Nuvo INT-112

[Sean Norman]

So I got into the hobby a year ago when I purchased a Bio Cube. I have learned so much since then, and still have so much to learn. My goal with the Bio Cube was to determine if I would really enjoy this hobby- another expensive one that I seem to be attracted to..
While there were some ups and downs- overall the family has thoroughly enjoyed the tank.
Just like all hobbies- the itch begins to expand your options. I initially thought I would get a peninsula tank, I began to look at the Nuvo Lagoon series. One of the things that I really liked about the Nuvo tanks- was the ability to purchase the tank only without a stand. I also liked the different style of aquascapes that are available in a wider and deeper tank.
I took advantage of the Black Friday sales on BRS and MD and purchased a lot of my support equipment. I saved a fair amount of money by doing that.
I did vacillate between the 112 and the 150, ultimately I chose the 112 due to the size of the tank fitting into the room and not taking it over.
I am by no means and expert and would not even consider myself an intermediate in this hobby- but when I was researching the lagoon styled tanks- there was not much information out there on them. S0, I decided to chronicle my build..
I ordered the tank and it took a few weeks for them to get the tank shipped. It showed up three days ago!
I live in a rural area of California. The trucking company would only deliver to the end of my driveway( curbside- even though we have no curbs). I met them out there and I had been given clear instructions from Innovative Marine to open the packing case and inspect the tank before accepting the delivery. I did that and then we used a pallet jack to move the crate into my truck.
The waybill stated the crate weighed 335 pounds. I am not sure it weighed that much, but it was heavy.
In anticipation of the tank arriving, I purchased a 500 pound hydraulic lift cart from Harbor Freight. I then bolted two 2x6's to the lift table.
Once the crate was in the back of my truck, I used a roller bar to slide it off and into the cribbing blocks in the back of our ranch John Deer Gator. From there I screwed 2x4's to the bottom of the crate to stiffen the packing crate. This allowed me to use the hydraulic lift table to function like a forklift. I lowered the crate onto a furniture moving cart that I use to build cabinets.
From there I was able to move the tank into the backyard.
The tank is beautiful! The interior drain holes are going to be awesome. I am going to begin building the tank stand this week. I plan to build a concrete counter top for it.
I have attached pics of the tank in the crate and my homemade forklift.
I will also update all my equipment.
I have been looking forward to this build for a few months now. I do have to move my Bio Cube to a different part of the house, before I can install the new tank. That will be an adventure all unto itself.
More to come..

 

[Sean Norman]

Brief update on my IM INT 112 build...
I got a little behind- we were visited by the flu bug, took the whole family down for over a week now.. it is no joke even with a flu shot...
My stand is almost done, I will upload some pics in the next day or two. I was able to pour the counter top , and I am working on staining it.
Today I finally did what I have been dreading and that was moving my existing tank. It actually went fairly painless. Biggest challenge was getting all the rock out that I had glued together. Several of the fish had decided to hide in the rock, so I had to move the rock very carefully.
They all went into a bucket with several coral frags and my Toadstool Mushroom. I put a small heater and PH in there.
I moved all the water over, and did a 10% water change.
After the water cleared up- about 4 hours, I put them all back in.
I was considering letting the tank run for two or three days before I put them in, but in talking with my LFS they said- don;t change too much.. they move tanks all the time for customers and suggested that keeping the fish in the bucket for too long could lead to stress.
I did keep about 1 inch of water over the sand bed, so it was minimally disturbed.
I did some basic sand vacuuming and then added rocks.
I did hold some of the rocks out and put them into my QT to help jump start my cycle in there.
I am hoping to get the stand and top done in the next week or so, and then begin the build on the new tank..

 

[JRAD]

That will be a nice tank! sorry about the flu- it is terrible!

 

[Sean Norman]

