My New $8 Wave Maker

[Givmeanf]

My tank is only 20 gallons. I probably don’t need a wave maker, but ……….
I had a bright idea, I was shopping online for the plastic shelves for holding frags and this little pump came up, on sale for $8. The thought came to mind, why wouldn’t this little pump make a wave maker?
It came in the mail today. The concept works. I have a piece of macro algae that isn’t stuck to a plug and it had floated to the far corner from the regular pump return. This new little pump blew it out of its spot so there is much more circulation.
What is the downside of this?
I know I need a cage to keep snails and such off of it. What else?

 

[chaples55]

I've done this on nano tanks too. Only downsides are the intake has a tendency to get clogged over time and the flow is constant and laminar so the corals won't get as much of that turbulence they like when compared with a programmable wavemaker.

 

[Soccerguy]

Maybe try to get a random flow nozzle to fit it

 

[Givmeanf]

My tank is only 20 gallons. I probably don’t need a wave maker, but ……….
I had a bright idea, I was shopping online for the plastic shelves for holding frags and this little pump came up, on sale for $8. The thought came to mind, why wouldn’t this little pump make a wave maker?
It came in the mail today. The concept works. I have a piece of macro algae that isn’t stuck to a plug and it had floated to the far corner from the regular pump return. This new little pump blew it out of its spot so there is much more circulation.
What is the downside of this?
I know I need a cage to keep snails and such off of it. What else?
View attachment 88531View attachment 88532
View attachment 88532

Maybe try to get a random flow nozzle to fit it

Do they make such a thing?

 

[Givmeanf]

Do they make such a thing?

Amazon is trying a little too hard to please me!

 

[Givmeanf]

This is what Amzon thinks I’m looking for!

 

[chaples55]

Something like this:

https://a.co/d/3mvkEEu

Or this:

Amazon.com

Which you can also 3D print yourself:

Aquarium Flow the Original Random Turbulent Flow Generator. by Cleven

The Original Random turbulent flow generator.Find latest 2021 models here: https://www.thingiverse.com/cleven/designsHistory:https://youtu.be/sdUt4J19HtcIncrease the flow in your aquarium with Random flow. Improved flow area = Healthy Aquarium.55% scale for 1/4in, 132-131% for 3/4InIncludes...

www.thingiverse.com

Flow Eductor For Cobalt Pumps by roadkill6702

This a remixed flow eductor made to work with maxi-jet/cobalt pumps.They should fit the 3 larger sizes, MJ1200, MJ900 and MJ600. Depending on your print surface, Id recommend printing it with a 4-6 mm brim. See "remixed from" for the loc-line versions 6/13/2019 Added Cleven's vortex eductor...

www.thingiverse.com

Or find much cheaper on Etsy (just one example of many listings):

Random Flow Generator Nozzle Vortex Turbulent Flow Water Outlet for Fish Tank - Etsy

This Aquariums & Tank Decor item by FishGuildCorp has 156 favorites from Etsy shoppers. Ships from Hamlin, PA. Listed on Apr 3, 2024

www.etsy.com

I actually tried shrinking one of the 3D models and printing it to fit that same type of pump a while back. The print kinda failed though because the 0.8mm nozzle on my printer was too big for the job and I was too lazy to swap out the nozzle and try again lol.