NUVO 112

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Had a Bio Cube for a long time and when I look at tanks I prefer a squarish tank. After I made the decision to get a new, and bigger tank, I saw the NUVO 112 and had to have it. I’ve rebuilt my Bio Cube a few times over the last decade and I was ready for something exciting and new. I’ve always wanted a fish/tank room and so this will be a nice centerpiece In my new fish room. I intend to reseal one of my Bio Cubes and get both of them up again along with my 55gal freshwater planted for my wife. The first thing I needed to do was level the floor. I used self leveler and made a base 5ft X 7ft.

E88BCEC5-E569-4303-AD6F-0EEF47F07581.jpeg 9309E0B3-53D9-41E2-8008-00AFB51E9D39.jpeg
 
Last edited:

James M

.
View Badges
Joined
Jul 6, 2018
Messages
9,190
Reaction score
12,752
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Following along. What’s your plans for the tank ?
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
My plan was to try my hand in some SPS and this will be my first reef tank with more than just a blenny or watchman goby. If I can‘t keep sticks I haven’t lost anything, but I’m setting myself up for success this time I think.
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The next thing I did was to put down the tile.
54E775A7-B852-443B-9D5C-A68FFF42CDB1.jpeg


Then I painted the fireplace black.
5592CA68-E672-4CF8-BFFD-7C63F8977CE7.jpeg

AAB3326A-B740-4AB2-A9ED-12AC9E9E3235.jpeg


Then I needed to put the stand together.
94A66D7E-42F0-4C9F-A642-E4CDB08C2A2E.jpeg
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Verticle aluminum supports would seem pretty hard to crush, does not swell up from a small amount of water and doesn’t rust. It’s concept and integrity are why I bought this stand and even the tank at all. I’ve so had it with MDF and wood and steel. I eventually built my own stand for one of my Bio Cubes out of butcher block and built a waterproof tray that the sump and fuge sit in.
This stand had instructions which didn’t live up to my standards and added some frustration. when I finished I had an extra piece which confused me, so I had to call because I couldn’t find anything on the stand really on forums or YouTube. My advice for a quick installation is to measure and mark the centerline of each crossmember and support and measure the location spacing so you won’t have to fiddle with the piece shifting ever so minute but critically. It took myself, my wife, and my brother a long time relocating and remeasuring, then taking apart to add that 4th crossmember. Imagine 3 two year olds building a dog house. You go to tighten one fastener and it shifts and your brother is trying to hold it still while your wife keeps handing you the tool, rubber mallet, tool, marker, measuring tape. You know, good family time.
85159318-FAB5-4214-BFEF-89F8C238D185.jpeg


I’m told that each fastener is rated at 300lds. The doors went on by using a gentle tap with the rubber mallet and tightening a couple screws after adjusting just right.
B19AA700-B4B0-420C-A9EB-4CD1E97A578A.jpeg
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Then came the aquarium. It came packaged extremely well. In fact, when it came time to transport the tank to my basement which was “not” easy, I placed the foam and boards etc back in the crate and re-closed the wood top and fasteners and removed the base of the pallet. (Carefully) I bent the nails over so as not to push them into the glass bottom. Then I removed the door and the hand rails from the stairs to allow room and I got lucky because if it had been much bigger I couldn’t have fit it down the stairs.
ADE7CBFC-5306-4AB7-93F5-472FA951E8CB.jpeg


10C276A7-5B90-4D20-8F99-6068D2388E09.jpeg

I was going to build a ramp with carpet and toe boards but was motivated by another Reef2Reef members post and also my brothers grief at the thought of the amount of hassle that would add. I say we, but mostly my brother handled most of the trip down to the basement. VERY STRESSFUL! I was elated to get it down there.
DCB27FFB-05BA-445B-A16A-2590BCA161D6.jpeg

SOOO exciting. That’s a big cube.
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
STUFF LIST:
For light I went with Metal Halide. I got the 250w and 400w Radium with 20” Hamilton Cozumel Sun to give myself options.
I also got the Apex dream bundle, Neptune PAR sensor, ATK V2, COR-15 Return and WAV pumps. For the skimmer I went with the Maxspect AD600. Ooh La la. For the Sump I went with the Bashea SMS 3018. Which fits beautifully.
11B03FE0-549F-4EE1-BB40-20B1B8924B67.jpeg
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
The PVC board didn't seem that sturdy laid across the 4 crossmembers. I emailed Bashea about whether the sump would be supported adequately this way and they were pretty adamant that it would need to be supported entirely across the bottom and said that otherwise pressure points could cause issues, if not now, down the road. Everything needs customization and fabrication to some degree. I just can't escape it. LOL.. It took a long time to come up with a solution, but I finally ended up using 1/2 cement board and 3 layers of vinyl to match exactly the thickness of the crossmembers which I believe was .60" or .63". I Can't recall now.

