Wha'ts the best placement for my Nero 3 pump in my nano reef?

[JohnNYC8]

Thanks for ignoring the horrible typo in the title

Based on my tank layout and future corals, where do you think the best placement for my Nero 3 powerhead is and how should I angle my return pump nozzle?

I'd like to grow a blue zoa garden (@WWC WWC AOI Zoanthids) on the low rock island in the front and have some higher flow corals up top. When the reef is more mature and I can consistently dose I'd like to get a couple of plating montiporas on the upper parts of the rock and an acropora towards the top.

I'm thinking of placing the pump in the lower third of the back right glass on an angle to the left. That would place the pump behind the aquascape, angled up and towards the near-front-left corner over the rocks. I'm thinking of pointing my return pump nozzle just above the zoa garden for medium flow.

top-down view

 

[shakacuz]

front left corner facing the right side of the tank

 

[JohnNYC8]

front left corner facing the right side of the tank

Thanks, I didn't even think of that. Sorry for changing the rules but would that be too much flow if I wanted to place a favia on that lower left rock?

 

[shakacuz]

Thanks, I didn't even think of that. Sorry for changing the rules but would that be too much flow if I wanted to place a favia on that lower left rock?

perhaps on the lower side of it

 

[JohnNYC8]

A big issue I see with that placement is all the wires. It could look like a mess over there. Could I get a similar effect if I mounted it down near the return pump angled across the middle to left?

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

Hey mate, I’ve been running Nero 3 on a similar size nano AIO for a while now. Mines about a third of the way down right pane and centred. Any lower and it starts moving sand around, any higher and you have to turn it off for a water change.

I found centre pane gives good even flow throughout in pulse mode, no dead spots.

Ultimately, you’ll need to see how it reacts to your scape.

Great little pumps, enjoy it.

 

[JohnNYC8]

Hey mate, I’ve been running Nero 3 on a similar size nano AIO for a while now. Mines about a third of the way down right pane and centred. Any lower and it starts moving sand around, any higher and you have to turn it off for a water change.

I found centre pane gives good even flow throughout in pulse mode, no dead spots.

Ultimately, you’ll need to see how it reacts to your scape.

Great little pumps, enjoy it.

Thanks! By the right pane do you mean the black wall on the right or the wall straight across in the first picture? If it's the black wall to the right I don't think I can get it on center there with my skimmer installed.

 

[CoastalTownLayabout]

On the pane closest to your proposed low set zoa island.

I trialled it on the back wall for a while but it was a maintenance chore getting it out for cleaning. Plus I was suss on having the magnet mount exposed to tank water in the AIO compartment.

 

[JohnNYC8]

On the pane closest to your proposed low set zoa island.

I trialled it on the back wall for a while but it was a maintenance chore getting it out for cleaning. Plus I was suss on having the magnet mount exposed to tank water in the AIO compartment.

Thanks, that makes sense. I didn't even think of the maintenance aspect.