New to the Hobby, Nano Set up Opinions Needed

[providence]

Hey all. I've been lurking this forum for the last several years. In the past, I've had roommates that operated larger scale reef systems and by default learned a bit about them in the process. I'm at the point in my life where I have the stability to start my own. I've had a 12 gallon, never been used, Aquapod for the last 3 years. Not the greatest piece of equipment out there but never the less I'm excited to actually start using it!
With that said, I need some opinions on what type of equipment I should retrofit this thing with. I've done some reading over the past weeks on options I have and I have got some "first hand" opinions from the local fish stores. But I figured I'd get some more experienced and wider array of opinions from you guys if at all possible. I'll try to break different things into sections so it's easier for you all to follow along (in theory)...

Flow
I'm aware that these things do not come with all that practical pumps. The options I'm considering are:
1. Keep stock pump and outlet and buy an additional power head.
2. Buy a larger Maxi Jet 900 pump and fit a Hydor Rotating Water Deflector.
3. Open to additional options.
Refugium
I would like to create refug in the back compartments of this tank and discard most if not all of the supplied filter supplies. With that in mind, what would be the best set up for this 4 chambered Aquapod? Open to mods but nothing really crazy. Keep in mind, I'm using the hood for now until I upgrade lighting well down the line. I plan on going with some type of submersible LED for the chaeto.
Live Rock Options
At this point, I'm leaning towards going with dry rock, ordering between 15-25lbs so I can pick, choose, and go with the options the work that work best in the set up I have. I plan on just hanging onto the extra that won't work for future use or whatever. The next step would be buying a few more choice pieces of rock from local fish stores with good coralline growth in order to seed the rest of the dry rock over time. Is this reasonable or are there flaws in my logic?
Right now I've narrowed my preferences to Macro Rock, BRS, and Reef Cleaners. Thoughts and preferences between the three in terms of Nano options?
Those are my biggest indecision hang-ups at this point in time. Money isn't a big issue in terms of equipment but I want to make sure I do things the right way instead of having go back and upgrade things that I most likely should have done from the start. Thanks in advance for all the help!

 

[nano-newb1983]

hi, welcome to the site.. so far i think you got it down pretty good on what you want
I would get maxi 900, and maybe a Korilla 1/ or nano powerhead
In my nano i gutted all the stock filtration, and replaced it with Chemi Purer elite, bagged purigen and Filter floss
For you lil fuge, yea cheato and a light you will be good
For Rock i would just get mostly dry/base rock and maybe a few pieces of LR, i would get any too fancy because i think most of the coraline alge will die off during the cycle
Im looking forward to see the set up

 

[providence]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NaNo-NeWb1983 http:///forum/thread/384396/new-to-the-hobby-nano-set-up-opinions-needed#post_3367022
hi, welcome to the site.. so far i think you got it down pretty good on what you want
I would get maxi 900, and maybe a Korilla 1/ or nano powerhead
In my nano i gutted all the stock filtration, and replaced it with Chemi Purer elite, bagged purigen and Filter floss
For you lil fuge, yea cheato and a light you will be good
For Rock i would just get mostly dry/base rock and maybe a few pieces of LR, i would get any too fancy because i think most of the coraline alge will die off during the cycle
Im looking forward to see the set up
Thanks for the welcome. I plan on doing a thread once I get everything started but it will be a while because I've got to purchase and order a lot of this stuff. And then of coarse, cycle. Unless you guys like to see a nearly empty tank...

As far as the filtration, by everything I could gather that seemed to be the best bet and what I plan to use. With the Aquapod, the chambers are so small, and of coarse four of them, how do you propose I order the filter floss, chemipure elite, purigen packets, and chaeto? I'll also need room for my heater and pump.
I'll look into that Korilla. Would that be a better bet than just the deflector?
I planned on cycling and then buying live rock with coralline. Of coarse, I wasn't all that clear in what I originally said, though.

 

[nano-newb1983]

im not sure how the back of those are, but im sure u can tweek it somehow.. I would get the Korilla, additional flow will be good.. i got 2 in my 24g

 

[providence]

Quote:
Originally Posted by NaNo-NeWb1983 http:///forum/thread/384396/new-to-the-hobby-nano-set-up-opinions-needed#post_3367049
I would get the Korilla, additional flow will be good.. i got 2 in my 24g
After looking over things, I think that's what I will do.
Which do you believe would be better for me? The Koralia 1 or the Koralia Nano? Are they much different in size? Just curious as I don't want this big cylindrical-looking power head seemingly taking up half the space in my little 12 gallon if there's a bit of a difference between them.

 

[nano-newb1983]

nano will do fine, they not too big

 

[providence]

Thanks for all the help! I went to the LFS and picked up both the Maxi Jet 900 pump and Hydor Nano. I opted for the higher output, 425 Nano as opposed to the 240. I've test run both in just R/O water in my tank for the time being and have a great amount of flow. Hopefully not so much so that whatever fish or two I eventually decide to put in there will be struggling for their lives but we'll see about that later.
As for the rock, I've made my decision and I will be purchasing through BRS. I was about to order it this evening until I seen that they are based about 20 minutes from me. Since they were closed, I'll see if it is possible to pick up the rock instead of shipping it out. *fingers crossed
Still working out how I'm going to do the refug and order everything back there.
Any tips for what dosing chems I should eventually be looking into? Interested in corals much further down the line and ones that would be fine under PC's, but I'd like to get a head start on reading about which I should be using and what not.
Again, thanks for your help.

 

[nano-newb1983]

i never dose anything. if you do, dont dose anything your not testing for
for your fuge.. would you be able to just put it in the 1st chamber? all you really would need is a handfull of cheato and a light
then maybe in the next chamber do the chemi pure elite and purigen, 3rd chamber maybe filterfloss and 4th heater and pump?