Simple Nuvo 30L LPS Dominate ReeF

Djhype97 · Sep 19, 2018

So here it goes. My first build thread on R2R! I’m super excited to start this journey with you all. With this tank I will try to K.I.S.S (keep it simple stupid). I plan on having mainly LPS, 4 maybe 5 fish and not go crazy on equipment. So far I have the stock return pump, a pair of kessil a160’s with controller and a media basket on the way.

Here’s the first pic. Getting her filled up!

Djhype97 · Sep 19, 2018

NY_Caveman · Sep 20, 2018

Nice! So many cubes around here, nice to see a long, narrow tank! Nothing against cubes of course.

Djhype97 · Sep 20, 2018

Starting to look into a good skimmer. I’m thinking a Ghost or Tunze? I really do not want to get a HOB, just because I want a clean look and not anything that is going to stick out? Recommendations please....

Chrisfish · Sep 20, 2018

I can’t recommend a skimmer as I used a HOB but wanted to say I really like this tank and looking forward to seeing more

NY_Caveman · Sep 20, 2018

Djhype97 said:
Starting to look into a good skimmer. I’m thinking a Ghost or Tunze? I really do not want to get a HOB, just because I want a clean look and not anything that is going to stick out? Recommendations please....

I have the Tunze 9004 in my JBJ 45 Flat Panel and it works great and silently. I am very happy with what it pulls out. It would fit in your overflow chambers, but not the second chambers on that tank.

Rakie · Sep 20, 2018

NY_Caveman said:
Nice! So many cubes around here, nice to see a long, narrow tank! Nothing against cubes of course.

You only say that because I haven't won the lottery and got my 12'x12' cube yet.

In the mean time, nice non-cube @Djhype97

NY_Caveman · Sep 20, 2018

Rakie said:
You only say that because I haven't won the lottery and got my 12'x12' cube yet.

In the mean time, nice non-cube @Djhype97

x 12’ tall? I’ll get my snorkel.

Djhype97 · Sep 21, 2018

:Quick update: I had started cycling the tank on the day it was filled up using 2 or 3 MarinePure bioballs from an existing Fluval 5 gallon setup I currently have up. I threw in 2 additional MarinePure balls into the 30L. I tested for Ammonia yesterday evening and am seeing a reading of about 1.0 using an API test kit that is about to expire next month. I'm hoping that the tank will be ready for a fish or two by this weekend, as I've been able to seed tanks and get them running in a few days on other setups.
Let me know if any of you have experience 'seeding' new systems and generally how long it took to get it ready.

Djhype97 · Sep 29, 2018

Update: I’ve been trying to get the tank to cycle since it’s set up. This past Monday I added a small bottle of bio spira. I’ve been testing throughout the week and ammonia has went from 4 ppm to 0 ppm (as of Thursday) and I’ve been getting nitrites since Wednesday from 2 ppm to what looks like .50 ppm today. Nitrates are crazy up like 80 ppm. Not sure if i should let nitrites go down on their own or do a water change?

Dprosser4 · Oct 4, 2018

Djhype97 said:
Starting to look into a good skimmer. I’m thinking a Ghost or Tunze? I really do not want to get a HOB, just because I want a clean look and not anything that is going to stick out? Recommendations please....

Have the same tank, love my Eshoppes nano skimmer, work almost too good.

dantimdad · Oct 4, 2018

Let it run it's course. Go ahead and add a skimmer. That'll help with things.

People tend to see algae and high nitrates at the end of a cycle and start reacting. I wouldn't.

BTW, really like the tank!

dantimdad · Oct 4, 2018

Let it run it's course. Go ahead and add a skimmer. That'll help with things.

People tend to see algae and high nitrates at the end of a cycle and start reacting. I wouldn't.

BTW, really like the tank!

Djhype97 · Oct 4, 2018

This past Monday I tested again and have seen 0 nitrites. I let things run its course and it’s been steady at 0 ammonia & nitrites. I did a small water change and parameters have stayed the same. I added a CUC just today!

NS Mike D · Oct 7, 2018

I will make the contrarian post on the skimmer here.
One school of thought is that you can always add a skimmer later since it is not needed for a nano, especially a LPS dominant tank. Water changes should be sufficient and nano skimmers are not all that effective. Folks will post pics of the green sludge that their skimmer is pulling out, but I question if they are pulling stuff that LPS corals want. There are more than enough beautiful nanos with and without skimmers to say only one way works. But since space is limited and you don't have a sump to hide the skimmer, I suggest letting your tank go through the uglies given it time to mature, before deciding whether or not you need a skimmer

Djhype97 · Jan 17, 2019

3 month update on this tank: In late October I added 2 fish, a Midas Blenny and a green Christmas wrasse. I really liked the wrasse as I wanted to have active swimmers in the display, but this little guy kept killing off all of my crabs! So back to the LFS it went.

Since then I’ve added 2 clowns: 1 ocellaris and a snowflake clown, a royal gramma and a yellow watchman goby, a pistol shrimp (which I never see), a blood shrimp, and more snails/crabs.

Just yesterday I noticed that my Midas Blenny wasn’t coming out for feeding as it normally darts out before I drop food in, but eventually it came out to eat.... today I found my crabs going to town on it..... mr Blenny passed away. Not exactly sure why, because all Params are In check and all other livestock is doing well.

I’ve added a green hammer coral and green with purple tip frogspawn. Today I added a Frag if a Purple Stylo

For equipment, I’ve added a smart micro ATO, an Ice cap 1k gyre for flow, some spin streams, and a Ghost Skimmer. I’m not too crazy about this skimmer, it has taken over 2 weeks to start getting any skimmate. PLEASE if someone here has experience with it, let me know how to tune it up!!!

I’m thinking of upgrading the return pump as well but not sure which way to go with that.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics:

Djhype97 · Jan 19, 2019

Went to the store yesterday and got a good deal on a small Tonga branch with Chemical Romance Zoas.

NY_Caveman · Jan 20, 2019

Djhype97 said:
3 month update on this tank: In late October I added 2 fish, a Midas Blenny and a green Christmas wrasse. I really liked the wrasse as I wanted to have active swimmers in the display, but this little guy kept killing off all of my crabs! So back to the LFS it went.

Since then I’ve added 2 clowns: 1 ocellaris and a snowflake clown, a royal gramma and a yellow watchman goby, a pistol shrimp (which I never see), a blood shrimp, and more snails/crabs.

Just yesterday I noticed that my Midas Blenny wasn’t coming out for feeding as it normally darts out before I drop food in, but eventually it came out to eat.... today I found my crabs going to town on it..... mr Blenny passed away. Not exactly sure why, because all Params are In check and all other livestock is doing well.

I’ve added a green hammer coral and green with purple tip frogspawn. Today I added a Frag if a Purple Stylo

For equipment, I’ve added a smart micro ATO, an Ice cap 1k gyre for flow, some spin streams, and a Ghost Skimmer. I’m not too crazy about this skimmer, it has taken over 2 weeks to start getting any skimmate. PLEASE if someone here has experience with it, let me know how to tune it up!!!

I’m thinking of upgrading the return pump as well but not sure which way to go with that.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics: