IM Nuvo EXT 100 SPS2020 Build

[SPS2020]

Hello All!

Just starting the journey of setting up a 100 gallon Innovative Marine EXT. The crate and contents arrived undamaged from CA to NC...yay!

 

[Mjl714]

Looking like a great build start. I’ll be following...

 

[SPS2020]

The APS stand is nice. There was something in one of the door channels which I chiseled out with a screwdriver. Discovered a couple of wear marks, but I touched up with a Sharpie. The instructions are vague and you will probably find yourself going back over a few areas...or was it just me!?

Note that the panels in the stand are NOT glass, they are plexiGlass. I thought I saw in another thread where someone mentioned they were glass. That would have been a very nice touch and I admit I was slightly disappointed, but since these ship from China, it is understandable.

 

[SPS2020]

Like others have posted, there is not enough support in the bottom of the stand for a sump, so you will want to cut a piece of plywood. Initially, I used the IM crate and glued two pieces together, but they didn't play nice together with glue and clamps so I got some 1/2" cabinet grade ply instead. Will have that installed tomorrow.

 

[SPS2020]

Looking like a great build start. I’ll be following...

Thanks! Breaking down a 65 gallon acrylic that I just completely rebuilt...and then decided to go bigger. LOL

 

[SPS2020]

The issue at present is how to pick up a 237 pound tank and take it through the house (ranch). If it were not so low to the ground, I'd feel better about lifting with two people. Thinking about my poor back! LOL The goal is to move it from the pallet to stand tomorrow. Buying beer and calling friends!

Update: I never mentioned that one other person and myself were able to lift the tank without too much trouble. My friend spotted a "creeper" on my garage wall and we threw a piece of plywood on top and used that as a dolly to maneuver the tank through the house. Then lifted again onto the stand.

 

[SPS2020]

Some up close pictures of the weir. I had wanted to see this area previously, but saw no posts really provide detail.

The entire back is black acrylic siliconed to the glass.



The back glass is nicely cut in a long U shape and the acrylic is in front.

 

[SPS2020]

Black silicone is very smoothly applied and looks nice...for now. We'll see how this holds up through the years.

There's no silicone on my acrylic tank and rounded front corners, so this is a different experience. Existing tank has been up for around 10 years until the recent breakdown and rebuild a few months ago.

 

[Mjl714]

Thanks! Breaking down a 65 gallon acrylic that I just completely rebuilt...and then decided to go bigger. LOL

Good choice, I have a 75 gal and a IM 30l, and really like the IM, and your 100gal looks beautiful. Appreciate the photos of the back Weir (entire back panel of acrylinc inside the glass), etc. Good luck lifting and moving tank into place.

 

[garyfri]

So you think the bottom i not strong enough to hold a sump? kind of disappointed in that. i got the 200 ext coming later.

 

[Mjl714]

So you think the bottom i not strong enough to hold a sump? kind of disappointed in that. i got the 200 ext coming later.

I agree that is disappointing.

 

[SPS2020]

So you think the bottom i not strong enough to hold a sump? kind of disappointed in that. i got the 200 ext coming later.

I agree that is disappointing.

No, the bottom is strong enough to hold a sump. The issue is there are three cross members spaced evenly across the length of the stand. IM provides a 1\4" piece of black plastic material to cover the bottom which flexes quite a bit if any weight is placed toward each end. Let's say you put a 5 pound CO2 tank (note this weighs much more than five pounds) on one end...that will definitely flex. So, the ply is just for even support across the entire span.

 

[SPS2020]

There was an "extra" piece of black plywood or maybe mdf with a ply finish which was included with the stand. I have no idea where this goes. There were also four extra cam locks which I don't see a specific place they would go unless they're just spares. The instructions mention nothing about either of these.

Here's a pic of the board. I'll call IM to find out more. If it is not to be used, I'll use it to mount the Apex, etc. It was not large enough to use on the bottom for sump support.

 

[revhtree]

Welcome and glad to have you here! Congrats on the new tank!

 

[SPS2020]

Welcome and glad to have you here! Congrats on the new tank!

Thank you! Looking forward to sharing pictures and ideas to hopefully help others along the way.

 

[SPS2020]

The 1200-1400 pounds of reef tank in my bedroom...adjacent to my 60 gallon reef tank on another load bearing wall had me concerned. Here is an article with very useful information which I found on this site:

http://www.african-cichlid.com/Structure.htm

Another source via video:

 

[DeniseAndy]

Good luck. It will be wonderful to see it up and running.

 

[SPS2020]

Good luck. It will be wonderful to see it up and running.

Thank you!

 

[garyfri]

There was an "extra" piece of black plywood or maybe mdf with a ply finish which was included with the stand. I have no idea where this goes. There were also four extra cam locks which I don't see a specific place they would go unless they're just spares. The instructions mention nothing about either of these.

Here's a pic of the board. I'll call IM to find out more. If it is not to be used, I'll use it to mount the Apex, etc. It was not large enough to use on the bottom for sump support.

interesting. So i guess no direction. Let us know.

 

[Mjl714]

The 1200-1400 pounds of reef tank in my bedroom...adjacent to my 60 gallon reef tank on another load bearing wall had me concerned. Here is an article with very useful information which I found on this site:

http://www.african-cichlid.com/Structure.htm

Another source via video:

Thanks for this link, very interesting read.