An even smaller pump

[zdrc]

I have a 12 gallon aquapod AIO. I have a ~200gph return pump that does a great job adding movement to the tank by itself. However, there are still some dead spots I'd like to get rid of. I bought a Jebao SOW-3 (rated 132-792 gph) to and its simply too strong for the tank even on the lowest setting. I need a pump that is even weaker than the Jebao SOW-3. Any suggestions?

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I have a 12 gallon aquapod AIO. I have a ~200gph return pump that does a great job adding movement to the tank by itself. However, there are still some dead spots I'd like to get rid of. I bought a Jebao SOW-3 (rated 132-792 gph) to and its simply too strong for the tank even on the lowest setting. I need a pump that is even weaker than the Jebao SOW-3. Any suggestions?

I used a small "cat fountain pump" in my 5g nano i kept at my office when I had to go into the office. Ran it off an old phone charger and it did a wonderful job.

The flow is a little more directional than a typical PH, but if placed correctly it can add flow and create random flow in conjunction with the return.

I had to dig a bit on amazon to find one with a ceramic shaft, but I did fine one. Give me some time to look through my past orders, as this was quite a bit and let me see if I can find the exact one. I know it was only 50gph.

 

[zdrc]

I used a small "cat fountain pump" in my 5g nano i kept at my office when I had to go into the office. Ran it off an old phone charger and it did a wonderful job.

The flow is a little more directional than a typical PH, but if placed correctly it can add flow and create random flow in conjunction with the return.

I had to dig a bit on amazon to find one with a ceramic shaft, but I did fine one. Give me some time to look through my past orders, as this was quite a bit and let me see if I can find the exact one. I know it was only 50gph.

That's a good idea! I'd been looking mostly at powerheads/wavemakers and the quoted gph was almost always 150 gph or more, but a nano return pump like a cat fountain pump could work just fine too. The only problem is the regularity of the flow, but I think I can mitigate that some by having to intersect with the flow from the actual return pump. There are actually quite a few nano return pumps that are <100 gph. For example, the Sicce Syncra Nano Circulation pump is 40-110 gph.

 

[Eagle_Steve]

That's a good idea! I'd been looking mostly at powerheads/wavemakers and the quoted gph was almost always 150 gph or more, but a nano return pump like a cat fountain pump could work just fine too. The only problem is the regularity of the flow, but I think I can mitigate that some by having to intersect with the flow from the actual return pump. There are actually quite a few nano return pumps that are <100 gph. For example, the Sicce Syncra Nano Circulation pump is 40-110 gph.

Yup. I was just cheap and went with a 10 buck or so cat fountain pump behind the rock and pointed at the return output lol.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

an aqamai kps would be good for that tank. Its smaller than an egg, and controllable.

 

[zdrc]

an aqamai kps would be good for that tank. Its smaller than an egg, and controllable.

The quoted minimum gph for the aqamai is 370 which is over twice as much as my current pump. The Jebao SOW-3 is also controllable (it's an excellent pump, it's just too strong). I think the aqamai would be a step in the wrong direction.