om vs scwd vs wave2k

i googled around the site a little, and could only find opinions from 2007 regarding this. wondering if anyone has new thoughts on the best way to make random water movement in my 75 gal that i'm getting ready to drill

should i get an oceans motion (if so, which?), go cheaper with the scwd (is it cheaper for a reason?) or go pumpless with wave2k

anyone with thoughts or experience with these?

thanks!!

 

SCWDs are a pain. If you don't take it off and soak it in vinegar every couple of months, the gears seize up.

 

wave 2k or a MP40

 

OM squirt gets my vote for a tank that size.

~Will.

 

thanks for the input. i'm looking for something that doesn't add wires around the dt, so vortech is out. the wavemaker seems a little gimmicky - anyone use it? i saw coral reefer had one previously - maybe still?

inwall75 thanks for the thought on scwd - it seems like others have said the same.

so i guess the money's going to ocean motion...

 

I have the OM Squirt two way and its been a great device for over 5 years now. It replaced a SCWD which worked OK but really robbed the flow, about a 30% decrease compared to the Squirt. I used to soak and clean the SCWD every 2-3 months and the Squirt get cleaned about once a year.

 

I run a OM 4 way and love the chaotic water movements I get from it. I would go with a Squirt or regular 4 -way if you are going to upgrade later on.

 

thanks all.
any recommendations about setting up returns for the closed loop to a standard 75 gal tank. bottom is tempered, so have to make all holes in the back. paul at om pointed me to a tank design that has two returns in the bottom of the back panel and two thru the front end of the bottom panel, giving back and forth flow oscillation, which is very different than the 'four top corners' approach i had originally envisioned.

otty - you've had your om for a few years now it looks like. any maintenance issues? have you had to replace/change a drum?

 

Since mine is the two way I went with the top back corners as seen here:


I have often thought about buying the 4 way drum and converting it. I wouldrun PVC along the top from back to front above the waterline and add two more outlets in the front two corners without drilling. I would probably shorten up the LocLine then since I would have more random flows

 

Well, since I modeled my 120 gal after Otty's...I also run the OM 4-Way valve and it has been great! I did have a small issue on start up where I was blowing the sand all around the tank...and thus some of the sand ended up in the 4-Way valve...once I got my act together and stopped stirring up the sand, it has run flawlessly.

I have had 2 specific comments from visitors as to the amount of motion with in the tank. Not bad for only running 3 months....