Reddit reviews Hydor Pico Evo-Mag 180 Circulation Pump with Magnet Mount, 180 GPH

I personally have this one in my 5 gallon tank https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003UK5CTG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've found a few things that could do the trick. I still feel like something smaller would be more ideal, but a filter would now be preferred.

I'm tempted to buy one of each and see the performance differences. I will let you guys know what I get. I literally have to wait for my wife to give me my allowance on Friday, ha!

Hydor Pico Evo-Mag 180 Circulation Pump with Magnet Mount, 180 GPH

Penn Plax Cascade 170 Internal Filter for Aquariums

Govine Aquariums Underwater Mini Filter 3-Gallon

Aquarium Internal Filter For Fish Tank Multi-Function Submersible 3/8/16W NEW

Mini Aquarium Power Filter Waterfall Water Pump Fish Tank Hang On Slim Filter

I'm also looking into building my own. Alibaba (or a similar store) has some tiny motors that I could attach outside and then I could try to figure out a magnetic solution. A 3D printer setup would be more ideal for something like that and I don't have one. I'm still pondering this idea, I don't want to end up over my head.

Lovey little tank!

I have a hydro pico evolution in my fluval evo 13 gal nano reef, which works pretty well in terms of flow. Hydor also makes a little device which attaches and rotates the flow across the tank like a mini wave maker. I love both except for the clogs that happen if I let any algae grow in the tank.

Hydor Pico Evo-Mag 180 Circulation Pump with Magnet Mount, 180 GPH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UK5CTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_C3zPBb34ATQYP

Hydor Flo Rotating Water Deflector Attachment https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0006JLPF4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_l4zPBbK4AQAH8

I like this little Hydor powerhead. It has a magnetic mount and is easy to adjust the flow rate on.

I've got this powerhead on it presently which I'm not a huge fan of. The flow is adjustable, but the angle is not.

I had this powerhead on it which was much better in terms of adjusting the direction of the flow, but after a while it rattled incessantly and no amount of disassembling it/greasing the impeller/etc fixed it.

So... I also have a brutal snail death story...

I picked up a small powerhead of Amazon ( Hydor Pico Evo-Mag 180 Circulation Pump with Magnet Mount, 180 GPH https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003UK5CTG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_2K.ZBb1C5PE34) I got that to help agitate the surface of the tank, because my HoB wasn’t doing it well enough and I had the protein buildup.

I also got golden Inca apple snails, and snails being snails started finding all the nice hidden crevices that contain tasty algea. Well I went through 4 snails getting either sucked out of their shells, or cut up and staying in their shells until they die before I decided to unplug the power head. The ontly thing that prevented it from killing snails was when I surrounded the intake with a sponge, but that turned it into a sponge filter!

I got two more snails recently, and so far I lost one, but was able to exchange it for a new one... now the powerhead is just in the tank, unplugged, waiting to be moved into a different tank to help with cycling.