Nuvo 20

[PR_nano]

What do you plan on running in the reactor?

I ran GFO when I saw what appear to be cyano on the rocks thinking it was caused by high phosphate. I don't have a test kit for it yet so I removed it and replace it with a media basket. The media basket has floss, Chemi-pure blue, and some ceramic sphere media.

Future coral plans?

The gf wants to build a small Zoa garden on the frag rock. I really like the idea to add lots of coloration to the tank. I would like a Montipora encrusted on the rocks. I'm thinking the Dragonfruit monti.

 

[Chlorinated]

I used to run Chemipur, but quickly found I was just wasting my money. The carbon is exhausted within 2 weeks. You can buy bulk carbon and purigen and put into bags for much cheaper and change out as often as needed without wasting one or the other.

Purigen is super small so make sure you get a bag with a small enough mesh so it doesnt flush out of the bag.

 

[Reef.]

I used to run Chemipur, but quickly found I was just wasting my money. The carbon is exhausted within 2 weeks. You can buy bulk carbon and purigen and put into bags for much cheaper and change out as often as needed without wasting one or the other.

Purigen is super small so make sure you get a bag with a small enough mesh so it doesnt flush out of the bag.

Can you recommend a brand of bag to use, as I am going to go this route, not having much luck finding a bag small enough for a nano and which also with small mesh holes.

 

[PR_nano]

Purigen is super small so make sure you get a bag with a small enough mesh so it doesn't flush out of the bag

That is a great idea, I heard of others mixing their own media. I saw some 180 Micron Mesh Filter Bags which may work but would also like to know which one you are using.

 

[Chlorinated]

That is a great idea, I heard of others mixing their own media. I saw some 180 Micron Mesh Filter Bags which may work but would also like to know which one you are using.

I won't mix carbon and Purigen as they exhaust at different rates. Standard media bags will work for carbon. As for Purigen...Seachem makes a bag called "The Bag"...its a super fine mesh just like they send Purigen in, but refillable. It's like $8 per bag which is steep in my opinion, but it many options on the market that can keep it contained.

For the record, I stopped using purigen and only run carbon now (BRS Rox 0.8) and change out every 2 weeks. I didnt notice much benefit from Purigen personally,but I know some people wont go without it. When I did run it, it was changed every 2-3months.

 

[PR_nano]

The not so pretty - In preparation for an upcoming week long vacation I decided to set up and test an auto feeder. It appeared to work properly the first couple of days but I added a second feeding schedule and bump the food slider in the process. It dump a ton of food into the tank creating a not so pleasant algae bloom. I took it offline, performed water and filter change. The tank still cloudy so I will perform another water/pad change this weekend.

Parameters are Alk 11.5, P04 0, Cal 450, Mag 1400.

New corals - acro, chalice, cyphastrea, duncan, monti, & zoa
New cuc - 3 cerith, 6 micro stars, 100 pods
1st loss 1 nerite snail (They stink after ~2 days, lol) The favia is not looking good.

Plans - No more additions until we return from the trip*. Afterwards find a Pink Streak wrasse as second fish. Add Tonga branch behind the existing rocks in a 45 angle (might do 1st). Add a few acro to the rocks for elevation, move non-zoa from the frag rock and add more colorful zoa to it.

 

[Nick Steele]

Looking good!

Sorry to hear about the auto feeder though. I can’t get myself to try them.

 

[PR_nano]

Looks like a cerith snail was busy laying eggs last night. Wonder how long it takes to hatch if they make it to that point, read anywhere from 4 days up to 2 weeks.

 

[smithcamt]

Looks great!! Glad I stumbled on this thread -- I just got a Nuvo 20 last month, and should be almost complete with the cycling process .

Question -- for the additional powerheads (which I'm definitely considering), this might be a dumb q, but how do you plug them in with the mesh top?

Here's my aquascape!

 

[PR_nano]

Here's my aquascape!

I really like the scape. Do you have a thread?

