Keith's IM Nuvo EXT 100

[Mike Kearns]

The tank has had water in it for 24 hrs. No leaks. I’m really happy about that. I still have to add a ball valve to the UV and then I’ll leak test it. Also, have to run the V8 and V2 together. Currently, I’m just testing flow and playing with the gate valve. What level should I keep the 2nd standpipe at? I have it set just above the lip, the water is almost silent this way. I'm sure the ideal/recommended overflow box water level varies. I just want it as quiet as possible. I do enjoy the light, therapeutic, water trickle sound so I may leave it as is. Occasionally, a few trickles of water will enter the emergency. Don't mind this at all. The filter sock silencers from @Mike Kearns are truly a godsend. The noise of the water entering the sock is loud. Without them, I'd be thoroughly annoyed, so thank you!. I’m thinking I’ll keep the V8 @ 2. The pump is too strong @ 3. Perhaps when it ages in a year or 2, I can turn it up. I’m at 800-900 gph @ 2. I’m cool with that. In the next few weeks, I plan on moving the tank back up against the wall, installing some equipment, and focusing on cable mgmt. Pics coming

Doesn't it feel great to have water running through it! I remember being excited and nervous the first time, and I did my test out in the garage lol. I try to keep my water level so it is barely trickling into the 2nd pipe. Any higher and it gurgles. Glad the filter socks silencers are working for you.

 

[coronarex]

Doesn't it feel great to have water running through it! I remember being excited and nervous the first time, and I did my test out in the garage lol. I try to keep my water level so it is barely trickling into the 2nd pipe. Any higher and it gurgles. Glad the filter socks silencers are working for you.

Thanks a lot Mike. It feels amazing! I'm very happy. I spent a lot of time and money on the plumbing and sump, so to have no issue is a great feeling.
I was just as nervous filling up the tank. I thought the water was gonna start overflowing onto the floor lol.
I'm going to keep playing with the gate valve. Every 30 min I go into the office and just listen. I did lower the water level a smidge. There are no more water bubbles but I still hear a faint gurgle. One could argue that it's silent but not to me lol, I'm gonna keep tweaking it. Where should the skimmer water level be? Seems like 8" is the lowest. Also what biological filtration should I go with? The bio brick (plate) from brightwell is about $40, out of stock though.

 

[Alexdiaz]

Great setup! Can't wait to see your plans for the aquascape

 

[Mike Kearns]

Thanks a lot Mike. It feels amazing! I'm very happy. I spent a lot of time and money on the plumbing and sump, so to have no issue is a great feeling.
I was just as nervous filling up the tank. I thought the water was gonna start overflowing onto the floor lol.
I'm going to keep playing with the gate valve. Every 30 min I go into the office and just listen. I did lower the water level a smidge. There are no more water bubbles but I still hear a faint gurgle. One could argue that it's silent but not to me lol, I'm gonna keep tweaking it. Where should the skimmer water level be? Seems like 8" is the lowest. Also what biological filtration should I go with? The bio brick (plate) from brightwell is about $40, out of stock though.

Skimmer water level depends on the skimmer. I have the Simplicity 120 DC and it likes between 7 and 9 inches. I have my sump water at 9.5 so bought cheap 1 inch high bio plates off of Amazon, more to adjust skimmer height than for bio filtration.

 

[coronarex]

What up guys!? I have seen a lot of people picking up the EXT100 and that makes me very excited. Here’s an update on my build. Tank is plumbed. UV is plumbed. Zero leaks. I sold the VARIOS 2 and picked up a VARIOS 6 to run the UV. This will allow me to run the pump @ a lower setting, probably 1. The V2 was running @ 5 to reach 400-500 gph, too loud at that speed for my liking. I recently picked up an Algae Free Hammerhead magnet. Highly recommend, perfect for the EXT100. I also decided on Maxspects Bio media for my choice of biological filtration, thought I’d give it a try. Right now, I am very busy with my internship and won’t be able to work on the tank until around Christmas. Wire mgmt will be the next focus. Stay safe fam!

 

[SPS2020]

Congrats on the progress!! Filling it up that first time is a huge PUCKER FACTOR! LOL

I found mine to be almost silent when I run more water through the second standpipe.

Regarding bio media, I went with Seachem Matrix. I like that I can put it in bags in the high flow section of the sump where the water has to pass over them in route to the return pump.

Best of luck with the internship!!

 

[coronarex]

Congrats on the progress!! Filling it up that first time is a huge PUCKER FACTOR! LOL

I found mine to be almost silent when I run more water through the second standpipe.

Regarding bio media, I went with Seachem Matrix. I like that I can put it in bags in the high flow section of the sump where the water has to pass over them in route to the return pump.

