Flow in a 15g cube?

buttonreefer · Jan 20, 2025

Hey everyone!
I recently added an IM Nuvo 15g to my reef tank collection. I used water and rock from my 150g reef so everything is all up and running nicely already.
I had a leftover Sicce Nano 1000 from an old nano, but that is too strong for this 15x15x15 cube.
I can't seem to find a wavemaker for a reasonable price that isn't too strong. (Controller or not).
I'm planning to have a mixed reef (everything from a few SPS to mainly LPS like euphyllia and flowerpots to softies like mushrooms and zoas).
Anyone have any ideas that would work well?
TIA!!

Mr. Mojo Rising · Jan 20, 2025

I use a pair of sicce voyager nano's in my 15, they come in 270 and 530 gph, perfect for small tanks and less than $50.

lil sumpin · Jan 20, 2025

Hygger has a nice little wavemaker for around $60. If you want something a little cheaper, ZKSJ also has one that’s $40. A Nero might be nice.

buttonreefer · Jan 20, 2025

Those sound like good ideas. The Sicce one I have is 270GPH and absolutely blasted everything inside, including the SPS that were in there before I took them out and even the zoa garden on the bottom opposite far side. Those options are the same or even stronger. How low do the Hygger and ZKSJ go? I had 2 Nero 3s on my 40gb and both stopped working at about the 6month mark, even with regular cleaning- so honestly not a fan but that's a personal experience, I hear they can be great...but $400 for 6 months when there's probably better options out there? No thanks!

Vivid Creative Aquatics · Jan 20, 2025

buttonreefer said:
Hey everyone!
I recently added an IM Nuvo 15g to my reef tank collection. I used water and rock from my 150g reef so everything is all up and running nicely already.
I had a leftover Sicce Nano 1000 from an old nano, but that is too strong for this 15x15x15 cube.
I can't seem to find a wavemaker for a reasonable price that isn't too strong. (Controller or not).
I'm planning to have a mixed reef (everything from a few SPS to mainly LPS like euphyllia and flowerpots to softies like mushrooms and zoas).
Anyone have any ideas that would work well?
TIA!!

I would say keep the SICCE and simply add a 1/2in Random Flow Generator - you probably wont even need a powerhead.

https://vividcreativeaquatics.com/innovative-marine/#20gallonormore
That'd how we run our 15-gallon IM cube tank. We set it up with the signal 1/2in RFG, and a 19mm slip-fit drop adapter, and [air that with a mightlejt pump, which we run at the lowest setting.

Here's a current pic of that tank (please forgive the dirty glass - I need to do better LOL)

buttonreefer · Jan 20, 2025

Vivid Creative Aquatics said:
I would say keep the SICCE and simply add a 1/2in Random Flow Generator - you probably wont even need a powerhead.

https://vividcreativeaquatics.com/innovative-marine/#20gallonormore
That'd how we run our 15-gallon IM cube tank. We set it up with the signal 1/2in RFG, and a 19mm slip-fit drop adapter, and [air that with a mightlejt pump, which we run at the lowest setting.

Here's a current pic of that tank (please forgive the dirty glass - I need to do better LOL)

Thanks for the suggestion! The Sicce I have is a powerhead, not a pump. But maybe a good option would be to replace the pump and add that random flow generator, without a powerhead? Which one do you have?

Vivid Creative Aquatics · Jan 20, 2025

buttonreefer said:
Thanks for the suggestion! The Sicce I have is a powerhead, not a pump. But maybe a good option would be to replace the pump and add that random flow generator, without a powerhead? Which one do you have?

That's is a really good idea :)

The tank we have here in the office uses a Mightly Jet 326 (the smaller one)

but you could use any pump that can deliver at least 250 to 300 GPH (or more). Ideally you would want a DC controllable pump, so you can really dial it in

Give me a minute and I'll shoot a video showing the flow in our tank.

Vivid Creative Aquatics · Jan 20, 2025

Here's a quick video showing the flow in our 15-gallon Nuvo. with the 1/2in RFG, a 19mm slip-for-drop adapter and a Mightyjet return pump

buttonreefer · Jan 20, 2025

Awesome, thanks for the video! So MightyJet 326 and VCA RFG 1/2 inch and Drop Slipt-Fit 1/2 inch? And that's all good with SPS too? Do you run yours on the full flow rate?

Vivid Creative Aquatics · Jan 20, 2025

buttonreefer said:
Awesome, thanks for the video! So MightyJet 326 and VCA RFG 1/2 inch and Drop Slipt-Fit 1/2 inch? And that's all good with SPS too? Do you run yours on the full flow rate?

I think we have it on about 1/2 to 3/4 power - but yeah we have some very simple SPS in there, but its mostly softies

if I paid more attention to the this tanks parameters and levels, (I don't really) then I'm sure we could do at as a full- mixed reef - the flow it certainly enough

the one I pay more attention to is the 134-gallon mixed reef cube tank, across the room from these nano tanks. That one is also 100%, fully flowed by just the Random Flow Generator - no powerheads