Nuvo Fusion Mod - Raise Water Level in Display

[DentistReefer413]

I have an Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 50 Lagoon Tank (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nuvo-fusion-50-lagoon-not-many-on-here.320526/). Awesome tank. But one thing about these tanks I don't love is the display water level. It just seems to low for me, so I decided to raise it. I imagine this mod could be useful for anyone with these Fusion tanks.

I don't want to change anything as far as the return pump (wouldn't make a difference in water height) or raise the level in the back of the tank, so I cut little pieces of plastic to fit right behind the overflow.

I invested heavily in a separator from a fishing tacklebox (irony at its best). Cut it to fit right above the little water ramp in the tank.

I held one side while my wife held the other in place to see how it the water level will look when the return pump is on. Looks great!
At this point, I removed a couple of gallons from the display and rear section and dried the acrylic I'd be siliconing this against. I put a goopy amount (accurate, I know) of silicone and pushed it toward the overflow.

At first, a bunch of silicone gooped through the grates, so I used a cotton swab to remove the bulk and clean it up a little. I don't like this, because it looks like a mod - I want everything to look super clean with this tank. Fortunately, the silicone "dried" clear, so it isn't visible. I put a plastic clamp on both the pieces to keep them flush against the overflow during the initial cure.

Once it set, I put the water I removed previously back in the tank and turned the return pump on.
BOOM - raised the water level about 3/4", so about 3/4" from the top of the tank.

BEFORE (pumps were off for this picture, so actually a tad lower than usual):

AFTER:

Fortunately, there's still room at the overflow.

Anyway, looks like this little FREE mod was worth it. Time will tell if anything proves to be a problem. Of course, if anyone has any suggestions or questions, let me know!

 

[nvy]

Looks good but does it fit the cover still if you wanted to use it?

 

[WayneY]

Great idea! I have been thinking of a way to raise the level on my IM 30L so I'll just try this as well. Thanks

 

[DentistReefer413]

Looks good but does it fit the cover still if you wanted to use it?

I think that it would, no problem. I don’t use a cover for this 50, but when I had the Fusion 20, the cover brackets sat on the display glass, and the cover sat inside of that (hard to explain without pictures). These plastic pieces are positioned at the overflow inside the back chamber. I hope that makes sense...
Edit: I just realized your question may be about the actual water level and the cover being submerged. That’s a good question - you could always trial/error the water height by the thickness you cut the pieces you’re putting on the overflow.

 

[chum]

great looking tank ! i would like to get a aio some day.

 

[DentistReefer413]

great looking tank ! i would like to get a aio some day.

Thanks! AIOs definitely have their limitations, but for me that's part of the reason I got one at this point!

 

[chum]

Thanks! AIOs definitely have their limitations, but for me that's part of the reason I got one at this point!

i have a 125 gallon but someday when my kid moves out and opens up another room i am going to down size to aio.

 

[ereef]

I have an Innovative Marine Nuvo Fusion 50 Lagoon Tank (https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/nuvo-fusion-50-lagoon-not-many-on-here.320526/). Awesome tank. But one thing about these tanks I don't love is the display water level. It just seems to low for me, so I decided to raise it. I imagine this mod could be useful for anyone with these Fusion tanks.

I don't want to change anything as far as the return pump (wouldn't make a difference in water height) or raise the level in the back of the tank, so I cut little pieces of plastic to fit right behind the overflow.

I invested heavily in a separator from a fishing tacklebox (irony at its best). Cut it to fit right above the little water ramp in the tank.

I held one side while my wife held the other in place to see how it the water level will look when the return pump is on. Looks great!
At this point, I removed a couple of gallons from the display and rear section and dried the acrylic I'd be siliconing this against. I put a goopy amount (accurate, I know) of silicone and pushed it toward the overflow.

At first, a bunch of silicone gooped through the grates, so I used a cotton swab to remove the bulk and clean it up a little. I don't like this, because it looks like a mod - I want everything to look super clean with this tank. Fortunately, the silicone "dried" clear, so it isn't visible. I put a plastic clamp on both the pieces to keep them flush against the overflow during the initial cure.

Once it set, I put the water I removed previously back in the tank and turned the return pump on.
BOOM - raised the water level about 3/4", so about 3/4" from the top of the tank.

BEFORE (pumps were off for this picture, so actually a tad lower than usual):

AFTER:

Fortunately, there's still room at the overflow.

Anyway, looks like this little FREE mod was worth it. Time will tell if anything proves to be a problem. Of course, if anyone has any suggestions or questions, let me know!

That's a great idea! I might have to try this. So what did you pick up at MACNA?

 

[cincyfishguy]

That looks way better! Going to have to do this on my nuvo 60. It's been one of the things I've not liked about it since I set it up.

 

[neverdie]

Thank you for posting this. I had seen the IM tanks thought that the water level looked low. I will be doing this to my current build. Thanks for sharing.

 

[DentistReefer413]

Thank you for posting this. I had seen the IM tanks thought that the water level looked low. I will be doing this to my current build. Thanks for sharing.

Sure thing! Three months later and all is well!

 

[neverdie]

So I failed on my first try, I think I was overly conservative with the silicone

 

[DentistReefer413]

So I failed on my first try, I think I was overly conservative with the silicone

How did it fail? I really 'gooped' the silicone on, then removed the excess. I'm sure you did this, but make sure all the surfaces are completely dry first, and give it as long as feasible (30 mins) before turning the return pump back on...

 

[neverdie]

I didnt use enough silicone I think. Going to try again

 

[HexAquatix]

I started with a nano fluval tank. One cool feature it had was an "adjustable skimmer plate". I was thinking about copying something like this.

Weird pic. But basically it has teeth that use the overflow slots as a guide. Key is you can slide this up and down to control the height of the water. The force of the water combined with the little pieces that slide up and down on the notches not only keep it in place, but make it adjustable.

 

[kyleinpdx]

I started with a nano fluval tank. One cool feature it had was an "adjustable skimmer plate". I was thinking about copying something like this.

Weird pic. But basically it has teeth that use the overflow slots as a guide. Key is you can slide this up and down to control the height of the water. The force of the water combined with the little pieces that slide up and down on the notches not only keep it in place, but make it adjustable.

This is the best way to do it, get some nylon screws from a local hardware store.

 

[neverdie]

I had success raising the water level. I purchased the IM fish guards and put black silicone on the holes up to the second row and it has raised the water level to the desired height.
Before:

After:

 

[pompeyjohn]

what is the width of the plastic that you cut? I'm guessing 3/4" as that is how much the water level raised by. Just wanted to double check though.

 

[DentistReefer413]

what is the width of the plastic that you cut? I'm guessing 3/4" as that is how much the water level raised by. Just wanted to double check though.

That’s a good question! I don’t remember, to be honest. I kind of “eyed” it, and then when I tested it (by holding one side and my wife holding the other), the water level rose to where I was happy. Like you said, probably 3/4”. Maybe an inch, max. I was worried if I went too high the water level would get too close to the top of the grates. Any kind of blockage could then cause an immediate overflow of the display.

 

[DentistReefer413]

I had success raising the water level. I purchased the IM fish guards and put black silicone on the holes up to the second row and it has raised the water level to the desired height.
Before:

After:

Looks great! Much better!