Vandy's Budget Nuvo 100 EXT Build Thread

[Bohemian Waxwing]

Brother you and I have different definitions of budget build lol it looks real good though. Cozy spot for it.

 

[vandy]

This is a great build, the process is drawn out but rewarding when it all comes together. How do you dose your kalk? I am looking at switching from bionic 2 part. All these kalkwasser systems seem to have incredible SPS growth! Great work.

I have two 35gal drums behind my wall in the unfinished part of my basement. One is my auto top off, and the other is my saturated kalk.

Took a page from ACL and used a piece of styrofoam in my kalk barrel with PVC “feet” glued onto it. Always keeps it from pulling kalk from the top of the water line, and prevents it from pulling the slurry when the water runs low.

 

[vandy]

Brother you and I have different definitions of budget build lol it looks real good though. Cozy spot for it.

haha most equipment was bought used or from an old build. I appreciate it though!

 

[polarbeard]

Great looking tank man. Very cool.

 

[nickng]

Just wondering how much flow can the kilr-7 take and how long does a roll of fleece last?

 

[vandy]

Just wondering how much flow can the kilr-7 take and how long does a roll of fleece last?

I’ll be honest, not long enough. I’d say I run 5-600gph through the sump, and the rolls last anywhere from 3-4 weeks. In comparison, I get 3-4 months out of my redsea 1200 that is run at a similar gph on my frag tank.

The roll did start lasting longer when I converted from its original float switch, to one that is controlled from Hydros that I’m able to place higher before it turns the roll.

Definitely a weak point of the build, but I’m sort of hamstringed because my sump has a 7” filter sock, so I’m limited on fleece roller options

 

[Huskereef]

I have two 35gal drums behind my wall in the unfinished part of my basement. One is my auto top off, and the other is my saturated kalk.

Took a page from ACL and used a piece of styrofoam in my kalk barrel with PVC “feet” glued onto it. Always keeps it from pulling kalk from the top of the water line, and prevents it from pulling the slurry when the water runs low.

I was watching Chris Meckley videos on this also. Seems to be the way to go. Do you have your kalk dosing programmed to your ph like he does? I think I will start with 10 mL an hour on a continuous doser and go from there.

What is your Alk and calcium at usually?

 

[vandy]

I was watching Chris Meckley videos on this also. Seems to be the way to go. Do you have your kalk dosing programmed to your ph like he does? I think I will start with 10 mL an hour on a continuous doser and go from there.

What is your Alk and calcium at usually?

I do not peg PH. I dose full evaporation (3400ml) spread over the day at 48 separate dosing periods. That, along with my carx pegged at 7.0 @ 40ml/min seems to be keeping my alk right at 8. Don’t really test calcium.

Might switch to only kalk dosing the full evaporation at night though just to combat my PH swing. I go from ~8.4 to 8.15 at night, which isn’t ideal

 

[FlameangelLover]

Next step was hanging the lights.. turns out my light hanging kit was much longer than I anticipated because of my low ceilings. Anyone think this will be okay? It’s about 8” from the lid.

Any tips on how picking lights? (I’m super beginner so could you make the answer dummy proof lol)

 

[vandy]

Tank is approaching the 9 month mark and I figured I’d do some top down photos.

JF Lemongrass

Ice Fire Echinata

Rainbow Loom

Holy grail

JF Coolers

Tri-color

Another tri color

Miyagi tort

Pink Cadillac

Bc thermans rainbow

Euphyllia garden

 

[FlameangelLover]

Tank is approaching the 9 month mark and I figured I’d do some top down photos.

JF Lemongrass

Ice Fire Echinata

Rainbow Loom

Holy grail

JF Coolers

Tri-color

Another tri color

Miyagi tort

Pink Cadillac

Bc thermans rainbow

Euphyllia garden

Are these all hard to keep I really like the garden you have. Do they have any extreme care requirements

 

[vandy]

Are these all hard to keep I really like the garden you have. Do they have any extreme care requirements

The sps uptake a significant amount of alk a day, so I dose kalkwasser and have a calcium reactor. The euphyllia garden just by itself would require way less dosing but water parameters would be the same

 

[vandy]

Been 5 months since my last update, tank is approaching 12 months with corals in it.

PH has taken a hit with how low I’ve made the calcium reactor. I have switched over to partial sodium hydroxide dosing to counter act the effects.

Here are a few honorable mentions of stuff that has grown pretty good for me

BC thermans rainbow
Side:

Top:

Walt disney

Rainbow loom

JF lemongrass

Tricolor

 

[vandy]

And here are some nice 14k shots that I liked

And finally my zoa rock filling out

 

[Arkayology]

Nice shots. The colors on those SPS are starting to come through.

 

[vandy]

Nice shots. The colors on those SPS are starting to come through.

Appreciate it! Still trying to figure out the best way to shoot photos

 

[vandy]

Here is an 8th month shot. First pic taken in December 2024. Only extension I’ve lost has been on my gonis