Nick711
Active Member
May 2023 EDIT: This thread may be closed. I opted to go with the EXT rather than AIO. Feel free to follow along in my other build thread. Thanks!
www.reef2reef.com
Hello all -
New to R2R, but have been lurking for some time. About 10 years ago, I had a 30g SW fish & inverts tank, but never had a chance to start a reef tank. My plan is to take this build / process relatively slow as highlighted throughout the below. Always open to feedback / suggestions!
Here is my current build plan:
Tank - IM Fusion Pro 2 NUVO AIO 40L
Stand - IM White APS
Return - MightyJet 538 GPH
Skimmer - Bubble Magus MiniQ
Lights - (2) AI Prime 16HD with 12” mounts
Power Heads - (2) Tunze Turbelle Nanosteam 6040
Heater - (2) 100W IM Helio Smart PTC w. Controller
UV - N/A (for now - will consider adding one if needed)
Filtration - IM media basket / InTank - bio balls, Chemipure / Carbon / GFO (as needed), fiber balls / floss TBD (not sure if I will use filter sock that comes with tank)
ATO - Duetto Dual Sensor ATO / Trigger Systems 5g res.
Rocks - 40lb Dry CaribSea South Sea
Sand - ~40lb Arag special grade dry (will rinse tap & rodi)
Testing - combo of Hanna, Tropic Marin, Salifert for most elements
RODI - AquaticLife 4-stage 100gpd + Smart Buddie booster pump
Livestock (long way from here, so haven’t given it too much thought):
(2) clowns (breed TBD)
(1) longnose hawkfish
(1-2) TBD… Blenny or captive Mandarin or Goby or ..?
CUC - snails, hermits, peppermint shrimp, copepods, etc.
Coral - TBD, but all of the beginner variety
I’m also weighing options for building good bacteria within rocks / sand (IPSF, Aquabiomics, etc.)
A few questions I have been contemplating:
1. Any reason to not add bio-balls to my cycle? I figured getting additional bacteria built up on those early could only help stabilize sooner. Added a dozen to cycle
2. I want to consider adding my CUC shortly after setting up my tank (rocks should be fully cycled already) - before any other livestock - and essentially ‘quarantine’ them in my DT for 76 days. Any downsides to this aside from the possibly difficultly of keeping them fed? (I could probably wait until I start seeing algae).
3. I would love to add an InTank refugium (+ IM ChaetoMax light) to one of my chambers, however, I’m hesitant to do it from the start until I can get my tank to settle / get a good grasp on my parameters. Any thoughts on adding one and/or timing of such?
4. I know a quarantine tank is highly recommended, but I was planning to purchase pre-quarantined fish from some of the highly reputable sources and carefully source quarantined corals (in addition to dipping) with the hopes I can avoid setting up a QT (at least initially). Obviously has the chance to backfire, and I know I will likely need a QT at some point, but did not have it in my initial plan. Feasible?
Lastly, thanks to the whole community for being so active and engaging - I’ve learned a ton over the past month simply reading various threads on R2R!
Build Thread - Innovative Marine 40L EXT Build - New Reefer
Starting a new build thread, as my previous plan was to go with an AIO configuration (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/innovative-marine-40l-aio-new-reefer-build.964711/ ), however, after deciding I’d like to have a sump w. refugium, I have opted for the IM 40L EXT build. Tank arrived today...
www.reef2reef.com
Hello all -
New to R2R, but have been lurking for some time. About 10 years ago, I had a 30g SW fish & inverts tank, but never had a chance to start a reef tank. My plan is to take this build / process relatively slow as highlighted throughout the below. Always open to feedback / suggestions!
Here is my current build plan:
Tank - IM Fusion Pro 2 NUVO AIO 40L
Stand - IM White APS
Return - MightyJet 538 GPH
Skimmer - Bubble Magus MiniQ
Lights - (2) AI Prime 16HD with 12” mounts
Power Heads - (2) Tunze Turbelle Nanosteam 6040
Heater - (2) 100W IM Helio Smart PTC w. Controller
UV - N/A (for now - will consider adding one if needed)
Filtration - IM media basket / InTank - bio balls, Chemipure / Carbon / GFO (as needed), fiber balls / floss TBD (not sure if I will use filter sock that comes with tank)
ATO - Duetto Dual Sensor ATO / Trigger Systems 5g res.
Rocks - 40lb Dry CaribSea South Sea
Sand - ~40lb Arag special grade dry (will rinse tap & rodi)
Testing - combo of Hanna, Tropic Marin, Salifert for most elements
RODI - AquaticLife 4-stage 100gpd + Smart Buddie booster pump
Livestock (long way from here, so haven’t given it too much thought):
(2) clowns (breed TBD)
(1) longnose hawkfish
(1-2) TBD… Blenny or captive Mandarin or Goby or ..?
CUC - snails, hermits, peppermint shrimp, copepods, etc.
Coral - TBD, but all of the beginner variety
I’m also weighing options for building good bacteria within rocks / sand (IPSF, Aquabiomics, etc.)
A few questions I have been contemplating:
2. I want to consider adding my CUC shortly after setting up my tank (rocks should be fully cycled already) - before any other livestock - and essentially ‘quarantine’ them in my DT for 76 days. Any downsides to this aside from the possibly difficultly of keeping them fed? (I could probably wait until I start seeing algae).
3. I would love to add an InTank refugium (+ IM ChaetoMax light) to one of my chambers, however, I’m hesitant to do it from the start until I can get my tank to settle / get a good grasp on my parameters. Any thoughts on adding one and/or timing of such?
4. I know a quarantine tank is highly recommended, but I was planning to purchase pre-quarantined fish from some of the highly reputable sources and carefully source quarantined corals (in addition to dipping) with the hopes I can avoid setting up a QT (at least initially). Obviously has the chance to backfire, and I know I will likely need a QT at some point, but did not have it in my initial plan. Feasible?
Lastly, thanks to the whole community for being so active and engaging - I’ve learned a ton over the past month simply reading various threads on R2R!
Last edited:
