wave maker?

[rickm]

Well my 2 cents on the SCWD, I've had one for 5 months and it works great. I have a Mag 9.5 for a return pump and I still had to throttle it back.For the money you can't beat it,if it breaks either replace it or throw a Y connecter in it's place. I just recently took it off and ran it in some water and vinegar, no water on the floor taking it off, it's all in how you plumb it. It's like anything if you do the maintenance it can only help prolong it's life.Did I have to clean it? I don't know but I felt it couldn't hurt. As far as head pressure, once again it's all in your plumbing.If you use hard pipe with short radius 90's, well then guess what it's going to cut down on your flow.I also have a Red Sea WaveMaster running my MJ's, no problems there either and I'm lucky if I have a turnover rate of 23 times. Would I wan't or feel it necessary to increase it to this new high standard of 40 or 50...nope. I like to actually see my fish able to swim in the tank and not blown from one end to the other. So far my SPS are doing just fine with this turnover rate.

[davejnz]

Indeed,90's will cut your flow.I've never seen any comparisons on flow rates between hard and flexible plumbing though.What really puts a strain on your pump is 3/4" pipe/tubing.MAG rates there pumps with 1.5" pipe,its kind of misleading IMO to the consumer who buys them and uses 3/4" flex/vinyl tubing to plumb with.
A MAG9 will do 600gph at 4' head with 3/4" plumbing and a 3/4" return.The return you can get with the SQWD or most LFS have only a 1/2" output which puts even more head pressure on the pump.SQWD claims to have a 90% efficiency rate at 600-700gph.If their claims are correct,with a 600gph input,your output will be 540gph.
Take the same pump,plumbed with 1.25" PVC useing elbows and 45's,and your at 800gph.Personally,I'd rather have a mass volume of water flowing in my tank than less volume at a higher velocity.