Homemade Wavemakers for a Saltwater Aquarium

Wavemakers are an excellent way of controlling water flow in a saltwater aquarium. They allow you to reproduce the back and forth motion of the ocean while boosting circulation, and improving gas exchange, which is an essential part of keeping your aquarium healthy and looking great. There are a few wave-making kits on the market, but they can be pricey. With a little ingenuity, you can make your own wavemaker using items that most aquarium keepers already have sitting around the house, such as powerheads, powerstrips and plug-in timers.

  1. Before You Begin

    • Before you begin, take a few minutes to plan your project. Decide where you will place the powerheads. Know how easy it will be to reach them if you need to make adjustments. Make sure their flow rates are appropriate for the size of your tank. Once you know all of this information, you may proceed.

    Mount Your Powerheads

    • By now you have decided where to place your powerheads, so this part is easy. Mount your powerheads in locations on each side of your aquarium. Whether you are using suction cups or magnet mounts, make sure that the powerheads are secure and will not shake loose easily.

    Add Power

    • Plug the powerheads from one side of the tank into the first powerstrip, called powerstrip A. Plug the powerheads from the other side of the tank into the second powerstrip, called powerstrip B. Use some masking tape and a marker to make labels for the cords so you can easily identify them by sight.

    It's All In The Timing

    • The timers are the most important part of this project. Plug powerstrip A into the first timer, called timer A, and powerstrip B into the second timer, called timer B. Once you determine how often you want your water to change directions, then you are ready to program the timers. For example, if you want the current to change every 30 minutes, then set timer A to turn on at 12:00, off at 12:30, on at 1:00, off at 1:30, etc. Set timer B to turn on at 12:30, off at 1:00, on at 1:30, etc.

    Test Your Setup

    • Once you have all of your equipment mounted and plugged in, take a minute to test your new setup. Run the powerheads manually to see how the new currents affect the tank and its inhabitants. If you are unhappy with any aspect of the installation, make the necessary adjustments. Once everything is to your liking, sit back and enjoy the waves.