12 Cube DX...extra powerhead?

zenway9

zenway9

Member
does anyone with a 12 gallon DX cube have an extra powerhead in their setup, or is it not needed? i was thinking about drilling a hole in the third chamber and placing an aqua clear 20 powerhead back there for additional water flow.
also, does anyone run carbon in the first chamber or do you leave the sponges in?
 
firefish21

firefish21

Member
i have read where a lot of people drill for another powerhead, but most jsut replace the stock pump.
i'm undecided on what i'm going to do
but, in my tank i left the sponges... the carbon is in there as well
 
f1shman

f1shman

Active Member
1st chamber - 2 sponge filters.
2nd chamber - bottom sponge filter, top carbon filter
3rd chamber - 5 bioballs (i was going to replace them with LR, but my tanks doing fine)
 
f1shman

f1shman

Active Member
No you can take them out, I only have like 4 or 5 and my tanks been doing good for over a year, and I'm soon moving everything out of there into my larger new reef tank, but so far they haven't hurt the tank. For a while i contemplated exchanging them with LR, basically at the moment in my nanocube I think they don't hurt, but they don't really help. So you can take them out if you want becuase they might become "nirtrate factories"
 
zenway9

zenway9

Member
So does anyone with 12 gallon cubes have extra powerheads in their tank? I did the powerhead upgrade already, but I am curious if anyone has any more in the tank area.
 
zenway9

zenway9

Member
i just read that you can replace the stock powerhead with a maxi jet 900 (230 gph) without worrying about the heat. i also read about putting a hydor flo on the output nozzle for 360 degree rotation. i went ahead and ordered both.
does anyone with 12 gallon cubes have any input on this or has anyone actually done this?
 
partsman

partsman

Member
Zenway,
i have one the maxi jet 900 upgrade already and really see the difference - as for adding any more gph - i really don't think it's necessary . i beleive " the docta " added another small powerhead inside his nano for extra flow but i didn't like how much extra space it took up. 230 gph is right on the edge of the max flow recomended for our 12 gallon tanks 20 x 12 = 230 ( i beleive ) and see no need to push it more.
i did some experimenting on flow direction after installing the maxi 900 and deceided to keep my original output nozzle . the flow is so fast a piece of flake food circles my tank almost 2 times before dropping to a lower level so that my firefish will go after it. slight adjustments found the food settling in area's i didn't like and could cause decay and nitrite build up. of course - it's up to you how you like your flow anyway and depending on what your feeding also. try experminting first with the original nozzle ...............
fishman ...............i also set my foam filters in the same chambers as you did - #1 and #2 for the foam and leaving #3 for any phosphate or amonia packs i might want to add at times. one thing about the deluxe nano - you have the room to do modifications and expermint.
i wouldn't drill any new holes in the back wall to add anymore pumps myself and am very happy with the gph as it is now .
( i think my firefish feel the same ) ...................lol
 
zenway9

zenway9

Member
thanks for the input.
what do you think about putting a Y connector on the output nozzle and have the flow going 2 different directions? i ordered a Y connect with a 1/2" to 1/4" taper to increase flow...what do you think partsman?
 
partsman

partsman

Member
i think due to the size of our tanks that any dual water flow will probably push water against each other at some point in our tanks causing turbulance - or at the least ( as in my swimming pool ) a reverse flow against the intake will creat a fast flow and particles that would normally be sucked into our skimmer will be swept away from the filter ( sponges / intake ). i experienced this one day while fooling around with my swimming pool as noticed the skimmer wasn't sucking any leaves or trash into it. i had reversed the water flow from the pool pump to flow towards the skimmer instead of away from it and circle the entire pool - thus slowing the water flow down before it reached the skimmer. i think this will be the same result if we change the direction of the water flow or create any dual water streams - due to our size aquarium .
i did look at the hydor flo rotating water deflector # hd01401 that you spoke of and like it's design ..
might just order one myself and see what happens ! ..........
fiddling never hurts unless it's noticable ...lol ............thats how we learn !
 
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