Update on my IM INT 112 build

Was able to get the stand completed. I built the base out of 4x4 doug fir corner posts and then attached 2x4's onto the 4x4's. This meant that all the 2x4's have full bearing strength rather than them hanging solely on nails. The floor of the sump area was framed in and 3/4 exterior plywood glued and screwed down. One coat primer and two coats of white gloss paint were applied. I did add some 2x4 cross members on the top of the base cabinet- one at the half way point and one at the load bearing point where the edge of the tank will sit. All the edges of the tank will line up with structural bearing members of the stand.
There is a 3 inch overhang in the front of the tank and a 5 inch overhang on the right side of the tank.
I built a panel that I will lock into place on the left side of the tank stand, but that I can remove if I need to get into the sump area on that side. The front will have two doors on a barn door rail system. I can easily slide them off to do major maintenance.
All the interior of the sump area was primed and painted.
I did leave the back portion open and a portion of the right side. This will not be visible. This will allow for heat and moisture dissipation from the sump area.
The exterior of the stand was done in recycled old barn Douglas Fir wood, that I milled and attached. It was finished with Waterlox Tung Oil and matches my other furniture I have built.
The top is 1 1/4 thick concrete. The footprint of the tank was poured smooth with cut outs where the internal plumbing lined up. This fit into the double rail system of the exterior framing on the stand. I made a cardboard template of the overflow and then transferred the holes for the plumbing to the concrete mold.
The front and side apron and edges I did in a barnwood pattern on the concrete. This was accomplished by using form liners that were set into the mold prior to the pour. I did use 3/8 rebar which I normally do not do on the pour- I usually use ladder wire for strength, but I also added a ton of fiber to increase strength.
No cracking after 10 days of it being out of the mold. Should be at full strength of 5000psi at 28 days. It is probably at 4000 psi now.
I stained the edges with three overlapping colors to give the aprons the look of weathered wood. I then applied two coats of a water based sealer.
The tank move itself was stressful- but two of us were able to carry it into the house and place it onto the stand.
One note of caution- I am embarrassed that with all my planning and figures- that I never bothered to measure any of my entry doors... The tank is 35 7/8 square... most doorways are not that wide. Even my sliders are only 32. Luckily my neighbor and I were able to life the tank, rotate it onto its side through the doorway and then back flat and carry it in one shot to the stand.
I love the lagoon style look and the aquascaping options.. but you must take that width into account when you order it and attempt to get it into the house...
I did add a separate side compartment that is closed off to the sump for my electronics. This will keep them away from any moisture and allow them to dissipate heat.

Next step is plumbing this weekend and then aquascaping. I am thinking of doing a taller back wall with a descending shelf and rubble pile with some separate islands of rocks for different coral colonies.
I would like to incorporate some Tongan Branch in there as well.
Excited for the next steps...

 

[Butcher333]

Supposed to be getting mine tomorrow. How goes it? What lighting do you think you’ll go with and have you picked out a sump yet?

 

[Sean Norman]

Supposed to be getting mine tomorrow. How goes it? What lighting do you think you’ll go with and have you picked out a sump yet?

I have the Radion XR-30-Pro, for the sump I got a Trigger Systems Emerald 39.
The Radion mount kit does not evenly distribute the light. I did not want a side to side mount- so I may be fabricating an extension to move the light out a little more to the middle of the tank.
The plumbing is tough- mostly my fault- I built the stand( tank only) and I wanted to be at the same level as some nearby furniture. So at 31 inches- it made plumbing tough. I also did a custom concrete counter top- I did not make the cutouts wide enough and placing the lock rings was tough.
Other than that the aquascaping options are awesome compared to a traditional tank.
Hoping to move some livestock in a week or two. Almost done with the cycle.
You will love the tank..

 

[OREGONIC]

Following, this is the tank I have been considering upgrading to. Ive had 3 years into a Red Sea e170, definitely due for an upgrade.

 

[Sean Norman]

Week 3 update on my Innovative Marine 112
I added some Pods last week and began feeding them with the Plankton. I kept my lights off until last week and then turned them on. This did bring about some GHL, but I am OK with that , to me that means my tank is on its way. It will also provide some forage for my Blennie and my Foxface.
I tested my water today when I got home:
SP 1.025
Temp 78.1
PH 8.2
Ammonia-0
KH 8.5
Nitrate- 5
Nitrite-0

I drip acclimated my two Clowns from my original tank, one snail that I could find and my Foxface and placed them into the tank- they all seem happy- the Foxface immediately went into a cave, but I did see him nibbling on some algae. The Clowns are swimming all over the tank.
I will wait a few days and move my Royal Gramma and my Starry Blennie in as well the rest of my snails and a sand sifting starfish.
I may purchase a few more snails tomorrow.
I did order some fish from Marine Collectors, so they will get here in two two three weeks. I will place them into my old Bio Cube and finish a QT with them, before placing them into my tank. MC is not cheap, but they do a lot of the initial work for you- especially with the more challenging fish.
I will wait a day or so and turn on my skimmer and I will move some Cheato into my refugium tomorrow.
I need to get my ATO set up, I am still balancing the water in the sump, trying to dial it all in and to match the flow with my overflow to eliminate noise.
One thing that I thought I would like and I now really do- is watching the fish not just swim back and forth- but in the lagoon styled tank they have a lot more swimming space front to back. It seems like it adds that third dimension. So far really happy with the INT-112.

