30 Nuvo build

[Steven w]

I am making a build thread to track the progress of a 30 gallon nuvo by innovative marine. It will incorporate a few various IM gadgets as well. Filters socks, midsize ghost skimmer, IM reactor, tunze osmolator, jaebo rw4 powerhead, twin IM spinstream nozzles at the return, screen top, two kessil a160we’s with spectral controller. Sand is mix of 20 lb Carib sea Bahamas oolite and 20lb Fiji pink. Rock with be dry rock purchased from Billy’s reef connection. Corals will range from zoas, various LPS, and some sps. Fish stocking is undecided at this time.

 

[Steven w]

Tank was lightly used getting a nice vinegar bath along with a used skimmer I picked up for a future build on a cube I’ll be doing

 

[Steven w]

Tank being setup in bedroom, sand was mildy rinsed before being added in. Didn’t use clarifying agents.

 

[Steven w]

Settled on this for the scape. I really liked them being flatter on top for easy placement of frags. I used a 7/16 drill bit to round out the existing holes on top to have a more secure hole that frags can go directly into.

 

[zcedric]

hii,

Nice build so far. Why are you gonna use so much sand?

 

[Steven w]

I really liked how it’s a thin uniform scape down the length of the tank also.

 

[Steven w]

Here’s where I’m at so far, waiting for my other gooseneck to arrive and then should be stocking soon.

 

[Steven w]

hii,

Nice build so far. Why are you gonna use so much sand?

With the finer sand it doesn’t seem to go as far depthwise as Arag does IMO. Also I’ve always thought it’s healthier to have a nice DSB for anerobic bacteria. Thanks for checking it out!

 

[zcedric]

With the finer sand it doesn’t seem to go as far depthwise as Arag does IMO. Also I’ve always thought it’s healthier to have a nice DSB for anerobic bacteria. Thanks for checking it out!

gotcha, following here. Nice rock work.

 

[Steven w]

Also should add that the tank is cycled from MarinePure spheres that are in the basket in one of the chambers in back. I use these in all my tanks to safety seed and swap out microfauna and establish new tanks along with Dr Tim’s ammonia chloride as food source for bacteria.

 

[Steven w]

Got the other light, tank went through small diatom stage like a breeze. Geared up a hefty clean up crew from Live Aquaria. Conches, tiny hermits, scarlet hermits, ceriths, astreas, trochus snails, and some transplanted stomatellas from my other system.

 

[Steven w]

This is a really neat product and it fit perfectly on my tank. It’s made by Finnex has a great gentle flow to it. I love the dividers and the way you can see into it. It even looks attractive on the tank. I added caulerpa and chaeto macro from another system that is teeming with pods. Hoping to add on either a mandarin or ruby red dragonette this Thursday. That’s it for now

 

[Jem45472]

Just noticed you hung yours off the side. Mines in back and wrapped in tape to block out light leakage.

 

[Steven w]

Just noticed you hung yours off the side. Mines in back and wrapped in tape to block out light leakage.

Yea I wasn’t really worried about light leakage. I can always black it out later if it’s a problem but don’t think it should be. Also I wanted the flow to have direct access into tank so pods don’t get lost into my skimmer or reactor.

 

[Steven w]

Making good progress, I’m going to use this disc for my zoas on the sand bed to try and contain the growth. It should also make a nice mosaic when they fully encrust and blend together.

 

[Steven w]

The nice thing about having the space in back behind the rocks is it allows for better background coral placement.

There are 3 caves one of which right now has this space invader lurking behind it. This not only gives the aggressive coral lots of space but also a cool exclusive look.



Thanks for looking!

 

[Naoxyn]

This is really awesome. I wanted to do a similar set up, but no one has shown hob refugiums like this (that I could find.) Really inspiring. I can't wait to see more progression.

Quick question: Why did you rinse the live sand?

 

[Steven w]

This is really awesome. I wanted to do a similar set up, but no one has shown hob refugiums like this (that I could find.) Really inspiring. I can't wait to see more progression.

Quick question: Why did you rinse the live sand?

Just to help filter out the really small particles and cloudiness. I didn’t do this previously with the oolite sand and the tank never seemed to get rid of it and was constantly in the filtration. Honestly this has been 100x better

 

[Steven w]

This is really awesome. I wanted to do a similar set up, but no one has shown hob refugiums like this (that I could find.)

Link for fuge https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00I8BREP...=9005468&hvtargid=pla-312497369661&th=1&psc=1

 

[Steven w]

Quick update on the tank, getting nice growth, stable levels going. Going to get the doser set up and start adding some more calcifying Corals into the fold.
With the hang on Fuge I’ve built up a booming pod population and added a mandarin. He started out in the fuge to acclimate and feed up before going into my display. After about a week I was able to train him to eat frozen brine and now a month later frozen mysis.
Thanks for looking