Wes' Nuvo 150 INT and beyond

Wspangler

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I'll start with the pointless backstory.



My previous 150 strung a leak in December. I purchased a used tank that also started leaking prior to every getting any life into the tank. I thought about selling off what I had left, but cant imagine my life without my tank or the daily conversations with fish friends.



I've met a lot of great people and built some solid relations. I was met with a lot of what can I do to help, offers to hold coral, offers on free tanks other were not using, and was even sent $100 in the mail but a mystery person.



A small group of friends got together and helped me frag up about 150 frags. One of them held about half of them for me. I set up a tank at the LEAR swap and raised the funds for this tank. The frag tank provided by one friend a light by another. I really could not have done it without help from friends.



The tank was ordered mid March. When I placed the order it was backordered and projected to ship mid April. I expected some shipping delays due to COVID-19(the tank ships from china to CA, then CA to here), but was pleasantly surprised of none.



The driver dropped the pallet in garage for me and the tank stayed there for a couple of days. Moving it into my house stressed me out. My household has taken the stay at home order very seriously. We have not allowed any visitors or went anywhere since probably two weeks before the order. I did have to seek help from two friends to get it into the house and onto the stand.



This was obviously not the ideal time to set up a new tank, but the silver lining is time. I've had soo much time planning everything out, and so far most has went as planned.



The tank and stand are new. All other equipment is being reused. The light, sump, skimmer, and return were purchased with the used tank in January. They are used, but new to me.



Tank= Innovative Marine 150 INT

Stand= Innovative Marine Black APS

Lighting= 48" ATI 8 bulb dimmable + 48" Orphek LED strip

Skimmer= Reef Octopus Elite 150 INT

Return pump= RODC 5500(prior to Varios 6)

Sump= 36" x 24"- can not recall brand.

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Wspangler

Wspangler

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The tank has been up for a few months now. I still have some work today on the sink/ water change area.

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Wspangler

Wspangler

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While doing some maintenance yesterday I discovered something pretty exciting. I've had this mushroom for over 6 years and it looks like I'm starting to get some purple in it. I can't wait to se left what it looks like in another 6 years.
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F i s h y

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Wow.... just wow...

Great story of perseverance. Fintastic looking tank!.

I love the artwork on the wall!

The lamp is unlike anything I've seen before.

Your coral are amazing. Im excited to see what happens with that shroom too.

Keep up the great work.
 
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Wspangler

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The display tank is doing well. Aside from a recent kalk overdose everything has been pretty stable.

One of my friends broke down their tank. I got a bunch of coral and a few fish from him. My frag tank is now full and doesn't really look like a frag tank anymore.

Maybe I need to set up another?
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Wspangler

Wspangler

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One of my friends bought the hannah nitrate tester. I borrowed it to compare to my salifert test and too see how I liked it. it was alot more steps than salifert. Once you get use to the test you could probably start it first then move onto phostphate or whatever else and time it to get done around the same time.

On hannah it showed .09
On salifert it showed .2. This is as low as the test goes. I'll stick with the salifert for now.


Me and a couple of friends went in together on a par meter rental. My par was higher than I expected in my display tank. Most of the corals in the top 1/3 are getting between 370 and 450. The bottom glass gets 280 centered under light and 175 on outer corner that isnt shadowed. I made no changes to the light though. Everything seems happy.

My frag tank has some diy LEDs I built years ago. They were built for a much larger tank and have narrow optics 60° I run them at 60% I was about 350 centered under the lights but 130 just 6 inches away. I raised the light for better distribution. I'm now getting between 190 and 280. At 100% I was getting over 1k at the water surface. My frag tank has lower light demand coral in it. I would like to retest the frag tank in a few months and possible make some adjustments.

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Wspangler

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The pinks in some of my coral is starting to pop a little more. I have made several changes over the last few months and the tank is still pretty new so hard to say exactly what is doing it. I think itabthey oyster feast, aminos, or combination of the two. My pics are still not the best but working on them.

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I started dosing nitrates on 10-23.
10-23=No3-.02, Po4-.34
11-13=No3-1, Po4-.07

I was surprised on how much the nitrate dosing alone lowered the phostaphtes.

Everything is doing well. I got rid if some if the larger encrusted coral on the bottom to make room for some other stuff.
 

A worm with high fashion and practical utility: Have you ever kept feather dusters in your reef aquarium?

  • I currently have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 73 38.2%
  • Not currently, but I have had feather dusters in my tank in the past.

    Votes: 64 33.5%
  • I have not had feather dusters, but I hope to in the future.

    Votes: 25 13.1%
  • I have no plans to have feather dusters in my tank.

    Votes: 28 14.7%
  • Other.

    Votes: 1 0.5%
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