Best of luck with the internship!!

Thank you friend. I was running water thru the 2nd standpipe in a similar fashion but then went in the opposite direction with just a slight trickle. The trickle was quieter than the bubbles for me.
As far as media, I was consider that brand. I follow Parker’s Reef on YT, that’s why I went with this. I’ll bag it to start, May try and build a Elevated basket Of some sort.

 

[coronarex]

What’s up guys. Here’s a quick update. So, I went to take the skimmer off of the top of the desk and the fan was on. Skimmer went flyingggg. The collection cup was the only piece that I Had to replace. The base separated but I just glued it back with some acrylic cement. I applaud Dalua on the build quality of the skimmer Lol
I did hot glue the stainless steel screws on the pump, I don’t care how great of quality they are. They will rust. This is something I wouldn’t have noticed hadn’t the skimmer incident happened. Crazy. Currently, I am tackling cable mgmt. **** sucks lol I want things to look Clean and be easily Accessible So it’s taking some time. Ocd is kicking in too
I will be taking the Apex off of my 30 gallon soon and adding those pieces to the adaptive reef board which is truly truly amazing. I highly recommend. I went with the deluxe. The neat thing about this board is, it can really hold a lot of equipment. I’m pretty confident I can mount the eb832 and the eb8 and the brain, the apex display, and the ato controller, all of which aren’t pictured. I may put the ato display on the side vertically. I am using nekteck ext cords and a label maker to keep things clean. Another item I highly recommend, (this stuff is pure gold) would have to be this industrial strength velcro. It’s strong and very easy to use. Amazon. Let me know what you guys think. Much love
-Keith

 

[shoelaceike]

Hey, nice tank! I just ordered this and trying to figure out how to level it....from videos, it looks like the only area touching the floor are the 4 legs, is that right? Also, did you put a piece of plywood to support the sump? Thanks!

 

[shoelaceike]

Also, I saw you are using a pretty powerful return...do I need that? I have a 1600 gph pump on order....should get bigger?

 

[OlafsReef]

Ouch, bad new about the skimmer... Cable management is coming along well though, how do you plan to mount it inside the stand? I've been looking at using some of the innovative marine shelf brackets to secure mine.

 

[coronarex]

Hey, nice tank! I just ordered this and trying to figure out how to level it....from videos, it looks like the only area touching the floor are the 4 legs, is that right? Also, did you put a piece of plywood to support the sump? Thanks!

hey there. the stand itself is pretty flush with the floor, all the way around. i doubt you need to level. Is your floor already unleveled? if I needed to level the tank, I would use furniture wedges.
The tank will come with a board to rest your sump on. I took this to home depot and got a piece of thick plywood cut. The sump sits on both of these.
A pump rated for 1600 is perfect. One should expect flow to be cut in half with plumbing like this. So if you ran a V6, you prob be around 800 gph @ setting 5. you could run the pump @ setting 3 to get 400 gph. thats plenty imo.

 

[coronarex]

Ouch, bad new about the skimmer... Cable management is coming along well though, how do you plan to mount it inside the stand? I've been looking at using some of the innovative marine shelf brackets to secure mine.

I decided to mount it on the outside. simply bc its there. everything will be easier that way. and from a safety standpoint, this is safer.

 

[coronarex]

Skimmer cup is in and the tank is back against the wall. I was able to just slide it. Right now I'm cleaning the office bc there is literally **** everywhere!!! lol here's some pics, tank is coming along

 

[Mjl714]

Build is really looking good. The skimmer cup fix, looks like new, great work.

 

[coronarex]

Build is really looking good. The skimmer cup fix, looks like new, great work.

Thank you. The skimmer cup is brand new. It’s very nice. It shines lol

 

[Mjl714]

Thank you. The skimmer cup is brand new. It’s very nice. It shines lol

Oh, I thought you fixed the broken one.

 

[coronarex]

Oh, I thought you fixed the broken one.

no. i bought a new one from dalua

 

[shoelaceike]

Hey guys...I'm setting up tank right now...when it comes to shim placement, does it make sense to only shim the corners? They have those rubber feet on each corner so I assume all the weight goes there. Does that make sense or should I shim all around? If I shim around the tank and the feet compress, I will be left with stress areas in the middle of the tank....what do you think?

 

[coronarex]

Hey guys...I'm setting up tank right now...when it comes to shim placement, does it make sense to only shim the corners? They have those rubber feet on each corner so I assume all the weight goes there. Does that make sense or should I shim all around? If I shim around the tank and the feet compress, I will be left with stress areas in the middle of the tank....what do you think?

Which Side of the tank is unleveled? What are you using to measure that the tank is leveled? Which corner is unleveled? I would shim that corner and only that corner.