Nuvo 40

Daniel92481

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Hello fellow reefers, after reintroducing myself and receiving such a warm welcome here on R2R, I have decided to start my build thread! I’m super excited about this, as this will be my second reef tank. Unfortunately, I had to break down my first reef tank last year (IM Lagoon), due to my hectic work schedule. Ever since that day, I have dreamt of another, and here I am! Anyways, enough with the sad story...let’s get on with my Nuvo 40 build! All comments, questions, and concerns are welcomed, and appreciated.

I hope you can join me on this journey! :cool:

For my Nuvo 40, I have planned a mixed reef with a variety of softies and LPS, such as mushrooms, zoas and torch corals. Eventually, I plan to add a few easier SPS such as montis and birdsnests. As far as fish and inverts, aside from a small CUC, I was thinking a pair of clowns to start with. Maybe even an RBTA, pistol shrimp/goby pair, and/or some cardinals. I’m still undecided with the exact livestock list. Although I love fish, I feel like I am more into the different species, and variety of coral that really make a reef tank so fascinating to stare at.

The other day, my official build unofficially started with the installation of my 4 stage value plus RO/DI system and float valve from the fine folks @BRS. After running the initial flush of the system, I was able to produce some 0 TDS liquid gold. I opted for the 75GPD system due to my smaller tank water volume.
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After months of reading reviews on specific equipment, forums, @BRS videos, @MarineDepot videos, LFS visits, I was able to make some informed decisions on my equipment list. I am happy to say that I placed an initial order with @MarineDepot today to get things rolling! My Nuvo 40 Pro package will be purchased at one of my LFS with a custom made white stand. The dimensions of the stand will be 24x20x36. My LFS contacted me yesterday, and advised me that it will be ready for pick up next week. The equipment that I will be using is as follows...Kessil A360X with rigid mount, Ecotech MP10w with Ecotech battery back up, smart ATO micro, Caribsea Liferock, 40lbs Fiji pink sand, InTank media basket with IM purity packs, and IM UV sterilizer. I decided to hold off on the IM DC skimmer, and IM Chaetomaxx fuge light with basket for now, with the option of possibly setting them up in the future. I think this is it for the major components of the system.

So, I plan to get wet by the end of next weekend to start my tank cycle! I will be using Dr.Tim’s fishless cycle method.

My next update will be when I receive my order from the other fine folks @MarineDepot!

Stay tuned! :)
 
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Daniel92481

Daniel92481

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Well, I received my initial shipment from marinedepot yesterday, and have been able to make sure everything that I ordered is here. All good with everything, just waiting for my LFS to have my stand and Nuvo 40 tank ready for pick up. Hopefully by this weekend. Fingers crossed!
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Daniel92481

Daniel92481

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Hello reefers! I wanted to update the build today. I received a call from my LFS saying my stand would not be ready until next week. Boo! Being off of work, I was really looking forward to setting things up this weekend. I figured instead of wasting time, I would start trying to come up with the scape for my tank, so I purchased 40 lbs of Caribsea LifeRock and went at it!
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I knew before I had started that I wouldn’t need the full 40 lbs of rock. I wanted to have a good variety of shapes and sizes to work with. After a day or two of playing around with different designs, I was able to come up with the final masterpiece!
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This design measures 20 inches long, 14 inches deep, and almost 16 inches tall, at its highest point. I used some aquastix epoxy to hold things together. So far, so good! I managed to use about 30 of the 40 lbs of the LifeRock for this design, so I’m happy with it!

Well...

until next update...happy reefing! :cool:
 
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Daniel92481

Daniel92481

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That aquascape looks great. Really wish I could have found a 40 to downgrade but I think the 25 lagoon will work out just fine. Following along.

Thanks a lot! I’m happy with it. It has some good spots for coral placement that I’m excited about. I used to have a lagoon, and really liked it. The shallow reef dimensions on that one really intrigue me.
 

