Juan's IM Nuvo 30L Reef Aquarium Build

juanrmattos · Oct 6, 2016

You guys like naked pictures?... Here you go!!!

Extremely happy with the guys at IluminAqua, they work fast, always keep you updated and ship super fast!!!... Prices are very reasonable as well.

EchoPapaGolf · Oct 6, 2016

How am I just seeing your build? Looks great!

juanrmattos · Oct 7, 2016

.

I'm not going to ruin the surprise, but this build has taken a serious shove into "getting real"...

One thing is certain... I will be on Ramen and Noodle soup breakfast, lunch and dinner for weeks

juanrmattos · Oct 8, 2016

Installed the Osmolator and ATO reservoir...

Will replace the hose and sensor bracket, way too big for this application...

I also had to use the last switch at the bottom on the power rack, the osmolator uses an adapter instead of a regular connector.

Moving along...

EchoPapaGolf · Oct 8, 2016

juanrmattos said:
.

I'm not going to ruin the surprise, but this build has taken a serious shove into "getting real"...

One thing is certain... I will be on Ramen and Noodle soup breakfast, lunch and dinner for weeks

Soooooo.......what did you get? Lol

juanrmattos · Oct 8, 2016

EchoPapaGolf said:
Soooooo.......what did you get? Lol

We will know on Tuesday

Truly hoping to receive the aragonite this week (We are going on three weeks now, they may have sent it in DHL donkey

).

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2016

juanrmattos said:
Awesome!!!... if you turn down the pump on the small reactor to about 1/3 of the flow, you can use it for the carbon

Once you experience the Zeovit program, you'll be hooked for life.

I have just ordered my Zeovit Nano pack! The Zeovit adventure begins.

juanrmattos · Oct 10, 2016

Zoaeasy said:
I have just ordered my Zeovit Nano pack! The Zeovit adventure begins.

Cool!!!.... Which one did you get?, the Nano power package?

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2016

juanrmattos said:
Cool!!!.... Which one did you get?, the Nano power package?

Yes the Nano pack with best reef salt and carbon. I also got some Zeobac although I will cycle with Dr Tim's one and only.

juanrmattos · Oct 10, 2016

Zoaeasy said:
Yes the Nano pack with best reef salt and carbon. I also got some Zeobac although I will cycle with Dr Tim's one and only.

I'd advice to do the cycle program with the Zeo Back and Zeo Start they are the bacterial foundation... AND Remember, no mechanical media (No floss, no sponges or similar). Best of luck, I'm kind of jealous that you will start the cycle (The good kind of jealous though)

juanrmattos · Oct 10, 2016

I was very bothered with the Tunze bracket, to the point that it made me wake up in the middle of the night... Ended up improvising a little with a magnet cleaner, not totally sold still, but much better

Got the Main pump replacement today

Still no Aragonite... The guys at KorallenZucht keep saying is in transit but they have no tracking number... Fighting the urge but Carib Sea is looking good right now

EchoPapaGolf · Oct 10, 2016

I went with Tropic Eden Reeflakes and Miniflakes.....best substrate available IMO.

juanrmattos · Oct 10, 2016

EchoPapaGolf said:
I went with Tropic Eden Reeflakes and Miniflakes.....best substrate available IMO.

Tropic Eden has a good quality substrate... I'm just too set in my ways (Meaning old lol)... If I have to consider swaping, I may go with Black substrate.

About to throw a tantrum though!!!

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2016

juanrmattos said:
I'd advice to do the cycle program with the Zeo Back and Zeo Start they are the bacterial foundation... AND Remember, no mechanical media (No floss, no sponges or similar). Best of luck, I'm kind of jealous that you will start the cycle (The good kind of jealous though)

Thanks I will order some Can I use filter socks to out until cycled?

juanrmattos · Oct 10, 2016

Zoaeasy said:
Thanks I will order some Can I use filter socks to out until cycled?

No, no filter or water polishing socks, they will trap all the nutrients and elements and it would be a total waste... if you have detritus, you can use some floss for a few hours (Preferably use only for couple hours before dosing ), but on a reef this size a weekly water change combined with the Zeolites and the Carbon should keep your water pristine.

Zoaeasy · Oct 10, 2016

juanrmattos said:
Tropic Eden has a good quality substrate... I'm just too set in my ways (Meaning old lol)... If I have to consider swaping, I may go with Black substrate.

About to throw a tantrum though!!!

juanrmattos said:
No, no filter or water polishing socks, they will trap all the nutrients and elements and it would be a total waste... if you have detritus, you can use some floss for a few hours (Preferably use only for couple hours before dosing ), but on a reef this size a weekly water change combined with the Zeolites and the Carbon should keep your water pristine.

Great that means that I have two extra chambers to use!

juanrmattos · Oct 10, 2016

Zoaeasy said:
Great that means that I have two extra chambers to use!

You can pre-wash your sand in RO/DI water (Assuming is dry) to flush all the residue, it would help stabilize your cycle (This is why I decided to cure the rock for a couple weeks... more of a filtration process than a cure).

I'm saving the side chambers for Automatic Elements (Magnesium etc).

I wish you the best of luck, positive you're going to see the difference from the start.

Zoaeasy · Oct 11, 2016

juanrmattos said:
You can pre-wash your sand in RO/DI water (Assuming is dry) to flush all the residue, it would help stabilize your cycle (This is why I decided to cure the rock for a couple weeks... more of a filtration process than a cure).

I'm saving the side chambers for Automatic Elements (Magnesium etc).

I wish you the best of luck, positive you're going to see the difference from the start.

I am going bare bottom with Marine pure in the back. What do you use to do the start up . The guide I found stated Zeobak, Zeostart and sponge power. How do you do the initial cycle?

juanrmattos · Oct 11, 2016

Zoaeasy said:
I am going bare bottom with Marine pure in the back. What do you use to do the start up . The guide I found stated Zeobak, Zeostart and sponge power. How do you do the initial cycle?

These are the exact ZeoVit parameters to accomplish a 14 day cycle , I cannot stress enough to follow them in that exact same way without skipping or altering any procedure no matter how insignificant it may seem... It may be the difference between failure and success.

If you need any additional help, please feel free to reach out via PM.