That's some fine observing to pick up Hoag's Object in a 12". My research puts it at magnitude 15.2, no wonder it took many attempts to see the galaxy core in your 12".
I have started dipping my toe into ring galaxies and Hoag type objects, and find them a nice challenge.
PGC 19481 in Volans is brighter at magnitude 13.2 and in a tight group of several galaxies ranging from mag 14.3 to 17.5. It has a beautiful ring that was apparent in the 32", though it appeared and disappeared around the galaxies circumference, so still a threshold object in the 32".
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=P...=1534160646360