Lilmatty5dimes

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Yea can’t wait to see the 40 wet with some coral. I love the shallow deeper tank and dimensions are perfect. Now just fine to grab some rock and set this one up. Lol

Thanks a lot! I’m happy with it. It has some good spots for coral placement that I’m excited about. I used to have a lagoon, and really liked it. The shallow reef dimensions on that one really intrigue me.
 
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Daniel92481

Daniel92481

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Another quick update, LFS running behind from a recent vacation. He says next week on the tank and stand, for sure. You’re killing me LFS! I was hoping to have the tank cycled by the end of the month. We shall see! Stay tuned!
 
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Daniel92481

Daniel92481

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Well, after a long wait it seems like, here she is! Finally, got the tank and stand set up! Added 40 lbs of Fiji Pink, so been letting all that clear up. Started the cycle with Dr. Tim’s, and added some ammonia drops. Not sure how many gallons she actually is holding, my guess would be 28-30 as of now. I stayed up until about 3:30 this morning setting everything up. I’m running the Kessil A360X about 7” off the surface, with good agitation from the MP10 on reef crest mode. The light will be off for the majority of the cycle, just had to test and make sure everything was working fine. I will post some updates throughout the cycle period, and possibly ask some questions since I am still somewhat new to the hobby! Please follow along! :cool:
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Reefguy13

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I am doing a nuvo 40 here in the next few weeks. Working on building the stand right now. Love the rock work wish i could do some cool scaping but the 40 is going to go in place of the current tank so dont have a lot of time to figure it out and all the rock of my current tank going into the 40. Just a caution on those spinstreams they are great when they work and a pain when they dont and they break easy. I've gone through 2 on my 20 nuvo and finally stopped using them. Make sure to keep them clean and keep an eye on them cause they will get stuck.
 
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Daniel92481

Daniel92481

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Sounds good, thanks for the info. I used to have them on a lagoon, and had the same issue. After a quick clean, they were good to go. Good luck with your 40!
 
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Daniel92481

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Thanks man. I was thinking that too, but it’s about 7 inches off the water, and seems to cover everything without major shadowing. The spin streams are good, just kind of noisey. I don’t remember the ones on my lagoon making much noise. Maybe they just need some break in time.
 
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Daniel92481

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Funny, not so funny story, while I was making the last post, one of my spin streams decided to stop rotating after 2 days of use. I tapped it, took it off and messed with it, nothing. I just decided to take them off and use the stock angled nozzles that came with the tank. They work great! And with the added benefit of being completely silent.
 

Lilmatty5dimes

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Looks great. Love the aquascape. It’ll be awesome when it’s full of coral.
About the spinstreams I was actually thinking of going back to the OG ones and forget these.
This is the lagoon I’ve got and photo from my bed so at night I can hear the water.
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Daniel92481

Daniel92481

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Looks great. Love the aquascape. It’ll be awesome when it’s full of coral.
About the spinstreams I was actually thinking of going back to the OG ones and forget these.
This is the lagoon I’ve got and photo from my bed so at night I can hear the water.
98A6476A-D07C-4937-AC2A-E0004587FDE4.jpeg

Wow, looks great! I actually really like the original nozzles. Seems like I might have just wasted $46 on some spin streams. Free to a good home perhaps if someone is interested. One works great, the other might work if it wants to.
 
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Daniel92481

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Quick update, been cycling for about a week now with Dr. Tim’s fishless cycle, everything is going good, tested 1 ppm ammonia, 2ppm nitrites. Have the salinity set at 1.026 with blue bucket Red Sea Coral pro, and an Autoaqua smart ATO micro. Attended a community reef event here in the Houston, TX area on Saturday, and ended up winning a $500 raffle! So cool! I also picked up an Ecotech battery backup for my MP10 in case of a power outage, and some different test kits at the event. I ordered the Kessil WiFi dongle last week from Marine Depot, and it will be delivered today. I’ll be excited to get that set up soon!

Here are a few photos from the event!
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