16 Gallon IM NUVO Nano Build

[TahoeMarine]

Welcome.

I purchased a 16G IM Nuvo to be my new bedroom reef. I had a 55 gallon recently and gave it away because I had to move into a smaller place.

16g IM Nuvo
EHEIM Jajer 75w heater
JBJ ATO w/Aqualifter and 5g res
Koraline nano 240GPH powerhead
Par38 RapidLED w/BoostLED Reef Clamp Lamp
Skkye stock lights
Chaeto

I am still running the stock flitration as well for the moment. Have 1 Aqua Gadget media basket on the way as well as an API master test kit and Salifert KH and Calcium tests.

Here it is on day 1. 4/13
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/IMG_1191.jpg

I added some more sand and started dosing ammonia. 4/16
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/IMG_1196.jpg

Here is when the LED came in. 4/19
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/2199fd83-1181-41a2-be3e-7e054fa575f2.jpg

4/20
:smokin:

Diatoms starting to grow. Ammonia .25 Nitrites off the charts Nitrates ~15 tested by my LFS yesterday. 4/25
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/IMG_1213.jpg

Here is today with the LED off so my camera will get good pictures of this. Is this normal and will it go away?
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/26bc1032-8801-4c6c-9cb6-3624d1f501b8.jpg

Here is some little green algae growing. Is this GHA? They are all over the glass mostly where the LED is focused.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/IMG_1218.jpg

I plan on doing a 50% WC sometime this weekend or next week and getting my CUC on the way from reefcleaners.com

Thanks for looking!

[Steveabg]

Looks like diatoms.

[TahoeMarine]

I'm using RODI water so it should just bloom up and clear itself right?

What does everyone think about running the lights on a normal 8 hour light cycle? Should I wait until I stock the tank?

[TahoeMarine]

More brown today.

Lots of little green guys on the glass too.

Nitrate still off the charts 0 ammonia nitrites 4ppm
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/IMG_1226.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/IMG_1227.jpg

[Lone_Reefer]

Curious, what did you use to start the cycle? Shrimp?

[TahoeMarine]

All natural man-made ammonia.

[Steveabg]

Yes, it usually happens during cycling. And it usually goes away. Green hair algae will come next (looks like you may have a little bit in there now).

When you add your clean up crew, they'll feast on all of that.

[Fishy 1]

All part of the process:) I'll be following this build and watch it grow, hopefully into a jaw dropper :D

[TahoeMarine]

Ok what are your thoughts on this one.

I added about 7-8 ppm of ammonia on day 2. I then did a PWC to get it back to ~4ppm. Over time it all went away and I added about 2ppm more ammonia.

All this time while checking for nitrites its over 5ppm. I diluted the test with 1ml tank water and 4ml tap water and got a result of about 2. I'm not sure though because I've only seen it at 0 or +5 so the color is hard to tell.

I cannot bring down the nitrites for the life of me and have been getting mixed feedback when searching for what to do. Some say no WC during cycle, some say just wait it out. I had chaeto that I took out the other day. Looked to me like it grew in size, but the lights were only on it about 8 hours so I got rid of it. Could it have been leeching nitrAtes and phosphate into the water with that short of a light schedule?

Reason I ask is my nitrAtes are 160+ as well. I didnt put that much ammonia in the water as my tests always showed under 4ppm except for the inital dosing followed up by an immediate WC.

I also seeded the tank with that small rock in the front right-ish. The ugly brown one. Is stuff dying and causing a nitrate spike?

The temp is ~87

[TahoeMarine]

1ml tank water 4ml rodi

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/ECFB9195-9908-4165-8F9F-C7F6DF68E0F6.jpg

5ml tank water

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/F4308D72-60C1-4161-B67D-549BF444422C.jpg


Diluted on the left full strength on the right.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/F22C99AC-FD0E-4EBE-97A2-8152DD1B1A1B.jpg

[Fishy 1]

When I cycled my tank I did no WC and waited for the ammonia and nitrites to drop to zero, and the your cycle should be done. Then you do WC until nitrates are in the accepted range. The chaeto may have been leeching, but I'm not sure.

[Fishy 1]

When I cycled my tank I did no WC and waited for the ammonia and nitrites to drop to zero, and then your cycle should be done. Then you do WCs until nitrates are in the accepted range. The chaeto may have been leeching, but I'm not sure.

[TahoeMarine]

tank parameters update:

ammonia : 0ppm
nitrite : 0ppm
nitrate : 10ppm
calcium : ~600ppm
KH : 8.0
PH : 8.1
temp : 79
salinity : 35ppt

CUC on the way. Got a small clown in there for now.

[Fishy 1]

Looks good but keep an eye on the calcium its a little high. But for fish it should be no problem:)

[TahoeMarine]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/3E3C298D-246E-41DF-83AC-DA022BA72601.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/45CA92C6-1666-4879-8C9C-E248C9DEBB0B.jpg

Here is "Krusty"

[TahoeMarine]

Well he likes that powerhead. Hasn't left it all night or even today.

[Fishy 1]

Yeh my pair of clowns love my powerhead too. They sleep above it at night:)

[getzvillereefer]

definitely going to be following this thread. I set up a NUVO 16 last weekend...

[TahoeMarine]

Picked up a fire shrimp, chalk bass, birdsnest, and GSP.

GSP starting to open. Where should I put it?

