IM nuvo 10 or 20

Tanksrcool · Nov 6, 2020

Hey. I am currently looking to upgrade from a diy aqueon tank. I have 2 clowns. I was looking at the nuvo 10 and the 20 but can't pick one. I know the bigger the better but with the sale I can get an ato if I get the 10. I dont have an rodi unit so I get my saltwater from the Lfs in two 5 gallon jugs. The 20 would be a problem because I would have to do larger water changes and it would take longer to fill up with coral. What should I buy?

mrpizzaface · Nov 6, 2020

20 and a RODI. If you can’t afford it , save till u can.

Tanksrcool · Nov 6, 2020

Ok. Thanks for the reply. I will just save for a while longer.

Tanksrcool · Nov 6, 2020

mrpizzaface said:
20 and a RODI. If you can’t afford it , save till u can.

Ok thanks ill just save for a while longer

Reef. · Nov 6, 2020

Tanksrcool said:
Ok thanks ill just save for a while longer

the 20 definitely, it’s a great size, an ato is very useful but until you can afford one you can always top up by hand, not ideal but to get the 20 it’s worth it.

and the point about it’ll take longer to fill with coral is a plus, the joy of this hobby is shopping for coral and adding them to the tank, once the tank is full you lose that part.

Tanksrcool · Nov 6, 2020

Reef. said:
the 20 definitely, it’s a great size, an ato is very useful but until you can afford one you can always top up by hand, not ideal but to get the 20 it’s worth it.

and the point about it’ll take longer to fill with coral is a plus, the joy of this hobby is shopping for coral and adding them to the tank, once the tank is full you lose that part.

I have a nuvo 14 and idk why it evaporates so fast but I have to top it off 2x a day. If not the chamber drains and it ruins my pumps. It gets rly annoying

Conchman · Nov 7, 2020

My IM 20 I had to top of several times a day until I got my ATO, it was not that big of a deal. I would go with the 20, and if you are disciplined, you could wait on the ATO, if your not, than wait for the funds. Water changes were still one 5 gallon, every week or 2, I had low stocking levels...just corals at one point. I would never vote for a tank smaller than 20, the swings as a percentage are much greater.

Mawlbec · Nov 7, 2020

i have both the 20 (dropoff) and the 10. Just gonna say...the 10 with the new pump is plenty flow without adding powerheads. That may be something you haven't considered. If you can manage and have experience with a nano, I'd go 10...the 20 requires a tad bit more planning and work as you have already found out.

Tanksrcool · Nov 7, 2020

Conchman said:
My IM 20 I had to top of several times a day until I got my ATO, it was not that big of a deal. I would go with the 20, and if you are disciplined, you could wait on the ATO, if your not, than wait for the funds. Water changes were still one 5 gallon, every week or 2, I had low stocking levels...just corals at one point. I would never vote for a tank smaller than 20, the swings as a percentage are much greater.

Thank you for the reply.. The problem is I am not home enough to be topping it off constantly. I could just get an ato for my tank now but im personally not a fan of the design of my tank and the new pro models would be a nice upgrade

Tanksrcool · Nov 7, 2020

Mawlbec said:
i have both the 20 (dropoff) and the 10. Just gonna say...the 10 with the new pump is plenty flow without adding powerheads. That may be something you haven't considered. If you can manage and have experience with a nano, I'd go 10...the 20 requires a tad bit more planning and work as you have already found out.

Thank you for your reply. I didn't plan on getting a powerhead. I added a powerhead to my current tank and killed a lot of corals unfortunately. I would like a 20 in a perfect world but would like a 10 with an ato. With the 20 I would eventually need an extra prime light if it fills up with coral. I also would need more sand and rocks which would cost me a lot once its all done. Lol. I just wanna make sure my fish will be happy and I can have a tank that is pleasing to look at... ya know?

Mawlbec · Nov 7, 2020

Tanksrcool said:
Thank you for your reply. I didn't plan on getting a powerhead. I added a powerhead to my current tank and killed a lot of corals unfortunately. I would like a 20 in a perfect world but would like a 10 with an ato. With the 20 I would eventually need an extra prime light if it fills up with coral. I also would need more sand and rocks which would cost me a lot once its all done. Lol. I just wanna make sure my fish will be happy and I can have a tank that is pleasing to look at... ya know?

I think the new pumps on the 20s are sufficient but underpowered...especially if you use the SpinStream. It's weird to me, IM places the same new return pump on the 10 causing the whole tank to have great flow, but on the 20 they just don't move much...which caused me to place two MP10s on opposite sides for my mixed reef. Which required more $ and planning...

Just my thoughts, I know you're thinking top off but maybe you haven't considered other costs.

Tanksrcool · Nov 7, 2020

Mawlbec said:
I think the new pumps on the 20s are sufficient but underpowered...especially if you use the SpinStream. It's weird to me, IM places the same new return pump on the 10 causing the whole tank to have great flow, but on the 20 they just don't move much...which caused me to place two MP10s on opposite sides for my mixed reef. Which required more $ and planning...

Just my thoughts, I know you're thinking top off but maybe you haven't considered other costs.

