Innovative Marine Nuvo 20

[teamfreddy]

Hello R2R been lurking for a minute and finally getting around to setting up my tank. The new tank came with a home office remodel so while we waited on the remodel to be completed i started collecting parts and put some rock in a Brute trash can to cure.

Below are some Pics of the build including the room which is still WIP need to finish clean up on the desk and tank wiring.

Specs on the tank:

Innovative Marine Nuvo 20
MightyJet 538
AI Prime 16
ATO (Amazon Brand)
2 x 100 watt Aqueon Heater (Originally had 1 Sicce Scuba and it failed)
Neptune Apex EL and Neptune Energy Bar

bought ~ 20 Lbs of dry rock but only used ~10.
~12-15 lbs of sand

Current livestock 1 Maroon Lightning clown


below are the pics as things started coming together.

 

[lapin]

Nice

 

[teamfreddy]

I haven’t updated since I setup the tank. Since the last update I added a second lightning maroon, some snails and about a cup of “reef stew” from one of the LFS.

The ugly stage looks like it lasted about a week. Had lots of diatoms with gas bubbles then overnight one day no more bubbles and my rock and sand bed started clearing up.

Today I started seeing pods on the glass, guessing they are multiplying finally and also found what I thought was one of the kids fingerprints on the glass. Looks like my snails are laying eggs.

 

[teamfreddy]

Also changed the rock layout a bit. I think I have too much Live Rock but will roll with it for now. Might start looking for some Zoas in the next week or two.

Chamber Number 2 of the AIO will be for Cheato. I added a cheatomax light just waiting on the cheato to be delivered.

 

[teamfreddy]

Since I haven't updated in a while... I added the ChetoMax and added Cheato about 2 weeks ago. I am finally starting to see some growth in the Cheato. I also added "rubble" in one of the chambers... not sure if there will be any benefit or not but I did it anyways.

I already had a few Salifert testers (PH, Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate) and added a few Hanna Testers (Calcium, Alkalinity, Low Range Phosphate, and Magnesium). I ended up returning the Magnesium tester as the levels were way off and aligned with what other people were finding. After talking to a buddy I sold the LR Phosphate tester and picked up a ULR Tester.

I shouldn't be chasing numbers but I want to get Phosphate and Nitrate down. I have been doing ~2.5 gallon weekly water changes. This week I didn't see Nitrate change (25ppm) I tested before and after the change... Because of this I did a second water change today and still at 25ppm after the change makes me wonder if I am doing something wrong.

Current Parameters are as follows:

SG: 1.024 (Refractometer)
PH: 8.1 (Salifert/Neptune)
Ammonia: 0 (Salifert)
Nitrite: 0 (Salifert)
Nitrate: 25 (Salifert)
Phosphate: .23 (Hanna ULR)
Alk: 8.33 (Hanna)
Calcium: 471 (Hanna)
Mag: 1500 (Salifert) - Not sure how it's this high but the Hanna tester was at 1800.

With that said here are a few pics.

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I love that tank. I have one that I had to take down. I plan to do a bare bottom metal halide project with it down the road. Look forward to watching this progress!