Water Motion: Best Methods Employed by Aquarists

Water and motion that is able to circulate efficiently within a marine aquarium is so vital to the livestock residing there. From detritus removal, reduced algae growth and food transport to transfer of oxygen and carbon dioxide to corals especially, their is a need for water motion. As a result of the plethora of technological advancements over the past few years, their is an influx of water movement equipment to effectively and efficiently create a nice current, surge and flow. From wavemakers that can closely mimic natures rhythms of current and tides to the popular state of the art powerheads that can definitely circulate some gallons per hour.

Powerheads were the staple work horses as far back as I can remember. Need water circulation, just add a few of these units that range in power(gallons per gallon). Then came a new technological advancement! A wavemaking device which is really a controller that enables you to hooked up to four powerheads that would be controlled by this wavemaker. This programmable device allowed one to have their own style of preset options from night mode, feeding mode and alternating powerhead utilization based on marine or reef mode. Since this time an influx of water flow performers have been developed to help us to recreate as close a marine biotope as possible that parallels that encountered in nature.

The explosion in the waterflow device department offers the hobbiest such a diverse amount of waterflow devices with which to choose from. Whether you use the same kind of devices or mix and match, the sky is the limit as is the creativity you can experience.

The powerhead is the mainstay of the aquarium world and will be around for years to come. Anyone who has a marine aquarium I am sure knows about powerheads and /or employs them in their aquariums. Aquarists have the option of strategically positioning these units in such a way as to create the best case scenario for their style tank. Instilling various powered powerheads in their tank they are able to as closely recreate a marine biotope that parallels that found on the natural reefs of the world. Being able to conceal these units in such a way as to reduce the chances of taking away from the natural beauty of the aquarium is available. Hiding the powerheads in live rock and coral to reduce the bulkiness of these units will aid in better reef representation and space allowance. Their is another advancement that can expand the effectiveness of the powerhead. It is called a flo rotating deflector and is put out by HYDOR. This piece attaches to the external flow of the standard powerhead. Using gears and the natural flow of the water provided by the powerhead, the flow deflector spins around causing turbulence and alternating currents without the need for another electric cord or enduring any more out of pocket electrical expenses. This disperses water in such a way as to reduce the chance of corals being torn, injured due to falling down or on top of another coral because their is not a strong steady and narrow flow of water which is evident with the standard powerhead.

Incorporating the powerheads to any number of wavemaking controllers is another popular means of increasing and mimicking nature and waterflow. With many preset options and scenarios to increase water flow and naturalism as well as all the added benefits that optimal water flow induces, these make a nice addition to anyones aquarium equipment repertoire.

Wave2K is a clever device that works with an external pump, shaft and a belt. Acting as a means of bringing in water and dispersing water through the top and bottom of the unit is a technological advancement that basically creates a wave surge scenario. This unique and ideal advancement allows your livestock to enjoy all the benefits that natural waves and tides produce. Moving 8.8 gallons of water up and down each cycle every 6 seconds is moving alot of water and the movement is so realistic to that found in shallow regions of the reef.

Another popular gadget for disbursing water in a bidirectional motion is the switch current water director or SCWD for short. This unit directs incoming water into two alternating outputs switching at a rate depending on the gph from the powerhead. Again this unit is energy efficient which is very important for us aquarists due to the price of energy and the amount of electrical pieces of equipment that we need to maintain an optimal and successful aquarium. Pumps ranging in power from 50-1400 gallons per hour can be employed with this wavemaking device to provide quiet, effective clog-resistant and energy efficient water movement.

In addition to these neat waterflow devices, waterflow is also provided by your protein skimmers, pumps used for refugiums and sumps as well. Moreover, certain corals produce their own means of waterflow! Certain species of Xenia will pulse which brings about flow to the colony. Other corals are what is known as dimorphic. This means that they posses two types of polyps siphonozooid and autozooid. The autozooid polyps are the primary feeding polyps of octocorals(soft corals). The siphonozooid polyps are the reduced secondary polyps that are not as visible as the autozooid polyps, that aid in the colonial water circulation of corals such as Sarcophyton, Sinularia and Lobophytum.

In efforts of providing the best environment for a reef aquarium, waterflow is one of the key variables to provide this success. Of course their are also many other variables that MUST be considered in the overall scheme of maintaining a successful marine biotope in a closed system environment. Reading, researching and gaining as much knowledge as possible will enable you to recreate and enjoy a thriving and wonderful marine aquarium for years to come.

http://www.wave2k.com/

http://www.hydor.it/

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~wavemakers_scwd_squid.html