Starting a no-expense-spared 10g sps nano, advice needed

[jnbrex]

I'm planning on purchasing one of these two carts later today depending on whether I decide to go for 10g or 20g.

10 gallon cart


20 gallon cart


I'm not planning on buying an Apex controller. If I do use one, it will be a Reef Pi, but that will be something I set up at a later date. I'm also going to wait on buying salt, algae scraper, test kits, refractometer, supplements, and live sand later on since I'm not planning to set up this tank until late December or early January.

It seems like most of you are heavily pushing me toward the 20g, but objectively, are both of these carts good for their respective tank size?

And, am I forgetting anything?

 

[speedstar]

What was your reason for that brand ATO?

 

[jnbrex]

Ranjib recommended it.

 

[speedstar]

For example, my ATO is only given power for 15 seconds every 30 minutes, so if my ATO malfunctions and is stuck on, it would literally take about 2 days for my tank to overflow. k.

awesome idea, think i'll setup mine this way as well now.

 

[speedstar]

Ranjib recommended it.

can't argue with that. I just had no experience with that brand so asked

 

[speedstar]

Also I have the IM-40, I really like it, but really wish I would have bought a SR-80. I'd get the 20 if in your situation. I also have the same dream tank look that you posted originally

 

[hart24601]

I would suggest looking at the smart aqua auto water changing system. Not that much more money and it's ato built in. Hydra 52 is nice light no doubt. I still would prefer orphek compact having run both AI and orphek, but it will not do you wrong. Having owned many kessils I would probably go with ai prime for the 10g.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/auto-water-changer-autoaqua.html

 

[jnbrex]

Thanks for the suggestion Hart. I think I'm going to go for it over just the ATO in case I decide to use the auto water change capability one day.

 

[Ranjib]

Looks perfect :-0) . I would suggest get only one mp10, and get another one later if you think its neede. One is more than enough for my 29G. I do agree more flow is better and running two of them at lower speed in reef crest mode will be pretty darn good . But they are expensive :-/

 

[Ranjib]

I'm planning on purchasing one of these two carts later today depending on whether I decide to go for 10g or 20g.

10 gallon cart


20 gallon cart


I'm not planning on buying an Apex controller. If I do use one, it will be a Reef Pi, but that will be something I set up at a later date. I'm also going to wait on buying salt, algae scraper, test kits, refractometer, supplements, and live sand later on since I'm not planning to set up this tank until late December or early January.

It seems like most of you are heavily pushing me toward the 20g, but objectively, are both of these carts good for their respective tank size?

And, am I forgetting anything?

For salt water mixing, you'll need additional pump (may be reuse the one that comes with the tank ) and heater. They'll also act as your backup pump heater in case of emergency. A trip lite independently switchable 8 outlet power strip will be very very handy. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0068LACFI/
You'll need additional buckets for preparing salt water mix. Digital thermometer, a refractometer is also very useful.

 

[Ranjib]

For salt water mixing, you'll need additional pump (may be reuse the one that comes with the tank ) and heater. They'll also act as your backup pump heater in case of emergency. A trip lite independently switchable 8 outlet power strip will be very very handy. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0068LACFI/
You'll need additional buckets for preparing salt water mix. Digital thermometer, a refractometer is also very useful.

Media rack? Or IM comes with it? Chemipure blue (get the nano packs, run two, and change one every 2 months), filter pads (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KYS02EG/)?

If you do end up going with dry rock, I'll recommend using purple up , to speed up coralline growth

 

[ScottBrew]

I would recommend the value plus RO/DI system. Comes with flush valve, pressure gauge and a dual TDS meter. Flush valve will extend the membrane life and good to know the TDS and pressure for filter change intervals.

 

[speedstar]

Media rack? Or IM comes with it? Chemipure blue (get the nano packs, run two, and change one every 2 months), filter pads (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KYS02EG/)?

If you do end up going with dry rock, I'll recommend using purple up , to speed up coralline growth

i just got the "in-tank" media rack to replace my filter sock. Great build quality, for now using it with GFO,GAC, biological gems, and filter floss. May change to fuge in future.

 

[infinite0180]

I have the nuvo 20. I have the intank media rack and the intank floss holder. Deffinitely worth it. Although im tearing down the tank and setting up a RS reefer so i can have a sump. The AIO is ok for short term but i got sick of it. I figure if i really want to set myself up for success then i need to do what the successful people do, most of them have sumps... just my opinion after owning a nuvo for awhile. Also FWIW ive been growing sps in mine with an older prime (non hd model), i run a long photoperiod and it was producing results...

 

[A777flygirl]

Does the sicce 1.5 pump work with the fusion 20 existing umbing or do you have to replace it?

 

[jnbrex]

Oh wait! I don’t think a 1.5 will fit, good call. I’ll have to go with the 1.0. No big deal because I’ll have the mp10.

Thanks for catching that Flygirl!

 

[btmedic04]

Oh wait! I don’t think a 1.5 will fit, good call. I’ll have to go with the 1.0. No big deal because I’ll have the mp10.

Thanks for catching that Flygirl!

If you want maximum flow, DC powered and controllable for your return pump, look at the innovative marine mighty jet desktop. Its 326 gph and is designed to fit in the center chamber of the nuvo 20 and below. https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/mighty-jet-desktop-aio-dc-return-pump-326-gph-innovative-marine.html

I currently have a nuvo 20 with the following equipment:

Icecap ATO (I love the dual optical sensors for fill and over fill and the audible alarm + shutoff)
Ecotech Radion XR 15w G4 Pro
RMS mount
Ecotech Vortech MP10WQD
Ecotech Reeflink
Sicce 1.0 return pump (has plenty of flow but am considering the above mentioned DC option from IM)
Cobalt Neotherm 75w heater
Innovative Marine Minimax desktop reactor (fit mine in chamber 2 on the back right)
Eshopps Nano Skimmer (in chamber 2 on left side)
InTank Floss holders for both sides (If I need to run a fuge, 1 will be replaced with the media basket)
1x 90g package of marinepure gems in a media bag under one of the floss holders
~12lbs of dry reef saver rock
1lb of live rock from the LFS
20lbs Bimini Pink sand
0.8 Rox Carbon
BRS HC GFO
Innovative Marine Black APS Stand

I run my lighting for 12 hours using the AB+ SPS spectrum at 65% of max intensity (actuality it runs at 45%) and I have programed my MP10WQD to run 5 hours of reef crest in the morning at 60%, 4 hours of tidal swell mode at 60%, 5 hours of lagoon mode at 60% before lights out, and 10 hours at 20% for the night.

I just finished my cycle and will begin adding the CUC this week, and going from there. My plan is for a mixed reef. Hope some of this helps!

 

[jnbrex]

Wow Btmedic, that's pretty similar to the build I'm going for... just with almost every brand different haha. How do you like the stand?

 

[btmedic04]

Wow Btmedic, that's pretty similar to the build I'm going for... just with almost every brand different haha. How do you like the stand?

Hehe well I saw your parts list at the very beginning and it looked almost identical to mine when I was piecing things together. As far as the APS stand goes, it is a tank. zero instability anywhere whatsoever. I will say though that when I was putting it together there were a lot of aluminum shavings in the package, so make sure you clean up the floor real good when you're done. The only thing I don't like about it is the lack of a shelf. Innovative Marine is supposed to come out with shelves for their APS stands, but so far only the lagoon 25/nuvo 40 stand has the shelf kit released.

 

[jnbrex]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a better digital control heater? I pretty much arbitrarily picked the finnex. Not sure if there are better options that are less likely to fail.