My CUC is on the way and should have been here already but it didn't ship in time. Meanwhile I figured I'd start stocking the tank and they can clean up in the next few days when they arrive.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/7FDDBD3E-B92C-4B66-B429-7CE37F3777C9.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/75B4B4B7-E3D5-4BA5-8C05-F95B3FDA0505.jpg
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/D033154C-1F5B-4D77-AA3F-5A8C0DCB2AD9.jpg

[Fishy 1]

Very nice how are they going so far?

[pugmommie]

Let's see some current pics of your tank!

[TahoeMarine]

Sorry I was playing with my new toy.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/IMG_1300.jpg

[TahoeMarine]

Here is an update.

Got 4 new corals today and an urchin.

All the coral is pi*sed off right now because I just put it in when I took the pictures. I will post some more later when the polyps are extended.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/IMG_1325.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/IMG_1327-1.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/1402b463-137a-474a-aa2a-e98d30e9a744.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/39993859-22c9-4b2c-a45a-214242a03f94.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/eb83812d-a4d8-4d05-aeb1-4d968615c40e.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/80cca337-3ed0-4e80-ac0b-321a57d4aca6.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/edca78c9-383c-410e-a04c-79c19f0790c1.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/a89737cd-4e05-4535-9ebb-ebdcd9add918.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/fc56ab33-46d9-496b-9e72-f583c08d7c01.jpg

[TahoeMarine]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/1AA91B2E-2123-41D3-AB1C-0499D3D27CCC.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/599C7F18-B607-4878-A2F9-613D4F03219D.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/9D09F7FB-ED39-40B9-BA0C-F72299CF221A.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/9855679D-FF29-4BD4-934D-111F376E2112.jpg

[Betta132]

I see you've learned why some people don't like tuxedo urchins! Grabby, aren't they.

[TahoeMarine]

I see you've learned why some people don't like tuxedo urchins! Grabby, aren't they.

Yes it is. Do they cool down or is it always like this?

I don't want him if hes going to move all the corals around. Rather he didn't pick up snails but I have too many in there anyways.

[Fishy 1]

Any updates?

[G_Sanab922]

Just went through your thread. Very nice! Like the corals you have started out with.

[Prankster11]

I love urchins...they are amazing

[Steveabg]

It's always like that. Glue your frags down well.

Funniest thing I ever saw was when the urchin I had grabbed a hermit crab. He was so ****ed.

[seymour47]

Regarding your light setup. You are using the Par38 light from RapidLED with the BoostLED goosneck, correct? I am trying to do the same thing, but the fixture won't turn on no matter what kind of light I put in it. Did you have any issues with it? Even the replacement they sent won't work.

[TahoeMarine]

Regarding your light setup. You are using the Par38 light from RapidLED with the BoostLED goosneck, correct? I am trying to do the same thing, but the fixture won't turn on no matter what kind of light I put in it. Did you have any issues with it? Even the replacement they sent won't work.

I'm sorry I replied so late but I had no problems with mine. I use a dimmer cheap one from Home Depot.

[TahoeMarine]

Major Update:

I slacked off big time and my ATO failed, I had a salinity swing and bye bye everything but the softies, fish, and the shrimp.

I just got another 240gph powerhead.

Started dosing Brightwell Magnesion and Alkalin 8.3, B-ionic 2 part for the Cal.

I always had high Calcium but low Alkalinity. I raised the Alk and they seem to both be pretty steady.

Right now my parameters are 78*, 435 calcium, 9.1 Alk, 1350 Mag, 35PPT, Ammonia 0/Nitrites 0/Nitrates 0.

I don't know my Phosphate levels.

Just added a refugium of chaeto with the IM Magnafuge.

I have a little red cyanobacteria and bryopsis so I raised my Mag to 1350 for now. I did a 5 gallon WC yesterday.

Got rid of the urchin because he was knocking everything over and picking up all the snails.

Here are some pictures.
http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/41AFBC42-2E8E-4BF1-9831-47988D3A1CC9.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/8B346554-3997-4E53-8289-13244FD059F1.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/213EED90-9367-4597-A91B-7E947D68DDBF.jpg

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/BAF10FF9-3D3F-4BAF-ADD0-3CB3860D1F60.jpg

[ExpensiveHobby]

I run the same magnafuge light on my nuvo 16. You should buy the IM aquagadget Custom Caddy media basket. You can fit a lot more chaeto than the standard media basket that came with the tank. Its only $20. That light grows chaeto very fast I trash about 75% of my chaeto every week.

[otter]

Maybe I missed it but what was your experience with the lighting and what did you end up running? Looks like you made the move to a pendant of some sort.
thanks

[TahoeMarine]

So it's been over a year since my last post and I'm happy to say the tank is still going. Since then I've moved to a new place and the tank has been through a lot. I did not like the lighting I had before and within the last few months switched to a AI Prime. I really like this light and looks to me like it has plenty of coverage for this tank.

I also got myself a RO/DI system and have a MP10wQD on the way to replace the big 280gph powerheads I have in there now. (I took one out to mix some water up so it is missing in the picture)

I managed to keep the clown and shrimp alive and have added a second clown as of two weeks ago along with a red bubble tip anemone. The clowns started to host it together within about a week.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/E96D5858-033B-464C-BD20-8B192FE6DF8B.jpg

<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b131/olen3680/Nuvo%2016%20Gallon%20Reef/A60C80BD-390A-4122-8802-7B1F871C0DF4.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo A60C80BD-390A-4122-8802-7B1F871C0DF4.jpg"/></a>