Innovative Marine EXT 200 Build Thread

[NashReef]

Well, it’s been just over a year since I entered this hobby and my tank has been wet for about 9 months now. I suppose now is the time to start sharing my journey. Big shout out to the Reef2Reef community for the warm welcome and support, to @cilyjr for being there to lend a hand and answer all my newbie questions (he even started me off with my first corals and a finger nail sized hitchhiker RBTA that now sits on the throne), to Ryan @seriousreefs for all the educational videos, and to Kent & Sherry over at Reef By Steele for supplying me with quality copepods + phytoplankton to help me battle my dinos and prepare for my mandarin fish pair. This hobby is truly something special and I hope to be here for years to come, so thanks to this awesome community who makes it all possible and better yet, enjoyable. I am just getting started!

Tank:
Innovative Marine EXT 200 Gallon Complete Reef System w/NUVO APS stand (black)

Sump/Filtration:
NUVO RFS-50 Acrylic Sump - 74 Gallon Capacity
Filter Media Cups w/Polly-fil
Simplicity 240DC Protein Skimmer
Aqua Ultraviolet Classic UV - 57 Watt
Polyplab Genesis Blocks
Refugium - Chaetomorpha w/IM ChaetoMax Light
BRS Deluxe GFO Reactor

Lights:
(2) Kessil A500X Tuna Blue
(1) Radion XR30 Pro G6
(2) AquaIllumination Blade Coral Glow
(1) IM ChaetoMax - Refugium

Pumps/Other Equipment:
IM MightyJet XL 2656 GPH DC Return Pump
(2) EcoTech Marine VorTech MP40mQD
IM Helio 700 Watt PTC Smart Heater
Avast Marine Works “The Parrot” ATO System
BRS Universal CO2 Scrubber

Food/Suplements:
PE Frozen Mysis
Rod’s Food Original/Herbivore Blend
TDO Chroma Boost
Hikari Seaweed Extreme
Hydrospace PNS ProBio
Brightwell Aquatics MicroBacter7
Reef By Steele Coral Delight Phytoplankton

Salt/Additives:
Tropic Marin Pro Reef Salt
Tropic Marin All-For-Reef
BRS Two Part

Aquascape:
Marco Rock Reef Saver + Hybrid
Tampa Bay Saltwater Ultra Live Sand
CaribSea Fiji Pink Sand
CaribSea Special Grade Sand
CaribSea Ocean Direct Sand

Fish/Inverts:
Ocellaris Clowfish Pair - Gladiators
Yasha Goby + Randall’s Pistol Shrimp
Yellow Watchman Goby + Tiger Pistol Shrimp
Tailspot Blenny
Tiger/Strawberry Conchs
Nassarius Vibex Snails
Cerith Snails
African Cerith Snails
Green Porcelain Crabs
Spotted/Anemone Crab
Trochus Snails
Astrea Snails
Peppermint Shimp
Cleaner Shrimp
Mexican Turbo Snails
Feather Dusters

Corals:
Green Duncan
Seasons Greeting Montipora
Rose Bubble Tip Anemone
Spitfire Leptastrea
Jack-O-Lantern Leptoseris
Metallic Green Rhodactis Mushroom
Super Orange Ricordea Yuma Mushroom
Reverse Purple Ricordea Yuma Mushroom
Green Cabbage Leather
Yellow Eye Favia
Holy Grail Micromusa
Various Zoanthus

My Goal is to add a controller with some dosing pumps to get a good pulse/rhythm with stability. After running this system by hand (all water changes, testing, & dosing) I have a decent feel of the tank. I did let nutrients bottom out about my 4th month (newbie rite of passage) and Dinos took ahold of my system. I added some Dr Tims Eco Balance along with Reef By Steele Coral Delight Phyto & Dino Destoyer Copepods, and my tank has appeared to have rebounded for the better. I am now starting to dose PNS ProBio as I’ve heard nothing but great things and my system appears to be enjoying it. I also have some more peaceful fish coming this week. I plan to add some more utilitarian fish as well as tangs, wrasses, and a mandarin pair from biota. I’m starting with all beginner fish and corals but I envision this tank to be SPS dominant.

