Options on a skimmer for a IM NUVO 40 fusion?

[Jlit249]

Looking to get a skimmer for my IM NUVO 40. I have a coralife that I got with the tank but I want something that Doesn’t need adjustment like a air pump powered one does. I was looking at the IM NUVO skimmer midsize. It sure what other options are good.

 

[Tuffyyyyy]

How stocked is your tank? I had the Tunze 9004 on mine for a while but ended up just not running one on mine because I wanted the overflow chambers.

 

[Jlit249]

Well it’s actually not stocked yet, I just “finished cycling” my tank. I have 0 ammonia and 0 nitrite. But I have about 50-100mg/l showing on nitrates with the Salifert test. Anyways, I wanted to get a protein skimmer that was dc. I don’t like air pumps lol.
I plan on starting to two oscellaris clownfish. And a clean up crew. So not heavily stocked.

 

[muzikalmatt]

I'm using the IM Ghost skimmer in the 2nd chamber from the right on my IM Nuvo 40. It's not a great skimmer, but it does a pretty good job for how small it is. It broke in fairly quickly and I haven't had issues with microbubbles like others have. I do have to skim pretty wet though. Overall the issue with skimmers in these small AIO tanks is the lack of available space. Small skimmers just don't perform well when compared to larger ones. I don't think I'd rely on one as my primary method of nutrient export, but it does help and I like the aeration it provides.

Other options are the Tunze 9004 but I believe it will only fit in the far right or left chambers which means you can't use a media basket or any mechanical filtration on that side. If you want DC, IM has a new model the Nuvoskim that is DC controllable. Another route is going with a HOB skimmer and there are several good options such as the Aquamaxx.

My primary nutrient control methods on my IM Nuvo 40 are my refugium (2nd chamber from the left), chemipure blue and mechanical filtration (filter pads on both side chambers). I think the skimmer is just supplemental for me and for oxygenation.

 

[45ZoaGarden]

I would get a tunze 9004. You don’t need two media baskets. I have the 9004 on my jbj45 and love it. It’s a great skimmer. I have the non DC version because they didn’t make the DC when I bought mine. There isn’t really a big difference. The dc is just more consistent and has a controllable pump speed.

 

[Jlit249]

I'm using the IM Ghost skimmer in the 2nd chamber from the right on my IM Nuvo 40. It's not a great skimmer, but it does a pretty good job for how small it is. It broke in fairly quickly and I haven't had issues with microbubbles like others have. I do have to skim pretty wet though. Overall the issue with skimmers in these small AIO tanks is the lack of available space. Small skimmers just don't perform well when compared to larger ones. I don't think I'd rely on one as my primary method of nutrient export, but it does help and I like the aeration it provides.

Other options are the Tunze 9004 but I believe it will only fit in the far right or left chambers which means you can't use a media basket or any mechanical filtration on that side. If you want DC, IM has a new model the Nuvoskim that is DC controllable. Another route is going with a HOB skimmer and there are several good options such as the Aquamaxx.

My primary nutrient control methods on my IM Nuvo 40 are my refugium (2nd chamber from the left), chemipure blue and mechanical filtration (filter pads on both side chambers). I think the skimmer is just supplemental for me and for oxygenation.

Yea I was looking into the refugium as well but I’m new to the hobby so I’m not entirely sure the best way to start that in one of the chambers. Right now I need to take care of nitrates lol. What set up do you have for your refugium?

 

[Jlit249]

I would get a tunze 9004. You don’t need two media baskets. I have the 9004 on my jbj45 and love it. It’s a great skimmer. I have the non DC version because they didn’t make the DC when I bought mine. There isn’t really a big difference. The dc is just more consistent and has a controllable pump speed.

Ok I’m gonna check it out!

 

[muzikalmatt]

Yea I was looking into the refugium as well but I’m new to the hobby so I’m not entirely sure the best way to start that in one of the chambers. Right now I need to take care of nitrates lol. What set up do you have for your refugium?

You can see my refugium setup explained in this post here. There are also several pictures of the setup in that post as well.

Basically, I'm using the inTank refugium basket with chaetomorpha in the 2nd chamber, and I'm lighting it with the IM ChaetoMax light from the rear of the tank (you have to remove the black backing to allow the light to penetrate). It works great and is a cheap/natural way of controlling nutrients. I had issues with high nitrates in my tank (20-30ppm) and after installing the refugium they've been pretty steady between 2-7ppm. Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to answer them!

 

[92Miata]

We have two Nuvo40s in the house and a Nuvo 10. All came with IM skimmers (so we have a Midsize, a Midsize DC, and a Desktop I Think). They all came with the tanks.

They'll all be replaced eventually. They're loud, and they don't work particularly well. The body/cup of the DC, which is the newest one, is a poorer design than the older one - which is crazy.

If you're going to spend money, I would recommend steering away from them.

The problem with small skimmers isn't space - its generally design. There's just not a ton of money in the space - so not a lot of design time gets put into them - they're generally just either scaled down versions of bigger skimmers, or slapped together - and neither really work. The necks are almost always too narrow (which is why its basically wet, or nothing), and they're too turbulent internally. All of the IM skimmers have both these issues.

The also 'chug' - you can hear the pump hitting air bubbles because it pulls in too much air - you can restrict the air intake, but that just makes the turbulence worse. I think this is part of why the DC version seems to eat pumps.

The Tunze 9004 fits, and I've heard good things, but never used one. It moves significantly more air, and has a better designed cup. I've heard the aquamax ws-1 works well, but needs to go in the return section. There are a couple others that fit (and abunch of HOBS) - but I can't remember them at the moment :/