Coming Back - Nuvo 20 Gallon

Leiph86

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Reef2Reef is a recent discovery, I wish I had this when I reefed several years ago. Previously I lived in Dallas/Fort Worth Texas and had evolved up to a CAD Lights 68 Gallon Versa Series Aquarium that I had to let go due to a work relocation to the Greater Detroit Michigan area (side note, I would NOT recommend that brand). I tried to stay away. I fought it for a year and half. And then I went on a cruise where I went scuba diving for the first time ever and I realized how much I missed the biodiversity of the ocean. Fast forward a couple months later and rather than go big kahuna right away I decided to get a smaller tank that I could convert to a quarantine tank once I get what I really want (Red Sea 350 or XL 425). Enter my humble restart that is designed to be cost conscious while also incorporating some components that I hope to move to my larger tank when I purchase and set that bad boy up. I hope to share some of my learning over the years and want to thank everyone who has a build thread as I received a lot of inspiration there. Let's start with the lists!

Equipment List:

Tank: Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 20 Gallon w/Double Spinstreams

Cabinet: Ikea Sektion Base Cabinets w/MDF Custom Top

Light: (Undecided which to use) 1) Hipargero 30W LED OR 2) Kessil a360X Refugium Light (Please help me decide based upon my reasoning and thread here - Kessil Refuge Light vs Hipargero )

Rock: 20lbs. MarcoRocks Reef Saver Aquarium Dry Live Rock

Sand: Caribsea Aragalive Special Grade Reef Sand

Skimmer: Innovative Marine Desktop Nuvoskim (DC)

Monitoring: Neptune ApexEL BRS Special Edition

Power: TP-Link Kasa Wifi Smart Power Strip (6 Ports + 3 USB)

Heater: Eheim Jager 75w

ATO: AutoAqua Smart ATO Micro

Flow: Undecided - Most likely either the IM Aqua Gadget Desktop OR the Tunze Nano Stream 6025; happy to get input (budget 100 or less ideally)

RO/DI: BRS 5 Stage Premium Plus System

UV: Undecided, might add on in the future but would rather wait for the bigger tank...


Livestock:

Ocellaris Clownfish x2

Eventually...
Form of Wrase
Blenny (most likely Lawnmower)
Who knows what else...

Primarily Softies and maybe some LPS for this tank, again, undecided on all options for this at the moment.


Additional posts coming below for pictures and the beginning of the building process!
 
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Leiph86

Leiph86

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So for the stand on this I really wanted white as my future Red Sea Reefer would also have a white stand. I came across a suggestion for using the Ikea Sektion kitchen cabinets, which ironically, matches my entire kitchen in my home. I selected two 15" deep, 12" wide cabinets to ensure I have additional stability with the middle wall to prevent the cabinet top from bowing. The Sektion cabinet back panel already comes with 2 pre-cut holes which is designed for wall mounting hardware; I cut additional small cable holes as well to have plenty of cable access on both sides of the cabinet.

The tank will be situated next to a sideboard buffet in my dining room which is open to the kitchen as well. Here are some pictures of the constructed product without the cabinet top as I am wrapping up painting on that today. Additionally, even though I do not have a the Neptune Apex Energy Bar at this time I went ahead and checked out how much room it would take by attaching the template (it will replace my TP-Link Kasa Wifi Smart Power Strip when I am ready to drop another $250 bucks) . Additionally, the 3 gallon trash can is what I plan on using for an ATO reservoir for now.

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Leiph86

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Next is my aquascape. Using the MarcoRocks Reef Saver Aquarium Dry Live Rock ordered from Bulk Reef Supply. I originally ordered 25 lbs. as I now from past tanks I've owned its always nice to have a little extra rock lying around because you may not like a piece you get or eventually it will be used in an upgraded tank. This is the scape I settled on as it will give plenty of coral growth room at the top of the tank while have both depth and various heights. It is definitely more challenging to scape on a smaller tank... The last picture are the extra pieces I won't be using, one of which would take up 1/2 of the tank by itself!

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dreamcatcherr9

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Looks sweet! I started a Nuvo 20 at the beginning of the year. I didn’t use a stand, yours looks very nice. You’ll love the tank.

I upgraded the stock pump to the next model up (Mightyjet 538). Esshops Nano skimmer, IM bio media reactor (with bio pellots), IM UV sterilizer (also Chemipure, Purigen and filter floss in media basket). 2 tetra pre set heaters (I have had good success over the years with them). I have 2 water pumps for flow, a standard hydro and a Aqamai wavemaker for adjustability. Tunze nano ATO. I used over 30lbs Caribsea life rock, but some will be moved eventually

My lights are 2 AI primes, I love them. No corals yet. 1 clown fish, 2 small dwarf angels and a clean up crew. Great little tank so far. I’ll go start buying some coral as soon as I can extra$ to spend.

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Leiph86

Leiph86

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Looks sweet! I started a Nuvo 20 at the beginning of the year. I didn’t use a stand, yours looks very nice. You’ll love the tank.

I upgraded the stock pump to the next model up (Mightyjet 538). Esshops Nano skimmer, IM bio media reactor (with bio pellots), IM UV sterilizer (also Chemipure, Purigen and filter floss in media basket). 2 tetra pre set heaters (I have had good success over the years with them). I have 2 water pumps for flow, a standard hydro and a Aqamai wavemaker for adjustability. Tunze nano ATO. I used over 30lbs Caribsea life rock, but some will be moved eventually

My lights are 2 AI primes, I love them. No corals yet. 1 clown fish, 2 small dwarf angels and a clean up crew. Great little tank so far. I’ll go start buying some coral as soon as I can extra$ to spend.

