/01/2007, 09:03 PM

Fantastic job! Now that you've seen it work, do you think its possible to get the on/off switching fast enough to make these boxes for smaller tanks? Any links to your control processor?

smcnally · #9 01/01/2007, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by prance1520
Fantastic job! Now that you've seen it work, do you think its possible to get the on/off switching fast enough to make these boxes for smaller tanks? Any links to your control processor?

I would think you could do this with a smaller tank, but I would imagine you would need to use a smaller pump. The processor I'm using is a Crestron processor made for home automation. I plan on getting a simple timer though for the wavebox that would suit it better and using the Crestron processor for my tank control and Audio/Video automation. The Crestron processor isn't really made for that, and to use it exclusively for it would be a waste since it alone costs 3x the amount of a Tunze wavebox. Here's a link to the Crestron piece http://www.crestron.com/products/sho...ial&model=CP2E

And here's a link to the timer I think I'm going to order for the box.
http://www.exoticfish.com/details.cf...%7C0&id=42463&

Fluxion · #10 01/01/2007, 10:04 PM

On how small of a tank do you think this would work? I have a 16 gallon nano with a 3.5 gallon filtration area behind the display at work. I have emptied it and drilled it for bulkheads to add a sump under the stand. I was hoping to add something like this to replace the closed loop I had set up.

For my closed loop I have a compartment about 6" wide, 4" front to back and 16" deep. I have about 250 holes drilled in a grid pattern in the back of the tank at the base of the compartment. I currently have a MJ1200 in there connected my DIY sinusoidal valve with 4 outlets.

This looks like it would be much simpler.

smcnally · #11 01/01/2007, 10:13 PM

To be honest, I don't know if it would be worth doing this for a tank that small unless you somehow drilled the tank and mounted it externally. I would think you would have to substantially downsize it too. This thing is producing a 1" swell in a 125 gallon (6 foot long) tank.

AndyL · #12 01/01/2007, 10:15 PM

My only concern since day one with the MJmod wavebox - has simply been control/timing...

smcnally - any chance you're pondering a redo of the wavebox? I notice only about 1/3-1/2 is being used... Seems to me you might be able to reduce the height or length/width - reducing the 'intrusion' for a neater system.

smcnally · #13 01/01/2007, 10:24 PM

Yup, I actually pulled it out tonight for a rebuild. Currently it is 6"x6"x14", and I'm thinking of making it 4"x5"x12".

AndyL · #14 01/01/2007, 10:32 PM

Am I seeing correctly? Mounted with a couple magfloats?

I'll say it again - nice work

Big Boy69 · #15 01/01/2007, 10:50 PM

Can you post a full tank shot with it mounted?

smcnally · #16 01/01/2007, 10:57 PM

I din't take one while it was in. Once I rebuild it smaller I will take a shot of it. I had it up against the right and front glass with a mag cleaner holding it up against the front glass (1/2 of the mag cleaner in the wavebox and the other 1/2 outside of the tank). This held it tightly against the front of the tank. Then I put a screw in my canopy about 3" above the water surface and had the top of the wavebox up against the screw. The screw prevented the box from pushing upward when it emptied.

BeanAnimal · #17 01/01/2007, 11:21 PM

At a cycle rate of 4000 times an hour, I do not think you MJ is going to last more than a few days

But nice work.... and I agree that is a horrible inustice to the crestron! I tell ya what, I will build you a controller, and you can trade me for the crestron

Bean

Tang Salad · #18 01/01/2007, 11:42 PM

Excellent job on that. It's amazing how simple things are when attacked by smart people...

Did running the wavebox adversely affect your overflow?

smcnally · #19 01/01/2007, 11:54 PM

Nope, my overflow seemed to be working just as good as it always does.

smcnally · #20 01/01/2007, 11:54 PM

-double post-

fload · #21 01/02/2007, 01:07 AM

oh thats awesome! great idea never would of thought of something so simple like that! now i want to make one! black acrylic would look good along the back of my tank.... thanks for sharing!

Sold4JC · #22 01/02/2007, 12:54 PM

That is great. Keep us posted.

daFrimpster · #23 01/02/2007, 01:16 PM

I have another DIY hero! Good job and keep us posted.

northbay-reefer · #24 01/02/2007, 01:40 PM

I did the same mod months ago using the mjs, and after a week or so, the mj fail. But it did work. you video looks cool though, I think your timer works better than mine did. Good job!

I think it would be better if the pump is DC instead of AC and can be tuned to pulse instead of turning off and on and clicking.

smcnally · #25 01/02/2007, 03:08 PM

What failed on your MJ? Did it burn out or did the propeller fail?