ReeferReefer's Nuvo 30l

[ReeferReefer]

Got some new stuff in!

Custom 3D printed MP10 anemone guard from Evan West. I've got 4 BTAs and I might get more down the road.

I got the InTank filter floss basket to replace the stock spong rack.

I got some rock putty as well for securing rock.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I am impressed with the anemone guard print. It's very sturdy and well finished.

 

[ReeferReefer]

It's finally wet! Going to give the tank a few days to settle. I put in a pinch of fish food to test if it's already cycling. I've been cycling the rock for about a month already. Once I'm getting good readings I'll be transferring my corals over.

I used aquastik and super glue to secure the rocks on the left.

Still need to get zip tie secures for the MP10 and set up my skimmer.

 

[smilinteddy]

Looking good!

 

[ReeferReefer]

Got the skimmer up and running tonight. I might just turn it off since the tank is still cycling but I wanted to give it a test run at the very least. Not sure if this tank will even cycle considering I've been cycling the rock for almost a month. I tossed a bit of fish food on top of my filter floss to see if I'll get any ammonia in the next week.

Let me know what you would do. Would you run a skimmer during your cycle?

 

[GK3]

I have a 30L also. I’m running the sicce 1.5 with a mp10QD. It’s more than enough flow honestly. My mp10 is pretty much dialed down to 2.

Tanks been running for 8 months. But it’s a great little tank and if U set it up right it’s pretty much low maintenance. Good luck.

So you hate zoas?

 

[GK3]

Now its just the waiting game for my leveling mat and goosenecks to get here!

I cleaned the skimmer and mp10 last night, so don't mind how dirty the skimmer neck is in the pics. The guy I bought it from still had it running when I picked it up yesterday.

The only thing I have not decided on is what I am going to do with my bare bottom. Do I want to put ABS down?

Do I want to saw the bottome of some rocks to make them more stable?

Should I just stack my rocks or epoxy them? I have never used epoxy before. Or should I drill the rocks and use acrylic rods? What is going to be safe and easy?

Definitely put something down. I ordered a 1/8” acrylic sheet cut to size for my IM30L. I am going BB but I don’t like having my rocks directly touch the glass. If anything moves it, scratch is too likely.

 

[GK3]

I used some of the putty type stuff back in the day when I was last in the hobby 12 years ago. It was ok to work with back then, and maybe they've made it better since.

Drilling and acrylic rods? I've heard about that approach but just by virtue of what it entails, I would surmise it is not easy and probably a heck of a lot of work.

Drilling with acrylic rods is definitely A cool approach. I did it on a build a couple years ago. Only thing you have to watch for are man made rocks. Basically these rocks are a bunch of sand, crushed coral, and small rocks mixed in with epoxy and shaped to make rocks. When you drill these they essentially just crumble into rubble. If you have actual rocks, it works great.

Another method is just using reef safe cement. I did that for my current IM30L build and it works great. Just make sure you have dry sand on hand to put on top of the cement for a more natural look.

 

[GK3]

Got the skimmer up and running tonight. I might just turn it off since the tank is still cycling but I wanted to give it a test run at the very least. Not sure if this tank will even cycle considering I've been cycling the rock for almost a month. I tossed a bit of fish food on top of my filter floss to see if I'll get any ammonia in the next week.

Let me know what you would do. Would you run a skimmer during your cycle?

Definitely no skimmer during a cycle. You want you bacteria to handle the filtration while there is no live stock. Buy a piece of frozen shrimp from your grocery store, that’ll cause an ammonia spike and get the cycle going. Logs of different methods out there for cycling a tank. I think everyone says no filter or filter media other than live rock and filter floss until the cycle is done.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Definitely no skimmer during a cycle. You want you bacteria to handle the filtration while there is no live stock. Buy a piece of frozen shrimp from your grocery store, that’ll cause an ammonia spike and get the cycle going. Logs of different methods out there for cycling a tank. I think everyone says no filter or filter media other than live rock and filter floss until the cycle is done.

This rock has been cycled with a shrimp for just under a month with periodic ghost feedings. I just transfered it to the 30L. I tossed in some food and I'll see if it creates any ammonia.

 

[GK3]

This rock has been cycled with a shrimp for just under a month with periodic ghost feedings. I just transfered it to the 30L. I tossed in some food and I'll see if it creates any ammonia.

Well the food will definitely create some ammonia. The question is does the rock eliminate it quickly. I’d add enough ammonia to get it to .02-.05 ppm or so and see how quickly it drops. Without a skimmer.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Yeah, I'll turn off the skimmer for now and begin testing. I also have about 1 liter of Seachem Matrix that has veed seeding in the sump of my 90g for a few weeks. It's in the 30l now in chamber 1.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Here is a few pics of my filtration compartment so far. You can see that the skimmer fits in chamber 2.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I am trying to figure out the best place for the heater. It is in chamber 4 right now but I wonder if I can fit it in chamber 2 with the skimmer so I can convert chamber 4 into a refugium.

 

[GK3]

I am trying to figure out the best place for the heater. It is in chamber 4 right now but I wonder if I can fit it in chamber 2 with the skimmer so I can convert chamber 4 into a refugium.

So in the back I see 5 chambers. 2 left, 2 right, bug middle for return. What is chamber 4 and what is chamber 2?

 

[ReeferReefer]

So in the back I see 5 chambers. 2 left, 2 right, bug middle for return. What is chamber 4 and what is chamber 2?

I just count the chambers from right to left when looking at the tank from behind. So the returns would be 1 and 5, with 2 and 4 next moving in with chamber 3 being the return. I don't know if that makes sense lol.

The skimmer is in chamber 2.

 

[ReeferReefer]

I secured my MP10 today with zip ties. Hopefully it will prevent damage if the dry side falls. I might install one on the glass too if I decide that's where I want to keep the powerhead.

 

[ReeferReefer]

Semi related, I am signing on my house today! We should get the keys Monday. My lease ends August 1st so I have until then to transfer the contents of my 90 gallon, sell the old equipment and transport the new build to our new house (only about a mile away).

Very exciting! This is my first house!

 

[NY_Caveman]

Semi related, I am signing on my house today! We should get the keys Monday. My lease ends August 1st so I have until then to transfer the contents of my 90 gallon, sell the old equipment and transport the new build to our new house (only about a mile away).

Very exciting! This is my first house!

Wow! Sounds perfect. Congratulations!

 

[WiscoFishNut]

I'm pretty excited to see how this build turns out, thanks for sharing! Grats on closing on your first house!