 

[Sean Norman]

Pic of the tank

 

[Sean Norman]

1 Month update for my INT-112 Build..

Everything is going good. I did have an ammonia spike- to barely registering- so probably .01- I think it was due to me feeding live brine shrimp..- many of them were dead or died once they were placed into the tank- that may have caused the positive reading. I did a large water change yesterday.
I have put a lot of new corals in- all Zoa's and LPS. They are all doing good. All 5 of my original fish have been moved over( did it over 10 days). All doing well. My Royal Gramma did not take well to the move- and hid for three days before coming out.
I did pick up three Blue Grudeon Dartfish- they are in QT right now in my Biocube.
My skimmer is up and running great.
I have the Trigger Systems Saphire 39 for my sump. I chose to put my refugium in the second chamber and skimmer in the third. Some small amounts of Cheato and sea lettuce were sucked into the pump on the skimmer- making it very loud.
I had to purchase some egg crate like plastic and clamp it to the openings on the sump- this stopped the plant pieces from being sucked into the skimmer.
I have been trying to offer sea lettuce to the Foxface and Blennie- but they turn their noses up at it.. I have been pairing it with Nori- but they just eat around the lettuce..
I purchased an Apex EL and got it up and running this weekend. It is ok, but I think I need the Wxm module to pair the Radion G4 lights and the MP40.
The Dashboard is a nice feature.
My parameters last night:

SG 1.026
Temp 79.7
KH-7.6
PH 7.8
Nitrates-2( were a 10 the day before)
Ammonia-.01( on Red Sea kit- barely a green hue)

 

[Butcher333]

I’ve got to convert my stairs to a carpeted ramp and reinforce the side with foam board then wood. How many friends did you need to help move it in place?

 

[Sean Norman]

I’ve got to convert my stairs to a carpeted ramp and reinforce the side with foam board then wood. How many friends did you need to help move it in place?

It took two of us. It was actually not that bad t carry- just a little awkward. Being 36x36 it is really wide. Getting through doorways is not easy. We rotated it onto its edge as we went through the doorway, and then back down flat. We did it all in one carry.
Once it is off the pallet it is not that bad.

 

[OREGONIC]

Im waiting for one to be back in stock. Think I got the permission slip signed by the wife

 

[Butcher333]

It took two of us. It was actually not that bad t carry- just a little awkward. Being 36x36 it is really wide. Getting through doorways is not easy. We rotated it onto its edge as we went through the doorway, and then back down flat. We did it all in one carry.
Once it is off the pallet it is not that bad.

Whew! Your words inspired me. Left it in shipping container with reinforced foam along sides. Removed palette from base. Me and my brother managed it down the stairs after removing the doors and got it into the basement. I wouldn’t have called it easy but it’s done. Yaba daba doo.!!

 

[Sean Norman]

Whew! Your words inspired me. Left it in shipping container with reinforced foam along sides. Removed palette from base. Me and my brother managed it down the stairs after removing the doors and got it into the basement. I wouldn’t have called it easy but it’s done. Yaba daba doo.!!

Awesome! The aquascaping possibilities are endless with these tanks. I chose to do a descending wall with the idea that I was viewing the tank from the calmer side of the reef crest. I have some larger rocks in the back, with rubble fanning out and some pieces of Tongan Branch for some vertical reference.
I did add a mushroom styled rock out front, for some definition.
Overall I really like the tank- it awesome to watch the fish swim in all directions, rather than just back and forth.

 

[sfboarders]

Nice tank! Thinking about getting this tank. I see you have 1 light fixture on the back of the tank. Is it possible to put 2?

 

[Sean Norman]

Nice tank! Thinking about getting this tank. I see you have 1 light fixture on the back of the tank. Is it possible to put 2?

Yes, I only put one XR30 Pro- it does a good job. I am a relative newbie- so I am not planning on a lot of SPS. I have mostly LPS and a few Mushrooms. The XR-30 covers most of the tank, I did add the diffuser they offer and it seemed to flatten the light out. I thought about two XR15's but in the end I got the single 30. I don't see an issue with adding a second XR30 sized light.

 

[Marlon C]

Man I really like these tanks. You sure it wasnt corona back in January

 

[Sean Norman]

Really loving the tank, it offers a lot of cool views and it is great to watch the fish be able to swim in all directions.
We have discussed that we may have had it, we had a lot of the symptoms. Too bad they are not doing any antibody testing...

 

[OREGONIC]

Really loving the tank, it offers a lot of cool views and it is great to watch the fish be able to swim in all directions.
We have discussed that we may have had it, we had a lot of the symptoms. Too bad they are not doing any antibody testing...

One of my buddies thinks he had it in mid January. He thought it was just a bad cold that he was really sick from for over a week and a half. As more news broke about covid he said he was pretty sure thats what he had. He had lost his smell and taste and took over a month to come back. I believe this covid has been around here in US longer then what we know. He drive Lyft for a living and does lots of airport trips. Hopefully we get some antibody testing aval soon.