Any and all advice/critique is welcome as this is my first saltwater rodeo. Follow along, future updates to come. Thanks!

 

[fishface NJ]

Congratulations on a nice setup.

 

[NashReef]

Congratulations on a nice setup.

Thank you

 

[cilyjr]

Let's get some under the hood pictures.

 

[Daasmo]

I'm expecting this tank to be delivered next month so I'll be following. How do you like your lighting setup? I'll be needing new lights.

 

[NashReef]

Time for a peep under the hood. Always a work in progress. We are looking at the IM Nuvo RSF50 sump.

Drain pipes run into the first chamber which holds two titanium heater elements (IM Helios) then overflows into three filter media cups. I am considering converting 1 or 2 of the media cups into a cryptic/semi-cryptic zone with rubble rock inside the cups. If I do convert the 2nd and 3rd cup into cryptic zones I would make them permanent and never to be disturbed. I have already blacked out that corner of the sump with ABS boards because right after the filter cups (skimmer chamber) I have several Polyplab Genesis blocks with other porous media. The idea is an attempt to create at least a semi-cryptic zone to help process dissolved organic compounds (DOC). I will be installing ABS boards to create a back wall on this half of the sump as well because I do get a bit of ambient light from the window behind the tank. I also have a co2 scrubber and a GFO/Carbon reactor in this chamber. GFO/Carbon reactor flows into refugium chamber.

After the skimmer chamber I am running a refugium with live rock from an established reef tank (thanks @cilyjr), and chaetomorpha. Also have a small copepod hotel in there but it doesn’t seem to be very effective.

Last chamber is where my return pump, heater temp probe, and ATO lives. I have my UV (laying on the floor behind tank) plumped right into the return line. If I did the math correctly, I have the perfect amount of flow for Protozoa sterilization with tank turnover about 3-5x. I do plan on installing flow meters.

Most of my controllers are mounted on my adaptive reef controller board except for one mp40 driver that can’t reach that side. I will eventually find a home for it even if it means installing another board. Cables are a bit messy right now but I plan on straightening that out with cable raceways. Hopefully I’ll be installing a controller with dosing pumps soon! Still deciding between Apex and Hydros.

All thoughts, questions, or critique is welcome!

 

[NashReef]

I'm expecting this tank to be delivered next month so I'll be following. How do you like your lighting setup? I'll be needing new lights.

I really like the lights. Especially the AI blades and the XR30 pro. I might reconsider the Kessil A500x’s because although it has good diffusion, spectrum, and par - the source is more of a spotlight type. I would probably recommend it if you need more of a punch on a deeper tank. I am considering adding AI blades grows (currently have glows) for more coverage when getting into more sps. I’ve also heard a lot of good things about the Reefi Uno 2.1 lights.

 

[cilyjr]

When your battery backups wear out, don't throw them out. Talk to me. I'll show you how to replace the battery with a LiFePo4. It's lighter and gets longer life when it's done

 

[NashReef]

When your battery backups wear out, don't throw them out. Talk to me. I'll show you how to replace the battery with a LiFePo4. It's lighter and gets longer life when it's done

Sounds like a plan

 

[Skibi]

Nice build following along also like your light setup you got been trying to figure out what direction i want to go on mine.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Following along!

 

[DmitryB]

Question about under the hood. Your sump is the RFS-50 and the width of the stand is 30, same as the 170 INT system. IM tells me there is only 5.5'' of space between the sump and the doors, but in your photos there is a lot more free space than that! I'm confused! If the width measurements between 200 and 170 are the same and the sumps are the same.... How are you fitting all that stuff in the 5.5'' of space??

 

[NashReef]

Question about under the hood. Your sump is the RFS-50 and the width of the stand is 30, same as the 170 INT system. IM tells me there is only 5.5'' of space between the sump and the doors, but in your photos there is a lot more free space than that! I'm confused! If the width measurements between 200 and 170 are the same and the sumps are the same.... How are you fitting all that stuff in the 5.5'' of space??

I have approx 7.5” in the front and 8.5” on the sides.

From IM website:

 

[DmitryB]

Weird those are the same measurements or the sump... I guess I'll see what it looks like once I get my stand!