IMG_7386.jpg

I placed two 1" pieces of PVC along the left side and two 3/4" pieces along the back side, so that positioning the sump is simple and precise. Everything will be hard plumbed and that requires precise placement and I don't want to deal with alignment issues. I marked the PVC board where the edge of the sump would sit to allow for a door of sorts to be lifted to clean up any water which will at some point end up below the PVC board.

IMG_7402.jpg

IMG_8809.jpg

The sump had to be turned onto its side to fit through the front, then turned while holding it above the frame on the sides, and then flipped back upright into position. I wouldn't have been able to fit a bigger sump in here, it's tight..

IMG_7400.jpg
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Then came the plumbing. This was very nerve racking. When you've got numerous pieces that are pre-measured and fitted and you're 3 cemented pieces into it, a mistake can be detrimental and really expensive. Internal plumbing is a little harder because space is limited and you sort of have to go with the only option that works from all aspects. I turned my head for a second and didn't notice one joint push out while I was holding it together. This happened a couple of times, making me an 1/8" off. You need to stare at the joint the hole time you're holding it, because you can't correct it.

IMG_7403.jpg

I had a hard time getting it all worked out. There are a lot more variables than would seem. I ended up forgetting a union above the gate valve. Whoops. Below was how I had originally planned it out. It ended up different though. Because of ball valve and union placement, I was forced to do something different.

IMG_7327.jpg

This is what I ended up with....
IMG_7434.jpg

This is the best I could do to keep as much pipe out of the way of the skimmer and openings over the sump. I ended up having to turn the return pump around to get the right angle. The return is 3/4 and the COR 15 comes with a 1 1/4 union which I put a reducer down to 1" which complies with my WEIR check valve, 1" flow meter, and 1" ball valve, then reduced to 3/4 right at the bulkhead.
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I spent way too much time thinking about the overflows etc. The PVC included wasn't familiar and I imagined modification to them would be necissary. I had wasted my time. When I filled it up and fired it up the overflow was so simple and everything was so effortless I couldn't believe it. In less than 5 minutes everything was balanced using the gate valve and super quiet.
IMG_7509.jpg
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Then I noticed that the tank wasn't level and this was very hard to swallow. Devastating. I was very angry.
IMG_8363.jpg IMG_8364.jpg IMG_8362.jpg
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I had used self leveling concrete. Just to make sure the floor wasn't bowing from the weight of the tank, I hung a weight from the ceiling and then refilled the tank. The floor did not bow. Self leveling concrete is not self leveling.

IMG_8358.jpg

I had to tear the flooring up and start all over. I was very discouraged, but knew it had to be done. I had thought I was so meticulous and precise. NOPE. But now I would be. I re-primed the first layer and purchased a laser leveler. IMG_8501.jpg IMG_8502.jpg
I placed nails in the 4 points that outlined the tank location and used white out to mark what would be level so I could work quickly. I mixed two 5 gallon buckets at the same time which I had calculated as 3/4" that my math said would be just about right for the varience of the uneven area on the floor. I used a lawn thatcher to rake the cement and work it into level. I was sweating profusely by the time the floor started to set up. My wife was a huge help during this process too. She helped with everything including tearing up the previous floor. IMG_8508.jpg
As the floor was firming I kept running around the perimeter with a piece of PVC marked to check level. Here are the photos showing that all 4 points are at the precise same level. I wasn't doing this again.
IMG_8513.jpg IMG_8514.jpg IMG_8515.jpg

Thank god! These photos were taken the following morning. Time to redo the floor.
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Floor redone. Sump supports, sealing the cement this time. IMG_8693.jpg
Start putting together my control board. IMG_8730.jpg IMG_8746.jpg IMG_8764.jpg
The control board sits behind the stand in front of the fireplace mantle opening and this is where I keep my ballast and such hidden behind.
IMG_8770.jpg IMG_8762.jpg
The skimmer is going nutty. LOL
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
In case of issues with heat, I placed insulation over the supports in the sealing that my Metal Halide would hang from.
IMG_7543.jpg IMG_7545.jpg
I arranged my rock and after placing the egg crate sand and crushed coral etc. I have 3 separate viewing angles with this cube. It's like three separate landscapes. IMG_8697.jpg IMG_8705.jpg IMG_8702.jpg IMG_8907.jpg
 
OP
OP
Butcher333

Butcher333

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 22, 2020
Messages
304
Reaction score
238
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Stage 1 of build complete for the most part. These photos were taken June 23rd.

IMG_8835.jpg
IMG_8834.jpg IMG_8829.jpg

I find it really hard to do a build thread, but someone might be inspired or learn from one of my mistakes or ideas. I've since this time finished (drywalled, not painted) the walls of my tank room and tropical hangout. There is so much more to add and so much more to complete.
 
Back
Top