Tosa's Reefer 170 Jumpstart

[Tosareef]

I am excited to get a build thread started to follow my journey with salt water. My short term goal is to get a 20 gallon AIO set up in my home office and then eventually set up a larger display tank in our living room. I have been slowly buying the components needed to get started and have been using other build threads to get an idea of what i need before i put water in. I have set up a list that i will post here and update with photos shortly:

Build List:

• Stand: IM APS Cabinet Black with shelf
• Lighting: AI Prime HD with Arm Mount Black
• Heater: Cobalt Neo-therm 75w
• Return: IM Maxijet 326 GPH x2
• ATO: Autoaqua smart ATO micro
• ATO Container: 5 gallon
• IM custom caddy x2
• Im Spinstream x2
• IM Fishguard x2

Need to buy:

• Tank: IM Nuvo 20 AIO
• RODI Unit
• Controller: Apex EL
• Rock and Sand
• eShopps nano skimer
• GFI
• Ground Plug
• Testing kits

My goal has been to get everything purchased and installed before starting and to do all my research as i am in this process of saving and slowly purchasing what i feel is needed for my build. Next item i plan to get is the actual tank which will be bought from LFS here in Charlotte.

 

[Ranjib]

Off to a great start. The equipment list looks perfect. May add a grounding probe for extra safety.

 

[flchamp89]

List looks great. Welcome to the Nuvo 20 club. 2 mighty jet 326 will be a lot of flow for sure. Does 2 fit? I'm not sure I know many run the 528. I have a single 326. I run the eshopps too... Very happy. We have almost identical build.

 

[Tosareef]

Here is the picture of the APS stand and where the tank will be situated:

First challenge:

I hung the art months before purchasing a tank and stand. Original stand I was looking at was not the APS and much shorter in height. Looking at the image I’ve already figured out that the artwork on the left will need to be raised higher once the tank and LED are in place.

 

[Tosareef]

I took my wife to one of the local fish stores here in Charlotte to show her some of the larger tanks. Essentially, warming her up to the idea of a display tank.

Her response was pretty priceless and I do think she define the boundaries quite well although I don’t agree.

“I don’t want my house to look like a seafood restaurant “

Just thought I would share the experience because I did find it funny

 

[Tosareef]

Well - Covid came and hopefully is on its way out. I was never able to buy the NUVO 20 and of course during the frustrating past year I was researching and moved in a different direction.

I purchased a Red Sea Reefer 170 that i hope to lean on the members here on some advice and I will start a new build thread to show my progress. Have a great week everybody

 

[Tosareef]

Reboot Reefer 170 - these images taken 1 month ago. Added water and will provide update on next post. Long road but finally on track to add some tank therapy to the household!

Build List:

• Stand: Reefer 170 Black
• Lighting: Maxspect 170 Jump
• Heater: x2
• Return: Reef Octopus Varios
• ATO: RedSea
• ATO Container: 5 gallon Hedpak
• Skimmer: Reef Octopus 110SSS
• Controller: Hydros
• Flow: Jebao x2
• Scape: Custom rock from Nemo’s Reef Charlotte, NC
• Live Sand CaribSea
• Grounding probe

Need to buy:

• Water added 3-15-24
• Fish (4-15-24) starting it slow 2 clowns
• Crew
• Corals

Anybody else get covid 5x and have there build slow to a crawl!

 

[Tosareef]

Water added 3-15-24 and found a photo:

ATO using 5 gallons per 7 days roughly. Evaporation rate surprised me and I am glad I went with the Hedpak 5 gallon container vs the reefer ato in the sump (bought six containers).

Will have to figure out why mobile device videos did not work after work.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Reboot Reefer 170 - these images taken 1 month ago. Added water and will provide update on next post. Long road but finally on track to add some tank therapy to the household!

Build List:

• Stand: Reefer 170 Black
• Lighting: Maxspect 170 Jump
• Heater: x2
• Return: Reef Octopus Varios
• ATO: RedSea
• ATO Container: 5 gallon Hedpak
• Skimmer: Reef Octopus 110SSS
• Controller: Hydros
• Flow: Jebao x2
• Scape: Custom rock from Nemo’s Reef Charlotte, NC
• Live Sand CaribSea
• Grounding probe

Need to buy:

• Water added 3-15-24
• Fish (4-15-24) starting it slow 2 clowns
• Crew
• Corals

Anybody else get covid 5x and have there build slow to a crawl!

Nice looking aquascape!

 

[Tosareef]

House flood - unrelated to tank

Took tank down and replaced with G2 170 once repairs were done to house as floor needed to be replaced.

Inhabitants so far

2 Darwin Clowns
Cleaner Shrimp
3 Trochus snails

Was amazed to see how quickly three snails could do short work of all of the algae in the tank. At feeding time, the cleaner shrimp is fun to watch as he comes out from hiding and goes after the mysis shrimp!

 

[Tosareef]

Next step:

Order a new lid as the one made for the Gen1 does not fit the G2