First things first. Return lines will never give you enough flow unless you have a HUGE return pump and a tiny, little tank. Even then it probably won’t flow the way it is needed to. You will need to get power heads, assuming you have corals. Maybe not if they are small frags but when they grow you will need water movement.I’ve totally bought into the Apex system but have been hesitant to buy the WAV pumps as there seem to be a lot of complaints about how difficult they are to clean and that even the low setting is still 1800 gph. How long have you had the WAV pump? Do you have any complaints? I have 150g Aqueon tank 72”x29.5”x18” so it’s deep and long. I don’t think the two return nozzles are giving me the circulation I really need. Especially behind the rocks and between the overflows.
As for the WAV pumps, I have had them for only a short while (a matters of days/weeks…I can’t exactly remember how long they have been on. Less than a month for sure.) That being said: I have noticed a big improvement in the visual appearance of my corals. This is switching from 4 MP40 to 2 WAV pumps. I have also noticed that the back corners where detritus and uneaten food would gather before (I would have to manually remove it) is no longer an is an issue.
All that being said, I want to give it some time to see more long term results before I recommend the WAVs.