Help me choose a budget nano powerhead

coloradoreefer94

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Tank is a 20L AIO mixed reef tank. I've narrowed down to 5 budget powerheads - anyone with experience with these that can help me in the right direction of which to choose? I really want to keep it under $100. Also, 1 stronger or 2 weaker powerheads in a 20L?

Tunze Turbelle NanoStream Pump 6015, 476GPH​

Jebao SLW-10 Series Aquarium Fish Tank SINE Wave Flow Wave Maker Pump With Controller, 1050 GPH​

hygger Mini Wave Maker Aquarium Magnetic DC Powerhead with LED Display Controller for Saltwater Tank, 1600 GPH​

Hydor Koralia Nano Aquarium Circulation Pump, 425 GPH​

SICCE Voyager Nano 2000 Wave Maker Flow Pump 530 GPH​

 
I've had good luck with Jebao. I know you've probably seen it for 80 more but the nero 3 is a great option too.
 
I use 2 x 530 gph sicce voyager nano's in my 15 gallon, I'm happy with them, both are almost 3 years old now.
 
Tank is a 20L AIO mixed reef tank. I've narrowed down to 5 budget powerheads - anyone with experience with these that can help me in the right direction of which to choose? I really want to keep it under $100. Also, 1 stronger or 2 weaker powerheads in a 20L?

Tunze Turbelle NanoStream Pump 6015, 476GPH​

Jebao SLW-10 Series Aquarium Fish Tank SINE Wave Flow Wave Maker Pump With Controller, 1050 GPH​

hygger Mini Wave Maker Aquarium Magnetic DC Powerhead with LED Display Controller for Saltwater Tank, 1600 GPH​

Hydor Koralia Nano Aquarium Circulation Pump, 425 GPH​

SICCE Voyager Nano 2000 Wave Maker Flow Pump 530 GPH​

Hygger is very good like the other guy said is a pain to set up but once that’s finish it awesome
 
I use this on my 10gal:
1740191244523.jpeg


Works well…
 

ZKSJ Mini Aquarium Pump Wave maker For Aquarium USB Power Connector 530GPH (2000L/H) Circulation Water Pump​

 
I think you will like the extra flow and features on the hygger. A couple of these might not produce the nutrient export you’d want. I don’t know if you have 1 or two overflows for the 1 or 2 pumps. But if 1, then set this hygger on the opposite side just far enough down to not cause bubbles. Been running one over 2 years.

It is not hard to program and I’ll give you a head start. Which other ones give you schedules? I get they are fixed, but it is something.

IMG_1592.jpeg



If you go with a Jebao. Get a smart wavemaker model. Then you use their app to schedule. I think that is MLW not SLW
 
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I have recently started using the Sicce Nano 2000 530g/h opposite my Sicce XStream SDC to get more variable flow for some recent addition branching easy sps in the 40 breeder.

I like its ability to adjust aim and the guard comes off easy for cleaning. Happy so far.
 
Hygger gets my vote. Cost effective. Small size. Various programs.
Cleaning sucks as pieces basically all come apart.
 
I have the Hygger in a 15 gallon, it's a good product, and reasonably priced.
I have had the Tunze Turbell and I just did not like it, and I really wanted to. Tunze makes an excellent product. It's obtrusive in a nano.
 
I've been struggling finding good circulation in my 10g mixed reef. Largely it's getting the right amount of flow. I've tried inexpensive ac circulation pumps and they're basically all 400 or 500gph. It's just so much flow, I don't understand how some of you are running the pumps in the size tanks you're saying given the listed flow rates. What am I missing? I'm sorry it's just not in my budget to get a DC controllable wave maker. They all dimensionally seem so obtrusive in a 10g tank as well.
 
I use the SLW-3 in my 8.3 gal. tank and have to run it on the lowest setting. it's been a great pump for about a year now.
OK, and it's lowest setting is what? The slw looks like it's non adjustable ac, did you mean the elw3? That one looks adjustable up to 660gph. But I can't see qhag the lowest flow is.
Also, that thing is tiny, that's awesome! Thanks for the info.
 
Hygger has been decent for me,have it for over a year. isn’t near the 1600g they claim. so, dont be worried it will be to strong. I think one would be more then enough to start in a 20l
 
OK, and it's lowest setting is what? The slw looks like it's non adjustable ac, did you mean the elw3? That one looks adjustable up to 660gph. But I can't see qhag the lowest flow is.
Also, that thing is tiny, that's awesome! Thanks for the info.
It is adjustable and very small unit. it is the SLW-3 sold on Amazon
 
I have the Hygger in my 20 gallon AIO (actually display size around 15 gallon s). It is a decent wavemaker. I have run it around 60% power during the day and 40% at night. The lowest it will go is 40%. I agree that the settings are finicky and it's difficult to adjust on the fly, but it is very consistent and reliable. It is also very quiet. One other complaint is that there is no way to adjust the intensity of the "random" mode, so it's unusable in my tank.

I have ordered a few more pumps to try and see if I like more. First one will be a Jebao DMP-10. It's a knockoff of the echotech pumps, but much less expensive. Second will be a pair of Jebao MLW-5 pumps, one on each end of the tank. That will let me turn each one down in flow and get a good random pattern as the flows crash into each other.

I previously tried the Jebao SLW-5 on two separate occasions from Amazon. Both times the pumps were excessively noisy and I had to return them. I could hear them easily from across the room. Everyone said those pumps are quiet, so I think mine were defective. I'm hoping my MLW-5's don't have the same problem.
 
Have you looked into the

Reef Flow 1000 Nano (264 GPH) Controllable 5v DC Wavemaker Pump - TMC​

I have one in a 12.5 gallon and it's been great. (Not my hand btw)
1742824600248.png


1742824593024.png
 

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