here's something you may consider, perhaps going with a smaller pump [i have an aquapod 24g - not sure what size pump/output the 12g has]. i'm doing this to reduce heat and increase circulation.
currently i am running the stock aquapod pump [290gph - 32w] and a rio 600 [200gph - 9.5w]. that's a combined 490gph - 41.5w which exceeds the 10 - 20x circulation rate for a tank my size.
i'm going to purchase the wavemaker system from dr foster&smith which includes the wavemaker powerstrip and 3 maxijet 900 pumps [leaves me a spare]. the maxijets have the best reputation [from all my reading] on the boards for being quiet, powerful, and a good pump for wavemaker. this will give me a combined 460gph - 17w. that's a 69% reduction in watts which equals less heat.
http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113782
both pumps will be installed in the second chamber [aquapod 24 only has 2] on the side wall using the magntic fastners one above the other [normal return bottom - wave maker pump top]. i'm then going to use asiankidds [member of nano-reef.com] great mod idea [which i've also seen here on larger tanks] and install tubing around the top of the tank [4th and 5th picture on attached thread] with directionals attached:
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/inde...howtopic=71227
i've spent about 12 hrs reading up on this. and until i found asiankidds post i had planed on 2 rio 90's with a maxijet 1200 which would have been a combined 465gph - 25.6w. the downfall to this set up [even though i had lowered the watts] was; 1) 3 pumps [2 inside the tank], 2) rio's aren't as good as the maxijet's, 3) the 3 pumps combined with the wavemaker cost [which i would have to buy seperately] more than the wavemaker and 3 maxijet 900s from foster and smith as a package deal.
another benefit to this set-up; i will have 460gph being sucked through the filtration chamber instead of 290gph.
pretty excited about this. thanks for getting the wheels spinning so i could figure this all out. if you foresee any downfalls - please advise. won't be orderng until tonight.
question for those with maxijets: does the maxijet use 1/2" or 3/4" tubing?