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View Full Version : M.R.Duck's IM 8 gallon build


M.r.ducks
04/09/2014, 12:34 PM
So this will be my attempt at my first reef tank. Gonna be a mixed reef and I wanted to see if everyone thinks my setup will work alright. This isn't my first saltwater build, I've got a 37 gallon marineland tank for my peacock mantis shrimp, 2 clowns, 2 pajama cardinals, and one very lucky peppermint shrimp.

So my tank and lights should be here soon. Here's my list

8 gallon nuvo IM
AI nano (to replace the stock skkye lights) w/ new controller
Replace the stock basket with bigger basket
Run chemi-pure, purigen, and filter floss???? (All research seems to point to this combo if I'm not gonna run a skimmer)
Autotopoff.com ato with ro/di
I've been running the cobalt heater in my big tank and I really enjoy it so I'll probably go with another cobalt heater
Nuvo spin stream
I might eventually do an MP-10 but for right now I'm gonna just upgrade the pump
7-8 lbs of dry rock
1 in sand bed

Probably stock with a goby/pistol combo or a clown
Cuc
Various shrimps (depending on if I get the pistol)

The reason I upgraded to the ai nano is because I would like to have sps, lps, and some softies. The skkye lights would have been alright for softies and maybe lps but I can't go wrong with the nano.

Thoughts or recommendations?

terrypercula
04/09/2014, 01:16 PM
Seems like a pretty good set up. I'd probably stay with the shrimp goby pair. A clown would get far too big for an 8 gallon tank. As it is your first go at a reef but not saltwater I'm sure you're familiar enough where you should have good success.

M.r.ducks
04/10/2014, 01:04 PM
So I wasn't expecting the tank till next week but as I'm getting ready to walk out the door the fed ex guy shows up with a package. Like mid year Christmas.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/50BBC2F5-8E70-42AE-AC10-C3A2407FEB4E.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/50BBC2F5-8E70-42AE-AC10-C3A2407FEB4E.jpg.html)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/3929A688-4372-4760-9B18-C3875A15C950.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/3929A688-4372-4760-9B18-C3875A15C950.jpg.html)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/4B300732-647D-4CFB-ABB8-4BBD7A91A2C1.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/4B300732-647D-4CFB-ABB8-4BBD7A91A2C1.jpg.html)
I mounted the lights just to see what they looked like. They're impressive but my AI nano will be here next week with the controller.

M.r.ducks
04/12/2014, 09:45 PM
While waiting for my other parts to arrive I decided I could go ahead and start the cycle. I wanted to try something different so I went with Hawaiian black sand and some dry rock. I took a small piece of LR from my mantis tank to help boost the cycle. Went with a U shapped rock setup which I'm happy about.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/650B9523-E1AB-4443-A7E2-CC7B001A0CFB.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/650B9523-E1AB-4443-A7E2-CC7B001A0CFB.jpg.html)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/4A76DCA0-24AF-41D2-AEE1-18BD8ADD1C2A.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/4A76DCA0-24AF-41D2-AEE1-18BD8ADD1C2A.jpg.html)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/CB6E6EDB-B346-4132-8B76-B00C3B40DD0A.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/CB6E6EDB-B346-4132-8B76-B00C3B40DD0A.jpg.html)

M.r.ducks
04/15/2014, 02:21 PM
AI nano is on the truck and being delivered tonight. Had to come to work so I'll get it mounted and get some pictures tomorrow. Got my refractometer and spin steam yesterday. The spin stream is nice. Gonna have to upgrade to a bigger pump to get the amount of water flow I want.

Y'all should have seen me trying to figure out how the refractometer works. I killed out the eye piece thinking there was a battery that went in somewhere. Wondering where the digital display was. Haha. Once I looked up instructions online I figured it out. I'm gonna have to get a better one since the numbers are hard to read and my eye sight is shot. I calibrated it with RO/DI water ad it worked great. Both tanks are 1.025-1.026.

M.r.ducks
04/16/2014, 12:52 AM
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/73A3346B-9E8D-4BD0-8E43-1593A0AA452B.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/73A3346B-9E8D-4BD0-8E43-1593A0AA452B.jpg.html)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/92735B71-08FF-4DFB-BFC9-E21F9A59B00A.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/92735B71-08FF-4DFB-BFC9-E21F9A59B00A.jpg.html)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/1D105376-774B-484E-97E5-C922BC70FD93.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/1D105376-774B-484E-97E5-C922BC70FD93.jpg.html)
I've played around with the new controller and just getting use to it. With the tank still in cycle mode I'm just going to get use to the lights right now.
So far it's on a 2 hour ramp to 20% Blue and royal blue and then a 2 hour soak. Then a 2 hour ramp to 40% blue and royal blue and 25% white with a 6 hour soda then 2 hour ramp down to 5% royal blue and blue with a 2 hour soak to enjoy the evening. I'm really enjoy these lights and their shimmer affect. I know a lot of people don't like it but it looks good to me. I'll take a picture tomorrow with the lights on.

BC29Reefer
04/16/2014, 09:38 AM
Wow, looks great!!! I would look into more flow down the road, but overall nice tank.

M.r.ducks
04/16/2014, 01:47 PM
New lights are amazing. I love all the options with the new controller. It's hard to get a good picture with an iphone. It almost looks to blue.

