FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions / And their answers!

• The water motion generated greatly aides in suspending particulates in the water column.
• It keeps food particles suspended. This enhances the ability of marine invertebrates to capture prey in the water column.
• The overall flow in the aquarium is increased, thus keeping waste products from accumulating in low flow areas.
• The water movement improves the ability of filtration systems to remove particulates from the water.
• The Alternate Wave generator is ideal for propagation systems

• SouthDown Tropical Play Sand. This stuff makes a great substrate but tends to make the water cloudy when first added to the water. The effect of the water motion is better illistrated while the water is cloudy. The water is crystal clear now. New images will be uploaded.

• Actually this is my question. The concensus so far is that there should not be any need to reinforce any of the standard aquariums on the market.
• Here is a reponse to my concerns regarding the need to reinforce an aquarium before installing the wave generator.
  
  . . . In answer to your original question concerning stress caused by the wave action:
  
  Water behaves a slight bit differently than does a solid with respect to inertia and is actually easier to measure. As the wave hits the end of the tank, the wave hieght increases due to the reflected energy. This is called wave stacking.
  
  The amount of energy is directly proportional to the height of the wave and can even be calculated by the wave hieght. Furthemore, it will exert the exact same force on the end of the tank as would still water if the tank were filled to the same depth as the maximum wave hieght. Here are some examples that may help explain:
  
  Example 1: A 4 ft deep, 1 ft wide tank is filled to the top with 1.025 S.G. salt water (note, the length of the tank is irrelevant). The total force exerted on the end of the tank with still water would be:
  
  F = 1/2 [Pressure at 4ft] [Area over which pressure is applied]
  F = 1/2 [62.4 pcf * 1.025 * 4ft] [1ft * 4ft]
  F = 528 lbs
  
  Note: This force is not applied evenly across the end of the tank and increases linearly with the depth of water. This is the reason for the "1/2" in the equation.
  
  Example 2: The same tank above is filled to 3.5 ft with 1.025 S.G. salt water. Wave action makes the water depth at the end of the tank vary from 3 to 4ft. The total force exerted on the end of the tank would range from:
  
  LOW
  F = 1/2 [62.4 pcf * 1.025 * 3ft] [1ft * 3ft]
  F = 287 lbs
  
  to HIGH
  F = 1/2 [62.4 pcf * 1.025 * 4ft] [1ft * 4ft]
  F = 528 lbs
  The fact that the water is moving is irrelevant as is the length of the tank. The only thing that is significant from a maximum amount of force applied perspective is maximum depth of water achieved. Thus, the forces applied by the wave action can not exceed the tank's design capacity.
  
  The concern now surrounds the issue of can the aquarium materials withstand the stress caused by the cyclic nature of the changing pressure, not the force exerted on the aquarium by the wave action.

• Maybe for corals that live in stagnent water! See some of the articles about water movement and corals.

• With difficulty. It is not just a matter of installing the unit and "plugging" it in. While the unit is adjustable, the waves generated will probably require that the aquarium be modified in some way in order to take full advantage of the unit. The greatest obstacle would be lowering the water level.

• It is not required to use other means of circulation. I would suggest that some means of circulation be maintained (even if it is only the return from the sump)

• Probably. The images shown on this site have no other means of circulation added.

• Yes. Besides actually adjusting the strength of the water motion, it can also be regulated to operate intermitently.

• The strength of the water motion can be controlled. Otherwise the normal water level of the aquarium must be lowered to compensate for the height of the waves.

• How many chickens?