The previous owner removed a corner tab on the backside of the lid. I ran the cable thru it and it's easier to remove the lid. I will take pictures in the afternoon. (Updated Picture)

 

[smithcamt]

I really like the scape. Do you have a thread?

The previous owner removed a corner tab on the backside of the lid. I ran the cable thru it and it's easier to remove the lid. I will take pictures in the afternoon.

Thank you, and same for your scape.

A picture would be great. That's what I figured I'd more than likely have to do.

And I just created an introductory thread the other week saying hi to R2R -- https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/new-guy-from-dallas.680240/

 

[PR_nano]

Small update:

Added (2) Ricordea and (1) Psammocora
Added Apex controller
Dosed Nitrogen and Phosphorus to get detectable lvl
Aiptasia made it's way to the tank
Montiporas are not doing good, will dip before trip

Plan
Add Tonga, found a LFS that sells the real reef branches
Buy Wireless chip for MP10 and WXM

 

[ryan-23]

Nice Rock Work!!

 

[PR_nano]

Nice Rock Work!!

Thanks! still want to add a piece of branch on the back.

Small update: Life is starting back again in the reef after the trip. During my 8 days vacation Nitrates went from 10 to over 50. The culprit was a food ring that prevented the pellets from going to the overflow. Lost (4) of the stony frags. Nitrates still high around 20 but have saltwater mixing, aiming for ~10.

Bought the WMX and the RF chip for the MP10 but need to find a program to run.
Visited an LFS and saw 2 Randall assessors, really want a yellow one but might get the blue if it's still available later this week

Looking for reef safe GHA eaters. One of the rocks got covered after the NO3 spike. Researching some of these hermit, sea hares, tuxedo urchin, blenny.

Recommendations are welcome.

 

[PR_nano]

Added a pink streaked wrasse as the second fish and a Mexican turbo snail. All parameters are finally back within range. The turbo went to town on the GHA the first day but now spends his time on the glass and back panel.

New management and lease, per contract I now need to have permission to keep the tank in writing. I only had verbal with the previous management. One of the handyman suggested I move the tank further away from the outlet, no GFI due to the way it was design.

Later this week I will be moving the tank about 20' from it's current location, send formal request for tank, and hope they don't say there is a size limit. Nothing on contract but handyman said other residents have 10g and smaller.

 

[Nick Steele]

Looking good! Is that a lot of particulate in the water column or on the glass?

Tell them it’s a 10G if they really have a size limit. Most places wouldn’t know the difference tbh I had a buddy do that in his dorm room years ago.

Also my current landlord said no pets at all. When we went to look we explained I had a 55G and a 6.5G. We reassured her that both tanks were brand new and wouldn’t be any problem. Also explained I work in the industry so she didn’t have a problem with the tanks and only asked we got renters insurance that would cover flood damage. 8 months into the lease we added the Nuvo 20 and she visited a month or so after and said Nice new tank when she seen it lol

 

[PR_nano]

Mostly glass and back panel, have a ton of spirorbid, pods, hyroids. I do get particulates on the water column I believe it was from adding sand after water. It has reduced significantly but from time to time the return pump push silt from the back chamber.

I'm guessing they just want to make sure we get additional insurance in case there's a leak. I don't blame them, that's my biggest fear. I already have renters insurance which cover water damage but not flood, might need to get flooding. The office is closed so I can only email.

 

[cmoore806]

Did you ever find a good brand for small mesh bags for this? Im running into a similar problem with a 13.5 gallon Fluval.

 

[PR_nano]

Did you ever find a good brand for small mesh bags for this?

Yes, I ended getting the Boyd Enterprises ABE16720 2 pack from Amazon. High quality nylon bags, I recommend them. I'm using one running carbon on it.

 

[cmoore806]

Yes, I ended getting the Boyd Enterprises ABE16720 2 pack from Amazon. High quality nylon bags, I recommend them. I'm using one running carbon on it.

Those are about twice as long as I need. I’m only using a tablespoon or two of rox carbon in a 4x 8 bag and it seems like it’s better to have less bag mucking up flow. I’m new though.