Skkye lights for comparison
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/CB6E6EDB-B346-4132-8B76-B00C3B40DD0A.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/CB6E6EDB-B346-4132-8B76-B00C3B40DD0A.jpg.html)
AI nano
Blue at 40%
Royal Blues at 40%
Whites at 25%
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/7A4DB618-2330-4CD2-A640-3BC8C1FF96B4.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/7A4DB618-2330-4CD2-A640-3BC8C1FF96B4.jpg.html)

Stevebutters
04/17/2014, 12:57 AM
I LOVE the blue look of that last pic with you AI nano man. Reminds me of my Kessil 150 Ocean Blue that I run over my Nuvo 30. Looks sweet!!! Hows the cycle comin along? Using any ammonia source to increase bacterial populations? I love your scape too, may have stolen some ideas for a recent little 10 gal dry rock set up.... hehehe

Stevebutters
04/17/2014, 01:00 AM
And if you dont want the skyy lights, sent em my way! Recently set up a fluval spc 5 crab prison. Currently running a 8 watt fluval LED meant for FW plants, but seems to be growing the kenya I have in there good. Id much prefer the skyy lights though as Im a big fan of IM. Pm me if your interested in selling/trading for em.

Stevebutters
04/17/2014, 01:15 AM
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q575/butterzmini/fluvalnanoFw.jpg (http://s1164.photobucket.com/user/butterzmini/media/fluvalnanoFw.jpg.html)
Here is the current lighting Fluval Nano Plant and Life
http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q575/butterzmini/ftsspec5.jpg (http://s1164.photobucket.com/user/butterzmini/media/ftsspec5.jpg.html)
and here is the FTS. Looks pretty good for a FW light, grows the cheato in there like a beast, and kenya looks happy. Im sure the stock skyy lights from a nuvo 8 would make it look even better! :P

jmallow0
04/17/2014, 09:29 AM
Looking good, Mr. Ducks. I've got a black version of that tank (IM Nuvo 8). AI nano lights look so nice, that I might get them for my nano.

M.r.ducks
04/17/2014, 10:42 AM
Using a small peice of live rock from mantis tank to seed the new tank. I've dropped a couple flames of fish food into the new tank but I might try the shrimp method or go this weekend and get some ammonia drops. I've only don't 1 test this week and it was an ammonia test. Was reading 0.25 that I can tell. These darn API tests aren't that great. I'd like to upgrade to Red Sea.

On a funny note, Bonnie, my peacock mantis (name from Bonnie and Clyde), was none to pleased when I took a piece of rock from her tank. It wasn't even covering her den and she rearranged her entire den now. I added some more rubble and I think she forgave me. She seemed happy about that.

M.r.ducks
04/17/2014, 10:44 AM
And if you dont want the skyy lights, sent em my way! Recently set up a fluval spc 5 crab prison. Currently running a 8 watt fluval LED meant for FW plants, but seems to be growing the kenya I have in there good. Id much prefer the skyy lights though as Im a big fan of IM. Pm me if your interested in selling/trading for em.

I'm gonna hold onto em right now but your first in line if I get rid of em. I've got a 10 gallon and a hitchhiker mantis in my peacock tank that I'm trying to save before my girl kills him. Gonna do a softie tank with it.

M.r.ducks
04/17/2014, 10:45 AM
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/AE3DC29E-68A7-4715-8419-BA004E570346-2032-000001E3A76BA96C_zps34a270fb.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/AE3DC29E-68A7-4715-8419-BA004E570346-2032-000001E3A76BA96C_zps34a270fb.jpg.html)
"Why did you take my rock?"

M.r.ducks
04/21/2014, 06:15 PM
Was at the LFS and found 2 pieces of LR that has to a of corolaine algae and I really liked him so I picked them up. Decided to re scape with the new rocks. Only picture I have and it's with the lights dimming. Need to get some better pictures with my good camera. http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e47/guitar247365/C60E22DE-3220-4B7C-A512-09C352A714F4.jpg (http://s36.photobucket.com/user/guitar247365/media/C60E22DE-3220-4B7C-A512-09C352A714F4.jpg.html)

M.r.ducks
04/21/2014, 06:17 PM
Also got my new media basket in. The dry rock is slowly starting to get a diatom bloom b

M.r.ducks
05/01/2014, 11:32 PM
Received my new cobalt mj900 in the mail. It's rated at 230gph which will give me close a 30% turn over per hour. With the spin stream everything is getting a nice flow. I went ahead and added a small cuc. All the parameters are in check. Ammonia is 0 and nitrites are 0. Nitrates are hovering around 10ppm the last 2 days. I dosed ammonia a couple days ago and it's completely vanquished. I think the new LR helped cycle a lot faster. I've found 3 feather dusters on the liverock I have. Diatoms are about 95% gone and the small hair algae I've seen is slowly disappearing. My buddy is gonna give me a small ric mushroom this weekend I'm thinking of adding. I'll take pictures when the lights are on tomorrow

DBreefs
05/02/2014, 04:34 PM
I like the AI Nano over the 8 gallon.

ESJ
05/02/2014, 06:49 PM
I had the same tank and upgraded the pump to a Tunze Silence (1073.008) pump. It fits in the back and is really quiet. Of course if you go with an MP10, you should just keep the standard pump.

MJSavage
05/09/2014, 10:36 AM
Looking good!