MouseHouse

i've tried a few hydor and such power heads. and the new maxi jet 1200. after a few days they either run backwards or don't start. I'm going to have to bite the bullet and drop $500 on a mp 40.
i haven't tried the hydor 12v ones yet though

I just ordered and received a MP10 for my tank. I am anxious to get it installed, but everything I have seen looks like it is going to produce a lot of movement. I might need to adjust my overflow to lower the in-tank water level so I dont fling water everywhere.

When it comes to waves there is no cheap way out. I bought my mp10 for $180 at a trade show. I had it on my 55 before it cracked and had a 3/4 wave at full power. Here's a link to my ten gallon st at 60%. Rectangle tanks make better waves.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFjerEek9p0

Even an actual "wavemaker" box with a few powerheads installed don't make the "wave" movement. What they do is switch the current every minute, or 15 minutes or however long you set the interval. That way your corals grow and feel as if there was a wave movement going through the tank. The actual wavemakers that make a physical wave at the top of the tank are more expensive.

So, if you're asking if the ebay wave-makers will make your corals grow and feel as though there is a wave movement, possibly. They will not create a physical wave moving at the top of the tank like the vortechs. Considering there is no manufacturer labeling there's likely no quality control and many units will be different from one another. So while one person says, yes buy they worked great, another says they're junk stay away. You're taking a gamble on the quality of the hardware. It might pay off, it might not. I'm saving for a vortech personally. :-)