Nuvo 20: Halide Power

Jacked Reefer · Jul 9, 2019

I did it guys.
I finally stopped talking about and planning my next tank and just bought one.
It may not be the biggest, prettiest, or even most creative build thread but I want to be able to document it on this website that I know and love.
So a bit of a backstory: I became interested in reefing about a year ago. And by September I caved and converted my 10 gallon freshwater into a reef. I didn’t have a job then so I spent less than 200 dollars to set it up. I did add small upgrades through time. Such as switching to metal halides from black box leds. But it never really was fun for me because of the budget restrictions at the beginning.
But today, On my weekly LFS visit, I saw her. A slightly used IM nuvo 20. Equipped with filter media racks and a dirty glass. I decided to do what any good man would do took it home for a nice cleaning. There does appear to be a scratch on that the front glass but its not that distracting.
So stay tuned for my upgrade from this

To this

Stay tuned!

count krunk · Jul 9, 2019

what halide are you using?

Jacked Reefer · Jul 9, 2019

count krunk said:
what halide are you using?

The bulb is a 150w double ended 14k phoenix. I forget the fixture but I don’t believe that matters too much. I bought it from someone here on r2r.
Edit: it is also in the plans to find a 20k that I like or add an LED bar for pop. I’m gonna try making this a sps tank and I want to pull crazy colors, and the best growth I can get in a 20 gallon.

count krunk · Jul 9, 2019

I have a mogul 175w halide 14k I have been going back and forth on with my 40.

I am going to do a little experiment of sorts and do 175w halide on one side and a black box LED on the other.

NY_Caveman · Jul 9, 2019

Nice upgrade! That will be a ton of light for that tank.

Jacked Reefer · Jul 9, 2019

count krunk said:
I have a mogul 175w halide 14k I have been going back and forth on with my 40.

I am going to do a little experiment of sorts and do 175w halide on one side and a black box LED on the other.

I love my halide. Every coral it doesn't slaughter grows like crazy. I'm hoping that with better filtration and bigger volume will make this tank better for SPS.

NY_Caveman said:
Nice upgrade! That will be a ton of light for that tank.

Why thank you! That's the point really. The theme of this tank is overkill, I'm gonna try pushing over 100x flow and make it an insane sps system.

NY_Caveman · Jul 10, 2019

Kayden Hutchings said:
I love my halide. Every coral it doesn't slaughter grows like crazy. I'm hoping that with better filtration and bigger volume will make this tank better for SPS.

Why thank you! That's the point really. The theme of this tank is overkill, I'm gonna try pushing over 100x flow and make it an insane sps system.

You may need a chiller more than a heater, LOL.

Jacked Reefer · Jul 10, 2019

NY_Caveman said:
You may need a chiller more than a heater, LOL.

I will be running the light pretty far from the water. And I’m hoping that a lot of surface disturbance and fans will be able to combat the heat.

count krunk · Jul 10, 2019

i think if you hang it 10-14" you will be fine. Esp with a fan.

Jacked Reefer · Jul 23, 2019

Been building a stand for the past two hours. Here’s the outcome.

I jumped around on it a bit and I’m sure it will take 200+ pounds of live weight just fine. Will be painting it a nice white tomorrow

Jacked Reefer · Jul 27, 2019

Tank and stand in place. (Almost).

Next Week I’m going to move all my current stock to a qt tank. Put this tank where my ten gallon is and move everything I want in. Keep an eye on the livestock classifieds for some Acans, Zoas and a mushroom.

Jacked Reefer · Aug 23, 2019

Temporary holding tank is getting salt water as we speak. Decided to take some pics this afternoon before everything got irritated.

Katrina71 · Aug 23, 2019

count krunk said:
I have a mogul 175w halide 14k I have been going back and forth on with my 40.

I am going to do a little experiment of sorts and do 175w halide on one side and a black box LED on the other.

Please tag me for it!!!

Katrina71 · Aug 23, 2019

Kayden Hutchings said:
Temporary holding tank is getting salt water as we speak. Decided to take some pics this afternoon before everything got irritated.

Wow! Great pics. I just got a MH to play with. Please document well. I'll be learning from your tank.

Katrina71 · Aug 23, 2019

Btw, what light have those been under?

Jacked Reefer · Aug 23, 2019

Katrina71 said:
Btw, what light have those been under?

I got all these corals pretty dull from under radions, I had some under black boxes for a bit which didn't improve the color. the blue light just made it more bearable. But i noticed a complete turn around after 1 or 2 month under my 150w pheonix 14k. My favorite example is of the third picture. The bright green skirts? Those were a deep brown.

Katrina71 · Aug 23, 2019

Kayden Hutchings said:
I got all these corals pretty dull from under radions, I had some under black boxes for a bit which didn't improve the color. the blue light just made it more bearable. But i noticed a complete turn around after 1 or 2 month under my 150w pheonix 14k. My favorite example is of the third picture. The bright green skirts? Those were a deep brown.

Is that your MH?