What is this? Ive read about people using it many times, but I still dont understand how it works, or what it does!?

--Dan

This is a device that allows you to seperate the flow of water being retunred to the display tank. These two flows will be alternating which in essence gives iratic flow in the tank thats is pretty important to "really healthy" corals. This device is not without some short comings though.

Some of the problems with the SWQD is that there is a major drop in flow of water. ie....if you use a pump that pumps a pure and unadulterated 1000 gph the water flow after the SWQD will be more like about 650 - 700 gph. By running one of these you are looking at haveing to get a pretty substantial pump if the tank is over 75 gallons

Problem Number 2 is the diameter of the out lets and the water it can flow. You can only move so much water though such a small outlet.

Next...they are not servicable unless they have recently modded them. Being in saltwater there will be salt build up calcium build up coralline algae build up and all kinda of other things. So preventive maintenance to keep them up and running is a no-go and if they break...well they are broke!

If you are considering a device like this I would encourage you to check out Ocean Motions 4 way or 8 way valve. This is a valve with several outlets and the internal working of the valve is much like a carosel in that it rotates around allowing water to flow in 1 of 4 or 8 directions depending on the valve model. This is not as cheap an option as a SQWD but its repairable and its capable of being maintained. In the long run its much better and it doesnt put a drag on the supply water pump.

I am setting up my 240 at UTS LFS to use as a display until they have thier buisness up and running well enough to get there own display and this is the route I will be going for a Closed Loop on my Reef Ready 240. It will cost about 600 for the valve but I think its a far better design and soulution to providing random water flow in a reef tank.

Thge SQWD is decent and great for a small tank but for a closed loop system they leave much to be desired.

I have looked at them thought about them. but they are supposedly sealed shut so like rit. said you cant clean them. right know I have my poerheads on staggered timers know this will put tear on the powerheads but i guess I am not to worried about that. I really cant give much input on the SCWD but i do 100% agree with what Rit. said.

Not to Hi Jack the thread...but what kinda powerheads you using saltfreak?

Thats pretty m,uch waht I am using at the moment to get random water flow. I have one large 500 gph Mag Drive 5 beind the rock work and use 3 MaxiJet 1200's in the 75.....

well i plan on using a mag drive 5 pump for my sump return post pictures of that in a couple of hours. of course havn't got the pump in yet probaly not for a couple of weeks. but for water movement inside the tank i'm using aqua clears wich i like a lot. and have very few problems with them and there is no impeller wear on them yet.

what do you think would be a good way to position them right know i have them in the top corners pointin to oppisite corners so i get a lot of surface airation and turbalence in the water i have put them down like that just throws out too much water.

and as for the scwd I think you will be bettter off getting something like this.

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...4+113039+113565

or

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Product/Prod...4+113039+113565

wright know i have the Red sea one.

I agree with you there saltfreak!

The power strip one is what I use and is the cheapest option when using power heads for random water flow in the tank. It will I believe power up 3 timed plug ins for power heads and three regular plug ins for use with lights, filters, heaters and such that run 24/7

The Wave Master is the better of the two quality wise. It offers a lot of features the power strip doesnt. It can be programed to keep the flow pretty brisk during the day time and them calmer at night like the ocean often is in real life. It also posseses a feeding time feature that will shut the pumps off while you feed so as not to waste as much food especially for items that require to be target fed.

If you want to go high end then I would suggest the ocean motion 4 way valve on tanks to about 120 maybe 180 if you want to push the envelope(due to length of tank) Beyond 180 you will want the 8 way valve for sure. This is a really sweet system I would highly recommend you check the company's website out for more info on this. This set up is a reefers dream come true....

Saltfreak, sounds like you got those power heads perfectly positioned. Mine are about the same although one maxijet in the center blows water straight down behind the rock forcing water fromthe back to flow through rock work towards the front of the tank. In the back corner to the right I have the mag drive shoving water all down the back of the tank preventing crude build up. And of course 2 maxijetx in oposing corners pointed inside and towards opsing corners like you do. I find this works exceptionally well. I will be adding a spray bar as soon as I have the sump peices I have ordered installed. Tank should be finsihed cycling by then hopefully......

The web site for the maker of wave master pro is www.redseafish.com I do like there protien skimmers. but heard a lot about there salt bieng very incosistent. I do love the wave master pro. I really cant wate until my pump stuff comes in for my sump. though my first choice of pump was this queit one than rio than figured out that the GPH was not measured at max head so then i found the Mag drive and thats what i got not to get off topic. but you would be much better off with the wavemaker strips and powerheads.

Sorry to jump in, but how is a mixed current, which changes every once in a while, better than a poweful current that is always flowing?

--Dan

because in the wild the current does not always go in the same current instead you get random currents going all which way witch is usually caused by waves, and small earthquakes. See we are trying to get as close to we can to the real thing in our aquariums we still have so much to learn. but i think the main purpose for water movement in freshwater is for airation but in saltwater it is for airation coral growth and stuff like that also to prevent dead spots in the aquarium. and that is what the SCWD is designed to do to constantly change the water current randomly. And were saying that you would be better off with the timers as the SCWD could pose problems do to restricting water flow or putting back pressure on the pump which isn't good and it getting clog with algea calcium coraline stuff like that. Its kinda heard for me to explain y we do this but that what happens in the wild and we try to recreate that as closely as possible.

Dont worry, I understand that part. I just dont see how having timed powerheads, that arent moving, helps. I would think that if you placed them well, you could leave them on all the time, and it would do the same job, creating current throughout the tank.

Oh well!

--Dan

The reason that this is not recommended is cuase constant flow is not the same thing as corals experience in wave action, ocean surges, rising tide and out going tide. These things have a very profound effect of corals, primarily if they are LPS or SPS corals. Corals grown in constant current that never changes direction has a tendecy to grow thin and spindly looking. On the other had if you use irregular strong currents in the tank they have a tendecy to grow much fuller and thicker. The coral as it grows will deposit more calcium in its skeleton to make it stronger to resist breakage in the higher irregular current. This type of current will do a better job of keeping detriris from pooling up in spots of weak flow which prevents it from getting sucked up by the filter and properly disposed of. This will in turn create worsening water conditions. Additionally the added flow will bring more food to the coral and do a much better job of moving waste excreted by the coral. The other thing that you will notice with strong random water flow is that the coral will show balance growth all over where as in constant water flow the coral will show more growth towards the current and less on the down side stream of the current growing you a lopsided coral. In irregular flow conditions you will also notice more polyps are extended and that they are extended much more. This is a sign of a healthy and thriving coral. You have to remember the ocean is very low in nutrients and the corals are used to being buffeted by millions of gallons of fresh water and fresh food a day!

Will corals survive in a tank with water flow like you described...sure they will. But surviving aint the same thang as thriving....keep that in mind.

Couldn't day better myself B) :)

Astonished. If anyone ever tries to tell you that you dont deserve to be a mod, just show them some of these posts you've done for us. You've taken some things which could be agonizingly complex, and made them simple!

Good job Rits!

--Dan

Come on now...your starting to make my head swell :lol:

Just trying to break it down as simple as possible, thats all. Analoges(sp?) just help put it all into perspective for you. Makes it much more easer to take it all in. All of the complicated scientfic mumbo-jumbo just clouds the explaination, and leaves you with more questions than you started with....and what good would that be?

Exactly!

--Dan