IM Nuvo EXT 100 SPS2020 Build

Janci · May 7, 2021

Nice fixture.
I had a 8x54W dimmable T5 as well and saw the lamps wearing down quickly when not using them at 100%.
IMHO, if you go the T5 route, you want to have them blast the corals with as much PAR and spectrum as possible. I am not sure if anybody ever tested this, but the spectrum of a T5 at 50% is not the same as at 100%. The lamps run at lower amps ad the gas inside is not burned at the optimal point.
In your case, using all the same T5's, you can just shut off 1 pair to have the system work at 50%.

Your tank looks great by the way.

SPS2020 · Aug 4, 2021

Haven't updated in a while, so here are a few pics and things that have not been mentioned previously:

Installed a Triton and really like that little fella!
Dosing 45ml\day of AllForReef.
Beginning to elevate and stabilize Alk to be in the 11-12 dkh zone. I want to see what this does for growth of the Acropora as well as hoping it will stun turf algae.
PAR is around 500 near the top Acros and 300+ for most others.
Changed lighting profile to David Saxby's + the T5 combo at a reduced percentage as previously mentioned. [The Blue+ bulbs max at 38% and the Actinics max out at 85%. 5 hour photoperiod, plus ramp up and down]
Added 25 Bumble Bee snails to assist with Vermetid snails.
Installed flow directors on the two ReefWave 45's.
Honorable mention...Cerith snails are awesome! Never have to clean a weir.

Now for some pictures...

SPS2020 · Aug 4, 2021

A few more...

SPS2020 · Aug 4, 2021

Inside the stand, I started labeling pieces so that in a pinch I can instruct someone how to do things...if needed.

DeniseAndy · Aug 4, 2021

I try to label each cord and plug, etc. I have needed this when leaving on vacation. Talking a mom through it was hysterical. Looking great!

I had to laugh at myself because I was reading the title as a 13.5g Nuvo (antoher thread I follow) and looked at the pictures of the fish and had to scratch my head a second. Wait, how many tangs in that 13g?

JustinMN18 · Aug 6, 2021

SPS2020 said:
Inside the stand, I started labeling pieces so that in a pinch I can instruct someone how to do things...if needed.

When you changed your lighting, how did you go about doing that as to not shock your corals? Everything else looks good! I forgot about this. We have the same setup it looks like. Even the wyze camera in the sump haha

SPS2020 · Aug 6, 2021

JustinMN18 said:
When you changed your lighting, how did you go about doing that as to not shock your corals? Everything else looks good! I forgot about this. We have the same setup it looks like. Even the wyze camera in the sump haha

The AquaticLife fixture is dimmable. Intially, I put the T5's in my closet and let them burn in for the required 50 hours to protect longevity. Then, I started them out very low, maybe 15% or so and increased along the way. I just recently switched to the Saxby profile, so I need to pull out the PAR meter and check to see levels aren't too high. The Blue+ bulbs max at 38% and the Actinics max out at 85%.

Nick Steele · Sep 3, 2021

Curious where do you have your ato? I’m leaning toward this tank but dang that stand is tight with that sump!

SPS2020 · Sep 3, 2021

Nick Steele said:
Curious where do you have your ato? I’m leaning toward this tank but dang that stand is tight with that sump!

Right beside the stand on the right hand side. It sits in between the stand and an amoir which contains my chiller and all electronics. I'll grab a picture and post later today or over the weekend.

Nick Steele · Sep 3, 2021

SPS2020 said:
Right beside the stand on the right hand side. It sits in between the stand and an amoir which contains my chiller and all electronics. I'll grab a picture and post later today or over the weekend.

Gotcha yeah that might be the only way to do it. Guess I’ll need to look into maybe getting a end table thing for my ato im sure the wife won’t want it in the open lol.

JustinMN18 · Sep 3, 2021

Nick Steele said:
Gotcha yeah that might be the only way to do it. Guess I’ll need to look into maybe getting a end table thing for my ato im sure the wife won’t want it in the open lol.

I do the same

SPS2020 · Feb 16, 2022

A few shots of the new ReefDose 4 installed. It does have wifi connection issues and is currently configured via a wifi hotspot on my phone. RedSea is investigating the issue. Both ReefWave45's are connected to wifi without issue.

Also, is a picture of a plastic "wall" which I made of Scosch speaker mounting board that I had laying around. Drilled two holes and with two zip ties made a nice barrier to prevent the refugium light from enabling algae in the protein skimmer. Really happy with how easy this was and how effective.

smiley28 · Feb 16, 2022

Nice choice on the reefdose!

KevinC · Feb 22, 2022

How did the high DKH worked out for you? Did you see more growth?

SPS2020 · Feb 22, 2022

KevinC said:
How did the high DKH worked out for you? Did you see more growth?

I think you would need to have two systems running in parallel to really discern if it made an impact.

At the time, I was using AFR but didn't like the lack of individual control of elements. So recently, I added a ReefDose4 and am dosing Alk, Ca, Mg and Part C independently. Currently, the system is running around 10.2 dkh. I'm hoping this is a sweet spot for PE, color and growth...only time will tell!

JustinMN18 · Mar 17, 2022

SPS2020 said:
A few pictures with latest additions. I cheated with a yellow Tiffen filter instead of using photo editing software.

Can I ask, do you still have the 2 gyres on the back blowing to the front? Is there any particular reason you chose to place them there, vs on the sides? I have 2 gyres, and trying to tune in my flow on my 100 ext. It doesn't seem like a good pattern.

Also, are those 4 AI 32HDs? How is the PAR on those? Would you mind sharing your light schedule/setting? I have 2 of them, and I'm wondering if I should add more. I have them going horizontally like you.

SPS2020 · Mar 17, 2022

JustinMN18 said:
Can I ask, do you still have the 2 gyres on the back blowing to the front? Is there any particular reason you chose to place them there, vs on the sides? I have 2 gyres, and trying to tune in my flow on my 100 ext. It doesn't seem like a good pattern.

Also, are those 4 AI 32HDs? How is the PAR on those? Would you mind sharing your light schedule/setting? I have 2 of them, and I'm wondering if I should add more. I have them going horizontally like you.

Hello,

Yes, I still have the gyres on the back wall blowing to the front. At night, they do a reverse flow at 100% for an hour to kick everything off the bottom that may have settled. I like them there especially because they blend in with the back wall and have almost no cords visible. So far, the Acroporas seem to be doing fine with that pattern.

There are four Hydra 32 HDs which are now housed in a DX 18 T5 fixture. See pics from Apr 6, 2021 in this thread. PAR values are fairly high; around 400+ a few inches below the surface and above 200 on the bottom. I need to check those values again soon to be sure I haven't lost anything with the aging of the T5's. However, all four of those are actinic, so the corals aren't going to feel much affect. The light schedule is posted on Aug 4, 2021. I'm using a slightly modified signature profile from David Saxby.