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Aquarist Forums => Equipment / DIY => Topic started by: winston199 on March 31, 2009, 10:08:12 PM

Title: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on March 31, 2009, 10:08:12 PM
I have completed my wavebox using a tunze 6101 acrylic and home made controller the wavebox makes a 1'' wave on a 125g 6 foot tank. I just need to cut the box a bit smaller to take less room in the tank then I will post some pics.
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 01, 2009, 10:16:28 PM
Here are some pics of the box and controller

[attachment deleted by admin]
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: bitterman on April 02, 2009, 09:47:25 AM
What circuit skematic did you use?

Thanks,
   Bruce
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: reefdava16 on April 02, 2009, 02:22:35 PM
Looks close to xtm's:
http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=1411393
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 02, 2009, 03:31:39 PM
It was my original plan to use xtm but it needed a few mods to make it work good and not take up so much space in the tank.
I was able to make the plastic box much smaller and still get the same results, the circuit was also modded to get the result I wanted
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: reefdava16 on April 03, 2009, 02:17:54 PM
Looks good. How about a video to show us how it works?
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 03, 2009, 10:09:33 PM
I will try to make a video in the next few days and get it posted for you.
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: Hookup on April 03, 2009, 10:10:31 PM
What's the approx cost of this system... assuming you had to buy new parts...
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 03, 2009, 10:28:52 PM
The electronics cost about $30 and the acrylic $10
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: Hookup on April 03, 2009, 10:35:19 PM
no pumps or other parts required???  I'm a confused...    :-\
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 03, 2009, 11:37:55 PM
you also need a tunze stream of your choice of course and a solder iron, solder, glue or silicone and a bit of time.
so if you already have a pump and a few tools then you could build this project for about $40 other wise you can spend $600+ on one from the store. ;)
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: RossW on April 04, 2009, 07:58:10 AM
According to the link which reefdava16 posted to XTM's build on RC, here is the breakdown:

Tunze 6100 - $200 used. Go to the For Sale forum.. they're all over the place.
Electronics - $5.00 MAX
Acrylic, Weld-On, etc.. $15.00
Total = ~$220.00 give or take a few bucks

Quote from: Hookup on April 03, 2009, 10:35:19 PM
no pumps or other parts required???  I'm a confused...    :-\
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 04, 2009, 10:13:49 AM
have you ever been to an electronics store? if you have you would know that $5 will not buy all the parts you need.

THESE ARE APPROXIMATE PRICES

switch             $3
board              $5
resisters          $6
plastic box       $5
led                 $1
controller        $3
plug&wire        $5
caps              $3
TOTAL           $31.00 I hope this helps
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: Hookup on April 04, 2009, 10:43:51 AM
Still, less than $260 for a wavebox... not bad...
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: fishsticks on April 05, 2009, 08:15:30 AM
that is a nice set up would it work on a four foot tank??? :)
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 06, 2009, 07:08:46 PM
it will work but you may want to you a smaller tunze stream
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: fishsticks on April 06, 2009, 07:41:40 PM
Thanks i'll look into it and again a real nice set up ;)
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: yellowtang on April 06, 2009, 09:51:55 PM
Maybe you can start selling DYI wave boxes
to Us; the ones not too smart with controllers and
electonic gadgets ;)
any hopes?
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 08, 2009, 10:05:05 AM
sorry if you cant DIY there is already a company that sells them ready to install ;)
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: reefdava16 on April 08, 2009, 11:21:06 AM
Quote from: fishsticks on April 05, 2009, 08:15:30 AM
that is a nice set up would it work on a four foot tank??? :)

It would work fine. A wave can be made on any size of tank. The problem with a tank shorter than 6ft is that the wave will be very quick, almost too quick. That size of stream will work well in a 4ft tank (which is what I had it in).
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: winston199 on April 08, 2009, 08:15:41 PM
The tunze stream its self will work fine in a 4' tank but if you use a large stream in a wavebox on a 4' tank you will have a large unnatural looking wave that is why I suggested a smaller pump for a 4' tank, if you look at the xtm link you posted above that is the kind wave that you may end up with.
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: 5620 on April 08, 2009, 08:33:35 PM
For a 4' tank they sell a small wave box (Tunze Nano Wavebox - 6206) for this. Try to find a used one cheap because as I found out they are not. Can't wait to have the time to install mine. I  am sure you still could do a DIY wave box just use the smaller pumps that can be controlled.
Title: Re: DIY WAVEBOX
Post by: fishsticks on April 09, 2009, 06:26:00 AM
Thanks for the info I appreciate all the help i'll look into doing this soon, BTY nice tanks guys ;)