The thread is to document my first AIO tank. I like having a tank in our bedroom and after having a reefer 170 for 6+ years it developed a seam failure so I broke it down and am replacing it with an innovative marine nuvo 20 long. IM is out if stock but thanks to @steveschuerger I found one in stock at aquacave and it arrived yesterday. It's a nice fit on the RS stand. Perfect side to side and aligns with the plumbing opening in the back so I can run my wires in there and I'll be able to place the stand close to the wall and have a little shelf space behind the tank.
I added some led lighting inside with a door switch so it comes on when the door is opened.
I have a lot of used gear laying around so I think the only thing I need to purchase is a heater and controller and an ATO unit. I went with a hyger 100 watt heater with an external controller. I've not used hyger stuff before but I haven't read much bad about it considering the budget price so I'm going to try it. I have back up controllers if needed but didn't have a heater small enough to fit the back chamber so I bought the hyger combo for $50. I also bought a $50 ATO unit that uses optical sensors. I have a couple of JBJ ATO units that I really like because they use float switches and I've yet to have one fail. That said after using some ATO units with optical sensors I find the ability to make really fine adjustments to the water level a benefit that will be useful on a small tank like this.
I have two mp10s for flow but am going to start off with one. Lighting will be a Ai Hydra 26hd. If it craps out I have Gen 4 XR15s on the shelf. I prefer the two puck design of the hydra vs the single on the XR15s.
TBO I really haven't decided what I'm going to put in the tank yet. I have two bags of ceramic media that have been in one of my sumps for years so I'm hoping I can place those in the back chambers to give me a good jumpstart. I also have a brute full of live rock so I should be able to insta cycle this one.
I'm thinking of doing coral only with a single fish for pest control. I want to stay bare bottom because I'm a total failure at keeping sand looking nice and clean.
I need to decide if I want to go softies, sticks or LPS. I could probably stock it with sticks or softies and not have to buy anything but I really miss my fleshy LPS that I used to keep.
This was the reefer 170 in its early phase.
More to come.
I added some led lighting inside with a door switch so it comes on when the door is opened.
I have a lot of used gear laying around so I think the only thing I need to purchase is a heater and controller and an ATO unit. I went with a hyger 100 watt heater with an external controller. I've not used hyger stuff before but I haven't read much bad about it considering the budget price so I'm going to try it. I have back up controllers if needed but didn't have a heater small enough to fit the back chamber so I bought the hyger combo for $50. I also bought a $50 ATO unit that uses optical sensors. I have a couple of JBJ ATO units that I really like because they use float switches and I've yet to have one fail. That said after using some ATO units with optical sensors I find the ability to make really fine adjustments to the water level a benefit that will be useful on a small tank like this.
I have two mp10s for flow but am going to start off with one. Lighting will be a Ai Hydra 26hd. If it craps out I have Gen 4 XR15s on the shelf. I prefer the two puck design of the hydra vs the single on the XR15s.
TBO I really haven't decided what I'm going to put in the tank yet. I have two bags of ceramic media that have been in one of my sumps for years so I'm hoping I can place those in the back chambers to give me a good jumpstart. I also have a brute full of live rock so I should be able to insta cycle this one.
I'm thinking of doing coral only with a single fish for pest control. I want to stay bare bottom because I'm a total failure at keeping sand looking nice and clean.
I need to decide if I want to go softies, sticks or LPS. I could probably stock it with sticks or softies and not have to buy anything but I really miss my fleshy LPS that I used to keep.
This was the reefer 170 in its early phase.
More to come.