Totally agree with your statement on flow. I wish I had the kinda money for mp10s lol. What other costs may you be considering?

Mawlbec · Nov 7, 2020

On my 10 I can get away with a 50w neotherm heater, instead of 75..

I can get away with half the sand/half to a third of the live rock you've already mentioned...

The 10 is a single chamber media basket, instead of 2...

Finally, I feel like I'm much more simple with the 10, then my more complex 20. I won't list everything but I use a Seneye monitor on the 10, but an Apex with probes on the 20, I don't dose on the 10, but on the 20 I do, etc....

Just feel I have had the same success on both tanks...the 10 at a fraction and not even half of the 20 dropoff. That said...they serve different purposes and, ultimately, I do love my 20g Dropoff.

Tanksrcool · Nov 7, 2020

Mawlbec said:
On my 10 I can get away with a 50w neotherm heater, instead of 75..

I can get away with half the sand/half to a third of the live rock you've already mentioned...

The 10 is a single chamber media basket, instead of 2...

Finally, I feel like I'm much more simple with the 10, then my more complex 20. I won't list everything but I use a Seneye monitor on the 10, but an Apex with probes on the 20, I don't dose on the 10, but on the 20 I do, etc....

Just feel I have had the same success on both tanks...the 10 at a fraction and not even half of the 20 dropoff. That said...they serve different purposes and, ultimately, I do love my 20g Dropoff.

I have a heater, AI prime HD, sand, live rock all in my current tank. Just would like to go to the simplicity of the 10. I'm gonna buy smaller dry rock and seed it with my live. The live rock I have is too big and I don't rly like it. I was looking ahead to think about the overall costs but I think the 10 is gonna be the better buy for a more inexperienced, budget reefer. I know it is harder to keep parameters right with Nanos but the 10 kinda just fits my standards better for what I want to do. Do you mind sending a pic of your 10?

KWT · Nov 7, 2020

I have a IM 20 gal AIO that when I started I topped off by hand. When I got my ato it was easier, but not a problem before that. I you can use one of the 5 gal jugs your LFS probably sells for R/O DI and salt, use that for a R/O reservoir. And water changes a 5 gal change weekly or bi weekly should be plenty depending on your bio-load.

Mawlbec · Nov 7, 2020

Tanksrcool said:
I have a heater, AI prime HD, sand, live rock all in my current tank. Just would like to go to the simplicity of the 10. I'm gonna buy smaller dry rock and seed it with my live. The live rock I have is too big and I don't rly like it. I was looking ahead to think about the overall costs but I think the 10 is gonna be the better buy for a more inexperienced, budget reefer. I know it is harder to keep parameters right with Nanos but the 10 kinda just fits my standards better for what I want to do. Do you mind sending a pic of your 10?

Nano experience matters man...I can't count on my hands now the iterations I've gone through over the past 20 years. Please don't take my advice on costs as a ticket to success/learned failures on a 10 gallon.

If you truly need something to start, I would go bigger as much as the budget allows...otherwise you'll feel bad/waste money looking back.

Tanksrcool · Nov 7, 2020

Mawlbec said:
Nano experience matters man...I can't count on my hands now the iterations I've gone through over the past 20 years. Please don't take my advice on costs as a ticket to success/learned failures on a 10 gallon.

If you truly need something to start, I would go bigger as much as the budget allows...otherwise you'll feel bad/waste money looking back.

I wish I could get the biggest tank they make lol. I just wish I could have some more money to do that haha. I just think that the 10 is better for me although I'm worried about fluctuating parameters in the small tank bc I want a bubble tipped anenome eventually. I can buy more "life support" if I get the 10 bc I will have some spare cash

Mawlbec · Nov 7, 2020

I'd let others chime in here on their experience...your original question was based on top off and hearing your budget and your options, sounds like 10g fits you. I love the 10g too and hope I shed some light on costs vs 20g.

That said, start out as simple as possible, maybe fish only, learn how to manage your parameters for a few weeks/months, and then brave the beauty of manageable coral. Husbandry is such a thrown out term, but it basically means don't over do it...you know what you have...work with it as best as you can without pushing the limits.

Tanksrcool · Nov 7, 2020

Mawlbec said:
I'd let others chime in here on their experience...your original question was based on top off and hearing your budget and your options, sounds like 10g fits you. I love the 10g too and hope I shed some light on costs vs 20g.

That said, start out as simple as possible, maybe fish only, learn how to manage your parameters for a few weeks/months, and then brave the beauty of manageable coral. Husbandry is such a thrown out term, but it basically means don't over do it...you know what you have...work with it as best as you can without pushing the limits.

Haha sorry if I've made the thread a little confusing lol. I will probably get the 10 and play it safe in the beginning like you said. I really appreciate your help.

Reef. · Nov 7, 2020

Tanksrcool said:
I have a nuvo 14 and idk why it evaporates so fast but I have to top it off 2x a day. If not the chamber drains and it ruins my pumps. It gets rly annoying

I have the same tank, it maybe top ups 3 times a day, easy enough to do whilst saving for an ato, you could even make a gravity diy ato in the meantime.