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@dreamcatcherr9 Wow thank you for the detailed response! I'm actually interested on why you upgraded to the Mightyjet 538 - did you try the MightyJet 326 that came included? Was it not enough flow? I also considered this upgrade but wanted to try out what it came with first.

I plan on running carbon and GFO in the caddy - I've used Purigen in previous tanks and never really felt like it helped all that much...

For the Esshopps Skimmer - I've looked at that as a possibility. How it working out for you? Any overflows or difficulty cleaning? Can you snap a picture to show how much over the top of the tank it shows?

Side note, I really enjoy the aquascape you came up with - it really fills in the tank very nicely!
 

dreamcatcherr9

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@dreamcatcherr9 Wow thank you for the detailed response! I'm actually interested on why you upgraded to the Mightyjet 538 - did you try the MightyJet 326 that came included? Was it not enough flow? I also considered this upgrade but wanted to try out what it came with first.

I plan on running carbon and GFO in the caddy - I've used Purigen in previous tanks and never really felt like it helped all that much...

For the Esshopps Skimmer - I've looked at that as a possibility. How it working out for you? Any overflows or difficulty cleaning? Can you snap a picture to show how much over the top of the tank it shows?

Side note, I really enjoy the aquascape you came up with - it really fills in the tank very nicely!
I didn’t try the stock pump, from previous experience with a bio cube, I felt stock pumps only provide bar minimum (just an opinion). I would rather have the adjustability then run the stock pump at 100% all the time (which is what I expected).

20 gallon tank x20 times turn over is 400gph. Since return pumps never measure up you the labeled gph, I figured it wouldn’t hurt. It fits in the chamber perfect with no extra noise or vibration (I was worried about that, at first it did make some noise, but then settled to silence). I only hear my ATO kick on occasionally.

The esshops skimmer is good so far. Some days it pulls waste like crazy, others days I have to check to make sure it’s working because nothing coming out (it’s working, I just paranoid). Has not overflowed (and if it did, it would go back into tank, so not to worried). But no issues there, running smoothly. Tends work work harder when something changes (feeding, water change, etc).

Glad I could share. Super fun and addictive hobby.

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Leiph86

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Stand is finished, top is attached and Neptune Apex is mounted. MightyJet controller attached. About to attach wifi power strip with some Velcro. Making the water for the tank, should be able to mix saltwater and fill this sucker up tomorrow!

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Leiph86

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It would have been a late post but got the sand and rock in the tank and most things mounted. Today is cable management while the saltwater is mixing!
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Leiph86

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Finally got the mixed saltwater in the tank, parameters are looking great. Using MicroBacter StartXLM and have my first two new friends - Arthur and Merlin! Pics to come soon once they get more comfortable.
 
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Leiph86

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How did cable management go?

@dreamcatcherr9 - I spent the day yesterday grocery shopping so cable management will happen today or tomorrow. I also will take some updated picture as the water should be clear once I'm home from the office today. Somehow I was able to still get my new pets in all this crazy!
 
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Leiph86

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Got a couple pics with the water all cleared up and the new tank mates in. Today after work should be able to work underneath the hood and get some of those cables organized! First heater I ordered was too long so waiting for my Jager 75w to arrive this week. In the meantime I threw in a 300w from my old tank and it's working like a charm even though it's a bit unsightly...

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Hyde2406

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Got a couple pics with the water all cleared up and the new tank mates in. Today after work should be able to work underneath the hood and get some of those cables organized! First heater I ordered was too long so waiting for my Jager 75w to arrive this week. In the meantime I threw in a 300w from my old tank and it's working like a charm even though it's a bit unsightly...

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Love the ikea cabinet it looks great!
 
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Leiph86

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Good morning all - it's been a few months and everything is cycled, a few corals have been added (Pulsing Xenia - I know it's a weed but I love the movement, GSP, a Green tipped hammer coral, Aussie Acros, and a montipora with little blue polyps). I'm glad I didn't mount anything as I purchased about 14 frags this weekend during the WWC coral craze and will be updating the thread once I get those in the tank. Also, in addition to the two original clown fish I have added a small clean up crew and a small Starry Blenny - one of my favorite fish. I am also now using the Kessil a360X Refugium light that I won in a BRS giveaway on the blue setting at about 50% intensity and the corals seem to really like it!
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Leiph86

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It's a special day - yesterday I got my shipment in of 14 frags from @WWC and they are in the tank! To be honest these guys are a bit smaller than I'm used to but everything is fantastic from the packing, inserts to the box with instructions and of course, the corals themselves (frag plugs are about the size of a penny and my LFS typically does quarter sized frag plugs).

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Leiph86

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Two months after adding new frags. Unfortunately the single duncan head did not make it and two of my corals bleached out for a couple days but now are regaining their color. Also have added a 6 line wrasse who is a little shy today (but the starry blenny was very excited to be on camera. Great growth on one of the birdsnest, zoas, hammer coral (early in the day so it's still waking up), and the red blasto is showing new heads when it shrivels up at night! You can also see that I was able to get some of the corals mounted but wanted to allow room for growth. Planning on keeping the slow growers on the rack for now.

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A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 73 37.8%
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  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

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